My Midwestern origins make me hypersensitive to being polite. It is a disease. I have been known to take my backpack down the hallway when people are sleeping so as not to disturb anyone.
Hostel etiquette has a lot of unspoken rules, and after spending a few weeks in a hostel you’ll start to notice some slightly annoying or rude things people do. I think most “violations” are due to lack of experience with hostel life. However, there are some basic rules every hosteller should know.
Unspoken rules of hostel life
The Savvy Backpacker’s unspoken rules for staying in a good hostel are:
clean your own plate
Hostels with kitchens are great, but many people just leave their dirty dishes in the sink. This is not good. Even if you only use a cup, wash it thoroughly. It only takes two minutes, so there are no excuses.
Pack your trash early
When I have to check out of a hostel very early, I always get everything ready and shower the night before. Make sure everything is well packed and prepare your clothes for the next day. The next morning, get dressed, stash your pajamas, and leave the room within 5 minutes. I try my best to stay as quiet as possible. This concept is lost on many people. There are few things more frustrating than spending 30 minutes at 5am trying to pack up all your belongings.
The next morning, get dressed, stash your pajamas, and leave the room within 5 minutes. I try my best to stay as quiet as possible. This concept is lost on many people. There are few things more frustrating than spending 30 minutes at 5am trying to pack up all your belongings.
Turn off the lights when it’s late
Every hostel has that one idiot who comes into your room at 3am and turns on the light. Most rooms aren’t pitch dark, so take just 30 seconds to let your eyes adjust to the light before finding your bed. Alternatively, use a keychain flashlight or the light from your cell phone.
There are no parties in the dorms.
A dormitory is a place to sleep, not a place to play drinking games. Almost all hostels have space for parties. Keep it there.
After 8am everything is fair
Article 37 of the Geneva Convention – If it is after 8am, you must not get angry at people preparing or packing for the day. In our humble opinion, after 8am people are free to do whatever they want, so don’t get upset about the hangover. If you stay in a hostel, you can’t oversleep.
Plastic bags suck.
For some reason, the sound of plastic bags is about 100 times louder between 1 am and 8 am. Every wrinkle is sent straight to the brain. Unfortunately, many people package their waste in various plastic bags. Please observe the plastic bag usage times during the day.
snoring
If you snore, sleep on your side. If he starts snoring, tell your roommate that it’s okay to hit him with a pillow. If you’re a crazy loud snorer, get your own room.
Don’t use too much heater
A radiator is a great place to dry towels or wet clothes, but make sure you don’t use it too much throughout the day. Conversely, when you want to use the heater, don’t just throw people’s towels on the floor – fold them neatly and place them somewhere.
Keep whispering to a minimum at night
Whispering late at night isn’t much better than having a normal conversation. Now is not the time for deep philosophical discussions.
alarm clock
Most people use their cell phones as alarm clocks. This is not a problem. But don’t keep your phone hidden deep in your bag because digging through your phone for five minutes while your alarm goes off is really annoying. Keep your cell phone in an accessible location. Related note: Snoozing is prohibited.
loud drunk man
It’s okay to be drunk, but you shouldn’t talk loudly when you’re drunk at a bar.
Don’t covet the bathroom
Get in and get out. Enough said.
Don’t eat other people’s food
Just because there is food in the refrigerator doesn’t mean that everyone can eat it. Stealing other people’s alcohol is strictly prohibited.
dirty laundry
I have no problem with people drying their laundry in their rooms. But keep your laundry in bed. I don’t want to deal with dirty socks hanging in my bathroom and sink.
Don’t limit yourself to groups
Traveling with friends can be great, but try to talk to other people. Make solo travelers feel welcome. I know from experience that it’s disheartening to walk into your dorm room to find a bunch of friends completely ignoring your presence.
How to Become a Hostel Hero
Okay, enough negative points. Talk about making friends while staying in a hostel.
Chat with a solo traveler
If you are traveling in a group, you should make an effort to chat with people traveling alone. As someone who has traveled a lot alone, I always like it when a group makes an effort to include me. Because talking to established friends can be intimidating.
Make an effort to introduce yourself
One of the best ways to meet people is to simply introduce yourself. I know it sounds simple, but it’s something I’ve done.
Get off the phone
Put down your phone and connect with fellow travelers.
Buy (cheap) beer
Give away free beer and everyone will love you. So I’m going to buy a box of cheap beer and hand it out around dinner time. It’s the best €10 you can spend.
group meal preparation
If your hostel has a kitchen and you can cook, it’s a good idea to prepare your own meals. Let’s all invest some money and have a hearty meal. Something as simple as spaghetti is also a great choice.
Bring a power strip
The hostel doesn’t seem to have enough power outlets. Especially since everyone travels with a lot of electronics. Pack a travel power strip and you’ll be a hero. Power strips with USB ports are great.
James Feess is the founder of The Savvy Backpacker and author of the book “The Savvy Backpacker’s Guide To Europe On A Budget”. He has been blogging about budget travel in Europe since 2010.
no fun business
Savvy Backpacker is reader-supported. This means we may receive an affiliate commission when you purchase a product/service through a link on our site. This costs you nothing extra and helps support the site.
Thanks for reading! — James
question? Learn more about our strict advertising policies and how to apply.
