Budget Traveller's Hostel Tips
Ways to Make Communal Living on the Road More Comfortable
Jun 17, 2008
Time again for the mass migration of budget travelers. They up flights to London, toting massive backpacks, Lonely Planets in hand. A globally-conscious generation longs to see what lies flat on the pages of history books and dreams of drinking new and exotic beers.
Not everyone who sets out on their great adventure is prepared for the total lack of privacy that is just part of hostel living. As with anything that has 'budget' attached, there's sacrifices to be made. If a backpacker goes into the experience well-informed and with an open mind, the experience will be enriching and exciting.
Here's some offbeat advice that will make hostel living a little less...well, hostile.
Travel Alarm x2
Batteries die and hostels don't have wake-up calls. A missed flight, train or bus can kill a budget. Spend the extra ten bucks and pack two travel alarms.
Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite
Lavender linen spray smells great and freshens up a funky backpack. It's also relaxing, promotes sleep and scares off bed bugs. Don't like lavender? Mint does the trick too.
Silk Sheets – Not Just for Movie Stars
One of the best purchases a backpacker can make is a 100% silk sleeping bag liner. Though they're a little on the expensive side, liners take up virtually no room. Silk breathes in hot climates and insulates in the cold. They're also a great defense against questionable hostel beds.
Sharing is Sharing
Bad dorm-mates happen whether there's four people sharing or ten. That said; women should go for an all-female dorm. Boys snore.
Bunky Town
Bottom bunks are a backpacker's best friend. Tuck shirts and towels under the mattress above to create a privacy tent and avoid sudden bursts of light. Don't forget that hot air rises. In the summer, a top bunk is a sauna.
The Sound of Silence
Hostel living is a communal, budget way to travel. While it's reasonable to expect a certain level of courtesy, it's neither fair nor realistic to expect absolute silence. Backpackers have early flights, late nights, trains to catch and tours to meet. Buy some ear plugs!
Break the Morning Shower Habit
Some people find it necessary to have hot showers first thing in the morning. Be prepared for long lines, dirty showers and a sudden loss of hot water in the AM. The best time to get clean is just after housekeeping has finished. Not only are the showers spotless, there's plenty of hot, high pressure water.
Find a Food Buddy
Solo travellers finding themselves in one place for an extended period of time should try to find a cooking partner. Buddying up with another backpacker will save money and might lead to a culinary as well as cultural exchange.
Courtesy, Courtesy, Courtesy
The best way to survive the world of hostels is to treat others with respect. People forget that hostels are not hotels. It's a communal experience and everyone has to share. Being selfish makes things unpleasant for everyone.
Keep a cool head and a good sense of humour, and the hostelling experience will be wonderful. There are many opportunities for cultural exchange and spontaneous friendships that could last a lifetime.
No matter how well prepared a backpacker is, there's always going to be surprises. But, no one would strap their lives to their back and set off into a foreign country if they didn't crave the unexpected.
Happy migrating!
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