Hostels – some people love them, some people hate them. However, I believe everyone should experience staying in a hostel at least once! If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, there are plenty of reasons to explore that option. If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, there are plenty of reasons to try it. Traveling solo? You can meet new people. Traveling with friends? You can find a private room in a central location for a reasonable price. You can expect cheap, simple, and clean (for the most part) lodging when staying at a hostel. Staying at a hostel for the first time could be quite nerve-wrecking for some people, but knowing what to anticipate will help keep your nerves at ease. Find out everything to expect in staying at a hostel for the first time in this guide!

Accommodation

Checking In

When you first arrive at a hostel, you can expect to check in at a reception area. These are typically open 24 hours, so you don’t have to worry about your arrival time. However, do confirm with the hostel you book with that there will be someone working the reception desk at all times. Similar to a hotel, you can check in and leave your luggage in storage if you arrive before your room is ready. This is convenient for you to go out and explore if you arrive earlier than check in time. During check in, the hostel staff will typically go over the hostel rules, gather the necessary documents from you such as a copy of your passport, any remaining balance for your stay, and a deposit (typically by cash or card) for incidentals. Then, they will give you the keys to your room if your room is ready.

Public Areas at the Hostel

After you check in, you will notice that there are public areas for all guests. These can include a kitchen for cooking, common areas such as a lounge for everyone to socialize, and a dining area for communal meals. Sometimes hostels provide free breakfast and/or simple dinners for a very reasonable price. Depending on the hostel, you could also expect to find board games, computers, printers, TV, video games and consoles, bars, restaurants, swimming pool etc.

Sleeping Arrangements at the Hostel

The hostel could have a mix of shared and private rooms and bathrooms. The private dorms and bathrooms are typically more expensive than the shared ones. For shared rooms, I’ve typically seen dorms with 4 to 8 beds, but some could have as many as 16 beds. Some hostels even provide the option of female-only dorms. I’ve stayed in both a female-only dorm and a mixed dorm before, and I felt comfortable in both. The bathroom could be located inside your dorm room or it could be located in a shared space and used by anyone staying at the hostel. There are usually one or two bathrooms per floor.

For shared rooms, you can expect twin-sized bunk beds lined up against the wall and lockers to put your belongings in. Never leave valuables laying around in the dorm or stash anything under your mattress. Make sure to bring a lock with you for the lockers as most hostels don’t provide one. In terms of the bed themselves, the hostel will provide a pillow and clean sheets as mentioned earlier.

Activities

Typically, hostels will organize activities and events for guests to take part in. These activities can include organized walking tours, bar crawls, happy hours, etc. Be sure to take advantage of these as it is a perfect opportunity to meet fellow travelers. Plus, these activities are typically priced at a discount! These activities are the great way to get to know a new city or country. When you check in, ask about all the activities that the hostel organizes during your stay. Don’t miss out on anything!

Additionally, the hostel staff is a great source of information for activities in the city. Typically, the hostels are staffed with workers who are travelers themselves, and they are very knowledgable about the area. The staff will give recommendations on things to do and places to eat if you ask them. Some of the best hostels I have stayed at had amazing and fun people working there. 

Items to Bring

Make sure to bring these items to ensure you have a good first stay at a hostel.

• Ear Plugs: You will have roommates that wake up earlier than you or go to bed later than you and some that even snore. You will want to bring ear plugs to get a good night’s rest.

• Eye Mask: Same point as above. If you want a good night’s sleep be sure to bring an eye mask or you might be awakened in the middle of the night. The light will turn on at a time that you didn’t plan to wake up and you will regret not having an eye mask (especially if you sleep on the top bunk).

• Lock: As mentioned above, you’ll need to bring a lock for the lockers at the hostel. Typically, the hostel will not provide you one.

• Towel: Unlike hotels, hostels typically won’t provide you with towels, at least not for free. Bring your own towel or you’ll have to rent one from the hostel for a fee.

• Shower Shoes: You won’t want to forget these – trust me.

Choosing a Hostel

Now that you’ve read this guide and feel comfortable to experience staying at a hostel for the first time, there are several factors to consider before deciding on which hostel to stay at. Before you reserve a stay, be sure to ask yourselves these questions to choose the best hostel and make your experience a great one:

1. How central is it to the city?

Consider how central to the city your hostel is located – is it close to the attractions and sights you care to see or is it out of the way?

2. Is it located in a safe area?

Safety first – always. Make sure to look up the area the hostel is located in and check that it is a safe area to stay in.

3. Is it walking distance to public transportation?

If the city you’re visiting has public transportation, make sure to take advantage of it! You don’t want to end up staying far from accessible subway stations, bus stops, train stations, etc.

4. What do the reviews say about the hostel?

I typically look for hostels on HostelWorld and I only look at hostels that are above a 4.8 rating. Then, I look at the best options among those that are left based on the other criteria I have mentioned.

5. How clean is the hostel?

Cleanliness is a very important factor. You want to feel comfortable where you’re staying! On HostelWorld, there is also an option to filter for what others who have stayed at that hostel have said about the cleanliness. I only consider those that have 4.9 or 5.0 ratings for cleanliness.

6. Does it offer laundry facilities or service?

This criteria might not be as important for short-term travelers, but if you’re staying for a longer period, be sure to check if you have the option of doing laundry.

7. Is breakfast included?

Finally, the most important criteria – food. In all seriousness, having breakfast included can save so much time and money when traveling. You are ready to go after having a quick meal at the hostel rather than having to go out and looking for a breakfast spot. I don’t mind paying a few bucks more if breakfast is included!

I hope these tips have prepared you for your first time staying at a hostel. Now that you know what all to expect, I’m confident you’ll have a great first hostel stay experience!