Hostel Etiquette: 10 Things Every Backpacker Should Know
Staying in hostels can be loads of fun between meeting all sorts of new people and participating in just about every activity the place has to offer. Ending the night in a dorm room bunk bed is not as bad as it sounds (to those of you who haven’t had the pleasure of crashing in a bunk before). That is, as long as everyone follows the unspoken–and written hostel etiquette rules. Don’t worry, we’ve got them all right here to help you make sure you can be the perfect hostel guest.
Quiet hours – Adhering to quiet hours may seem like a total vibe vacuum, but it is important to follow so your fellow roommates (and you) can get some much-needed rest between adventure-filled days. For the early birds and the night owls, this means just keeping the noise down whether you’re heading out to catch an early flight or getting in from a night on the town.
Keep your stuff clean – A dorm room filled with 6 or more backpackers can quickly become cluttered, so make sure you keep your belongings relatively organized and confined to your space. Everyone needs room to exist, so make sure you’re being courteous of others when you toss down your bags in relief.
Do your dishes – I don’t think there’s much you’d want to do less than someone else’s dirty dishes. So, make sure you aren’t leaving your own out for someone else to wash up. Be courteous to the other guests and staff and clean up your dirty dishes as soon as you’re done using them, so others can use the kitchen and cook their meals.
Bathroom time – Sharing a bathroom with a dozen other people can get really messy, and nobody wants to be subject to using a dirty bathroom. Make sure you’re not leaving toiletries and dirty towels lying around. As much as we love to say, “make yourself at home”, we also love to enjoy the luxuries of a clean shower and toilet, so please keep them that way.
Use headphones – We all love our screen time but make sure you’re not involving the entire room in your phone call, movie, or TikTok feed. Be mindful of other guests and grab a pair of headphones if you’re going to be talking, watching, or listening on your phone.
No phone calls in the room – On the topic of phone calls, do everyone a solid and please don’t take them in your room! Your roommates may be trying to sleep or might not be interested in hearing the entirety of your conversation with your family or friends on the call. We know it can be difficult to find a private space to chat on the phone but have a look around the hostel and find a nice couch or beanbag to get comfy on and chat away.
Don’t take what isn’t yours – Listen, if you’re a backpacker you likely are not entirely flush with cash. So, I cannot emphasize enough to not take food that isn’t yours. Enjoy the bounty of the free food shelves, but please don’t pilfer food from other guests’ bags (even if they keep you up all night with their snoring).
Lights – If you’re coming in late at night or early in the morning please be kind and use your phone flashlight rather than turning on the overhead lights. A lot of people are sure to be going in and out of the room, and you don’t want to disturb those that are sleeping or be woken up yourself.
Alarms – Flights, day trips, and tours can start quite early; we totally understand how important it is to set your alarms and make sure you don’t miss them. But make sure you’re quick to turn them off and go about your morning. If you’re a heavy sleeper and need to set more than one, try using headphones so you don’t wake other guests. That way you can sleep easily knowing you’ll get up in time without making yourself the public enemy of your dorm room.
Be social & have fun – Truly the most important rule to keep hostels going is to be social and have fun! The joys of staying in hostels are the opportunities to make new friends and have the kinds of experiences you wouldn’t have anywhere else. Say hello to your roommates, chat with other backpackers while you’re cooking a meal in the kitchen and make some new friends (or enemies) over card games. You never know who could become your next travel buddy or best friend, so go out there and have fun!
Now that you’ve got the basics down, book your next stay with us at Hervey’s and come experience all of the good times that hostel living has to offer!