First time in a hostel? Here are a few tips.
Not to brag, but we have stayed in a lot of hostels. Most of them were spectacular! A few of them could have been better. Isn’t that the nature of travel? What we know for sure is that staying in a hostel will elevate any travel experience, but being prepared can help. Hostels are just more fun than hotels or AirBnbs or sleeping in a friends couch. If it’s your first time (welcome, young one), here are 5 tips to make your first stay awesome!
Tip 1: research and read!
How can you make sure the hostel meets your travel needs? Do some research. Then do a little more. A hostel’s FAQ page is a great place to start. Is there 24-hour reception? Does it offer luggage lockers? And be sure to read reviews for first hand accounts from other travelers. This will help you understand what the hostel does and does not provide.
While most hostels offer things like wifi, lockers, kitchens, and community areas, some of the finer amenities might not be obvious, so be sure to look!
Tip 2: Ease Into It!
Don’t book the largest dorm for your first stay, unless you are ready for an adventure. Instead, book a dorm with a smaller number of beds (this means fewer people, and a better night’s sleep) or a private room. Some hostels offer privacy curtains on beds for even more personal space. You don’t have to jump in right away. Let the hosteling experience slow become familiar to you with smaller rooms sizes, or maybe even a dorm with it’s own bathroom so you can figure out your favorite way to stay.
Tip 3: Sleep well!
If the dorm beds don’t include privacy curtains, bring a sleep mask to block out any light and earplugs to mute your roommates (most hostels offer free earplugs). Take it a step further and invest in cozy headband headphones for a soft blasting of white noise. Some hostels do offer white noise machines or fans. It never hurts to ask for one!
You know how deeply you sleep - so plan accordingly! If you usually have a sleep mask or a fan running at home, you want to think how you can recreate that at a hostel so your nights are just as cozy.
Most importantly: Don’t be shy!
Imagine everyone in the hostel is a friend you know who’s waiting to talk to you. Hostels are meant for meeting new friends, and sometimes you just have to take the first step and ask, “what brings you to this place?.” The hostel common areas and hosted events are a perfect set up for meeting new people and having unexpected experiences. You have one job: meet other travelers.
Meet the staff!
A hostel is only as good as its staff. The team is there to ensure a stellar stay. Always ask for local tips and suggestions. They will be eager to share helpful tips on how to have the best, safest time.
Ready to plan your trip and book directly for the best rate? Explore our map of USA Hostels to find yours!