Hostel Etiquette for First-Time (and Seasoned) Travelers
Are you wondering what to do and not to do in a hostel and what is common hostel etiquette? Here are tips on hostels unwritten rules for first-time travelers that will help you enjoy your stay in a hostel.
Everyone was once new to hostel life. And while hostels have a reputation of cool places visited by relaxed backpackers, following general hostel etiquette is essential to prevent rule-breaking and complete chaos.
As staying in hostels is one of the best ways to save money on accommodation, nowadays the choice of hostels is wider than ever. You can find all sorts of hostels, so you should find the hostel type you will be comfortable in.
While this list is about general hostel etiquette, keep in mind that every hostel will also have a set of written rules, also called house rules, that you must follow. These recommendations on behaving are very generic, and most of you will see a lot of similar rules on the road.
And while the hostel codex can vary a bit from destination to destination, the unwritten hostelers' code remains the same.
The consequences of your actions are often quite real, ranging from a friendly reminder from your roommates that you are crossing the line to being asked to leave by the front desk staff.
If you are a new traveler looking to stay in the hostel for the first time, then you might find helpful these tips on hostels etiquette.
But the thing is that even seasoned travelers can benefit from these tips, as practice makes perfect.
Here is our list of hostel etiquette we believe that every dorm dweller should follow. It is not only about things you should not do but about providing you with a few tips that will make you feel comfortable in this type of accommodation.
WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO IN A HOSTEL
Hostels are shared environments, and unlike hotels or private accommodations, their guests need to find a way to get along with others.
We won't sugarcoat it. Hostel life is not easy and definitely not for everyone. Make sure it fits your travel style.
You need to find a way to respect other guests and often make compromises in order to make your stay enjoyable. That's why having the unspoken rules is so important.
The upside of this effort is highly rewarding though, as you will meet many friends and interesting people you will have a chance to know better.
Also, learn to understand the tone, location and type of the hostel. Not all hostels are equal, and what might be considered rude (or weird) in one hostel might be perfectly fine in another one.
If you stay in a hostel on a beach somewhere on Tioman Island, you might see people wearing swimsuits inside. But wearing the same outfit in one of New York's hostels will probably be met with not that much sympathy.
Therefore, sensing the tone of the hostel is important. Learn how to pick the right hostel every time.
Breaking the unspoken hostel etiquette happens from time to time to everyone. But it's important to learn from these mistakes, so we won't repeat them in the future.
BE CONSIDERATE
All the unwritten rules we are going to mention below have something in common. You need to follow your common sense. Unfortunately, everyone has a bit different opinion on what that is.
So a basic set of unwritten rules containing what's still okay and what isn't is often needed in hostels.
In order to make your stay as pleasant as possible, follow the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated.
There is no better way to say this than by giving you an example. Imagine that you return to your dorm room with your friends during the day while having a lively conversation. You haven't realized it yet, but there is a guy sleeping on the bed, and your arrival wakes him up. He mumbles something that if you can talk about your day somewhere else as he wants to sleep.
What will you do? It's a dormitory (no quiet hours yet), so you can stay there as you please. You can continue your conversation there as the bedtime is at 10 PM. You are not breaking any rules.
But are you being considerate? That's debatable.
So, you can say something about the importance of sleep and walk away to use the common room instead while allowing that guy to get some sleep. Later on, he might thank you, and you might find a new friend.
While this is a hypothetical example, similar situations such as this one happen in hostels all the time. There are more than a million other examples of situations you will be facing in hostels, but it never hurts to follow that golden rule.
Being on the road is tough, especially if you travel long term, and you have to learn to live with other people if you want to have a good time in the hostels along the way. While most of them are nice, there is also that one person who makes things harder for the rest.
Lastly, some of the unwritten rules can be broken if you ask others first. For example, if you want to listen to music in the dorm room without headphones during the day, ask your roommates whether that's okay.
One of our favorite travel quotes is that 'Travel makes one modest.' And we can't agree more.
So, be considerate, adaptable, and treat others as you want them to treat you.
LIGHTS IN THE DORMITORY
Respect the lights out during the quiet hours. If you come late to the room, don't turn the ceiling lights on. It's simple as that, yet not everyone grasps this simple idea.
While we understand that you need to see where your stuff, backpack, bed, or locker is, don't use the main lights in the room. Furthermore, crashing into someone's backpack or stepping on that plastic part of a strap while commenting how much that hurt will not get you any sympathy points.
Turn on the phone screen (turning on the flashlight on your phone might be too much) and try not to wake up the entire dormitory.
Another good solution is a headlamp with a red light mode, which's awesome in some remote hostels where you need the flashlight to get to your room anyway (for example, Annapurna Circuit comes to my mind).
You can also use it for reading when it gets dark, and the night vision mode is less blinding than the regular light.
RESPECT PERSONAL SPACE
One of the most annoying things you can come across in hostels is when other roommates don't respect your personal space.
Always keep your things on your bed. Don't use someone's space to dry your wet towel or dirty socks. Never use things that don't belong to you. Never.
Some of this advice seems very obvious, but the reality is often far more disappointing.
If you forget your hairbrush and see someone else's on the bed, don't use it. Always seek out that person and ask whether it would be okay to use it or not.
There is not much privacy in dorm rooms, so it's crucial to respect other guests' rights to their space.
Moreover, even a small step such as this one can make a good icebreaker, and it's better to make a friend than to angry someone over something that could have been easily avoided.
LIGHT SLEEPERS
Light sleepers don't have the easiest life when traveling. And staying in hostels dorm rooms only fuels the problem, as there are many changes in the environment. Lights, smells, noises, it's all there.
One of the most annoying things you can come across when staying in a hostel is snoring.
Yes, people snore when they sleep. Deal with it. In fact, they make other funny noises during the night, so complaining about snoring won't get you far.
Instead, be smart. Use earplugs and sleep mask to get a good night's sleep. Avoiding a restless night is the best approach you can choose.
If you consider yourself a light sleeper, then you might want to prefer staying in small-sized dorms (4-6 bunks). Avoid staying in large dormitories with 12-20 bunks, as more people mean more discomfort.
You can't seriously expect to get the same comfort when there are another twenty people around, as you would get by staying in a private room.
If you really suffer from poor sleeping, then you should consider paying a bit more for a private room. Refreshing night's sleep will do wonders with your body on the road.
In fact, underestimating the sleeping part is one of the most common travel mistakes you can make on your trip. We get it that you might be traveling on a budget and try to save as much money as possible by staying in dormitories.
But if you know that you will spend the entire next day exploring the ancient city of Petra in Jordan or driving around New Zealand's West Coast, then you should be well-rested.
Invest some extra money in your sleep (and yourself). It will pay off, and you sure won't regret it.
SETTING ON AN ALARM
Imagine that you sleep in a 16-bed dormitory, and everyone has set a morning alarm. But not at the same time.
There is no way around it. Be mentally strong, and have a lot of patience. That's not the worst part, though.
One of the biggest pet peeves of every modern alarm is the snoozing feature. And snoozing your alarm for the third time at 7 AM won't make you the most popular person in the dormitory.
If you travel long term, you will sink into apathy after some time, and the morning alarms won't bother you anymore.
Needless to say, you won't be using some of the most popular alarm tones once you get back home for a long time.
Also, make sure to set your phone in silent mode during the night so all of your unexpected calls or messages won't wake your roommates.
QUIET HOURS
Every hostel has quiet hours, with the exception of some party hostels where the party never stops. The quiet hours are usually running from 10 PM or 11 PM to 7 AM or 8 AM, depending on the hostel.
It's not difficult to see why quiet hours are necessary. So you can get plenty of uninterrupted sleep while you travel.
It's essential to understand the hostel can enforce quiet hours, and if you don't comply, they can kick you out. And even though the quiet hours are among the house rules, the unwritten rule is to be as quiet as possible.
We've already mentioned above some of the ways to make sure your roommates will still like you even in the morning. As we believe this is one of the most important rules to follow.
CHANGING CLOTHES
So the common rule of thumb is to change your clothes (especially the underwear) in the bathroom. If you know what you are doing, you can change in your bed under the blanket. You can also use a towel or skirt, but that requires some skill and experience.
By the way, a good travel towel has a million uses, and it's one of the essential things we never leave home without.
If you start changing all your clothing in the middle of the dorm room and think why those other creeps are staring at you, then think again.
Sure, when the dorm is empty, or there are only a few people (minding their own business), then you can quickly change clothing, even somewhere in the corner of the room.
It might be a bit harder for female travelers in mixed dormitories. The act of changing clothes often requires good timing, but most girls are very good at this as they need to deal with it every day when on the road.
However, if you are a shy person who is not comfortable with suggested ways, you might consider staying in female dorms only.
PHONE CALLS
Every time you travel abroad, you will want to stay connected with your friends or family. It's never been easier to stay in touch with your close ones to the point that you don't even have to leave your bed.
And that might be the problem right there.
Having a private conversation with your girlfriend/boyfriend about how much you miss him might sound cute in your head, but not to other roommates.
And if you are talking about some super private stuff while some other roommates are chilling in their bunks, that might be quite awkward too.
Hostels have common rooms, lounges, or chill-out rooms from where you can call your loved ones without annoying people staying in your room.
LISTENING TO MUSIC
Chilling in the dorm room while listening to music is a great way to spend an hour or two until the rain stops or just to kill some time. Sometimes it can lead to catching up on lost sleep, which is even better.
Either way, get noise-canceling headphones.
They are awesome when you want to listen to music without annoying noises coming from outside.
And you might even think that you have impeccable taste in music and everyone will appreciate it. Sorry to disappoint you, but that's not usually the case.
Blasting loud music in a dorm room is considered rude, and it's only a matter of time before one of your roommates tells you to turn it off.
As mentioned earlier, if all your roommates agree upon that you will be the DJ of the room, then go ahead. But until then, use the headphones.
COMMUNAL KITCHEN
One of the typical mistakes many new travelers make in a hostel is that they assume that the staff cleans the kitchen. It's only partially true. Staff usually comes and cleans the kitchen once or twice a day, but the rest of the time, it's on us, guests.
This fact might come as a surprise, but you need to understand that the cleaning staff wouldn't be doing anything else than washing the dishes all day.
Keeping the communal kitchen clean is one of the basic hostels' etiquette rules everyone should follow.
By the way, if you are a fan of lists with house rules, then you will have a blast in the communal kitchens. They are the source of many flyers with regulations.
WASH THE DISHES
Before we move on, we'll need to discuss one more topic that's connected to the shared kitchens. Plenty of hostels have a communal kitchen with shared pans, pots, plates, and cutlery that all hostel guests can use.
Always wash the dishes and clean the kitchen space you used right away, so others don't wait for you.
It's very inconsiderate when you leave cleaning up for later. Imagine coming into the kitchen area only to find a sink full of dirty pans and pots.
And always use dish soap. All hostels provide it for free, and you can find it right next to the sink.
Lastly, it never hurts to wash the dishes even when it seems relatively clean before you use it. Getting sick from not properly washed dishes is the last thing you want when you travel.
STORING FOOD IN THE FRIDGE
If you need to store your own meal in the fridge, put it in a plastic bag or food container and label it (usually name and date are enough). Also, don't put a meal that's not covered in the fridge.
And never ever eat someone else's food. It's as simple as that.
Hostel fridges can be one of the most disgusting places if not taken care of, so make sure you are not contributing to it.
LET OTHERS CHARGE THEIR DEVICES
If you ever arrive in a basic hostel somewhere in the middle of nowhere, the chances are that the wall sockets will be scarce.
While you might find more sockets in the common areas, it means you need to stay there the entire time to make sure no one steals it. Or hope in the goodness of other people while you leave your electronic device without supervision.
But even plenty of bunk beds in city hostels don't have their own sockets, so you need to use the one that's shared with the rest of your roommates.
Sharing a limited amount of sockets can be pretty annoying, so it's essential to use them reasonably.
Some travelers bring their own electrical multi-outlets that make life easier for everyone, but even those plugs have limited capacity.
WASHING CLOTHES IN A HOSTEL
So basically, you have three options for doing laundry in a hostel. You can either wash your clothes in a sink, use the washing machine or use the laundry service.
Doing the laundry in the sink is by far the cheapest option you have, and while hand washing is quite time-consuming, not to mention sometimes even physically challenging.
Washing machines are very helpful, but not free. Make sure to use mesh laundry bag to protect your delicate clothing. You can also bring your own laundry pods to save money, but it's not usually worth it.
Washing service is often by far the most expensive way to do your laundry when traveling, but it's also the most comfortable one.
Keep in mind that washing clothes in the sink is often not allowed in hostels, and it's more often than you would think.
SEX IN THE DORMITORY
In our opinion (and almost every hostel's), sex in the hostel dormitory is a big no. Always get a private room. It's worth the extra money. If it's not worth the extra money, then maybe it's not worth it at all.
Moreover, some hostels have implemented this (unwritten) rule among the house rules due to their bad experience.
Even when you think that everyone went out and you will have a place just for yourselves, you should get a private room. Almost anyone can enter the dorm room at any time without any warning, and you can make things very awkward and uncomfortable for everyone.
You might think that you can find safer places to have sex in a hostel, such as a bathroom, but you will face similar problems there, and we believe it's not worth it.
And no, you won't be as quiet as you would think.
NO EATING IN DORMITORIES
One of the rules you will also often come across in a written form is no eating in dormitories. Most hostels have a communal kitchen which is designated to have a meal there. Use it.
You might get an idea that everyone else will appreciate the smell of the tuna salad you prepared yourself or the pizza takeout, but you are wrong.
Simply put, dormitories are not dining rooms. Moreover, keeping the dorm room clean and tidy can keep those insects (ants, fruit flies, cockroaches) away.
INTERACT WITH YOUR ROOMMATES
While you don't need to exactly introduce yourself to your roommates when you enter the dorm room for the first time, a simple 'hi' comes a long way. Sure, you can even let others know your name if you are looking to make some friends faster.
Also, the size of the dorm room makes a huge difference. It's much easier to connect with people in a dorm room with four to six beds than it's in one of those crazy large 20+ beds rooms.
One of the reasons is that there is nowhere to hide, and the lack of privacy creates more opportunities to get to know your roommates better.
When you need to leave the hostel early in the morning, let them know (it's good to reassure them that you will try to be as quiet as possible). Communication is the key.
Also, acknowledge the existence of others.
For example, if you want to let some fresh air in, it's good to ask others first. The same goes when it's too cold in the room. So before you set the heating to the max, make sure that you all agree on that.
If you are the only person who is cold while the other 15 people feel comfortable, then maybe you should get an extra blanket at the front desk or bring silk liner next time.
BE CLEAN
Staying in a dorm with strangers and using shared areas requires some extra effort from your side. From having good personal hygiene to keeping the bathroom and kitchen area clean, the message is simple.
Be clean. While you might think that being a bit messy is a cute feature of your personality, then you will soon realize that your roommates might find it very irritating.
Making a mess in the kitchen, washing your underwear in the bathroom sink, hanging your smelly socks in the dorm, not taking a shower for a week, or not flushing the toilet, all that (and much more) happens in the hostels, and it's quite infuriating.
Make sure you are not one of the people responsible for this.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR VALUABLES
One of the most annoying parts of traveling is the constant necessity to watch your valuables.
It's not fun, and the extra vigilance that's required to keep your things safe can cause plenty of stress. And that's the last thing you need when you travel.
When you are staying in a hostel, you need to keep an eye on your stuff. The truth is that while most of the travelers are very nice, opportunistic theft can happen even in places you wouldn't expect it.
The unwritten rule is that everyone takes care of their own things.
Locking up all your valuable belongings with your own padlock is the best approach you can take.
If you are looking for one of the top travel tips, then keep all your non-essentials at home. Before you start packing your things, answer this question honestly.
Do you really need Kindle, tablet, expensive camera, or will the smartphone do the job? Do you really need to wear that fancy ring?
The fewer things you bring for your vacation, the less stressful it will be.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
SAVE WATER
Having a long shower while others are waiting in line is another thing you should avoid doing while in a hostel. If you see that there are three roommates waiting behind you, make it quick.
Furthermore, conserving water is often encouraged in green hostels (or areas where the water is scarce), so if you want to travel a bit more sustainably, then you should spend only a couple of minutes in the shower.
Being a responsible traveler lowers your impact on the environment, and even small things can significantly improve the situation. Saving water is easy, and it's one of the least things you can do.
Depending on the water heating system of the hostel, when taking a long shower, you might also use up all the hot water, which will usually result in the wrath of your roommates.
The intensity of the wrath is in direct proportion with the outside temperature, meaning that in the colder climate, the people are less forgiving.
TAKE A SHOWER IN THE EVENING
Taking a shower in the evening is another unwritten rule if the dorm room has a private bathroom that contains a shower, toilet, or sink.
While you might love to take a shower in the morning, it's crucial to understand that this time of the day is one of the busiest in the entire hostel.
People are checking out, leaving for the day trips, or just simply preparing for the day.
Blocking the bathroom in the morning will disregard any of your popularity instantly. If separate showers are abundant, then it shouldn't be a problem, but not many hostels can afford this luxury.
FRONT DESK
Whenever something out of the ordinary happens, tell the front desk person. They are professionals used to deal with all sorts of issues.
The sooner they sort it out, the sooner everyone can go on with their daily life.
Is the toilet clogged? Is the water not running? Did someone throw up all over the dorm room? Or you just need an extra blanket because you're cold?
The receptionist will help you with your requirements, needs, or complaints.
PACK UP YOUR BELONGINGS EARLY
Always pack your things the night before you leave. Always. There are not many things more annoying when it comes to hostel etiquette than people packing their stuff at 4 AM in the dormitory full of sleeping people.
If you know that you need to leave the hostel early in the morning (to catch a flight, bus, etc.), make sure you packed your stuff in the evening.
Ensure you also prepare the toiletries you will need when using the bathroom and clothes you will wear that day.
If you are not sure what to pack for staying in a hostel, then make sure to read our helpful hostel packing list.
READ THE REVIEWS
Before you make the reservation, be sure you read the hostels reviews. Read between the lines, as one man's trash is another man's treasure.
If you are a shy person looking for a clean place, then a party hostel might not be exactly for you. And vice versa. A party person will die of boredom in a neat family hostel highly rated for cleanliness and quiet location.
You will avoid a lot of disappointments and misunderstandings when staying in the right hostel.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
