Hostel Packing Essentials

I’ve written a lot recently about my hostel experiences, what they’re like and some great ones to stay in. One important topic to cover is the essentials specific to staying in a hostel. These are all the things that you should make sure to pack and some that I have ditched along the way. Some of these might already be obvious to you but hopefully you’ll pick up on some new items.

I’ve covered what you should definitely pack and some things that I read on other “must pack” lists that I really didn’t need. These are my hostel essentials only so doesn’t cover the basics for every trip like clothes, adaptors and other travelling essentials for backpackers. Check out this awesome eco-friendly packing list for an idea of everything you should pack.

What to Bring

1) Eye mask

Eye masks are great not just for hostels but also for any travel you might be doing along the way. In airplanes, buses and trains, if you need to do any sleeping, this is a must have! There’s often an unwritten rule in hostels that the light will stay on until a “reasonable” time. I’m usually in bed by 10 pm and am not afraid to just turn it off when I’m ready for bed but if you’re less assertive you might just want to throw your eye mask on and get some sleep on your own time.

Personally, I prefer the ones that don’t rest against your eyes as I can’t stand that feeling but there are loads of options out there. Look for ones that say "contoured" or "3D" for the most comfortable fit.

2) Ear plugs

This one is similar to the eye mask, great to help you get to sleep when everything is happening around or you have a snoring sleep mate or two. I’ve tried a few different brands out but love these ear plugs. They’re the easiest to put in and seem to block out most noise.

If you've got the cashoola you could consider the Noise Cancelling Ear Plugs by Crioxen. Even better, if you’ve got the space and are serious about your head phones, you can get noise cancelling headphones and use the noise cancelling function to block out even more snores.

3) Travel towel

Most places you stay these days will offer a towel during your stay, either free of charge, for a small deposit or maybe for a fee. If you want to save money, then a travel towel can still be a great investment and don't take up much room in your bag. You could also use one as a beach towel when heading out as most places won't let you take the towel out of the room.

They range in price but you can get a teeny tiny one for as little as $10 and I've seen some fancy ones get up to $100+. Look for them in any camping or adventure store and of course online.

They take a little getting used to as they are made out of that shammy-type material but they are super quick dry and pack very small, a lot smaller than an actual towel. My top tip is to get either a Large or X-Large size. It won’t add that much more bulk and there’s nothing worse than not being fully wrapped when needing to run from the shower to the room.

4) Lock

When you stay in a hostel you will usually be provided with access to a locker but will need your own lock. I suggest carrying two strong padlocks with a combination instead of key access. Trust me on this, I’ve travelled with someone who lost BOTH of their keys and had to have the lock broken.

The locks can also be used if you’re leaving your backpack in a luggage storage room after check out or to lock your backpack while in transit. Make sure to use a TSA lock if you’re travelling through the US.

5) Toiletries

As with the towel situation, hostels usually don’t provide toiletries like you would find in a hotel. Depending on your situation you might want to bring along some travel size toiletries or just buy some products when you get there. For me it depends on how long I’ll be staying in a particular place and when my next flight is. I don’t mind carrying around a full tub of toothpaste but as I travel carry-on only I’m unlikely to get it past the airport checkpoint.

You don’t need to go overboard with the toiletries though. If you’re away for 3 months then you probably don’t need to take a 6-month supply of floss with you but DO check what will be readily available for you to buy at your destination. In some places sunscreen is more expensive than crude oil and tampons are the devil so just make sure you’re prepared.

6) Flip flops

So, if you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, then the idea of sharing a bathroom with a group of people must seem very strange. It’s actually not that bad! Sometimes each dorm will have its own bathroom and sometimes there’s be a big shower block for all the rooms to share.

Either way, those showers are seeing more people in them every day than is usual and they might only be cleaned once a day. I’m no hygienist but my personal preference is to wear a pair of flip flops into the shower so I don’t catch any potential cooties. If you’re like me and live in them 24/7 then they probably need a good wash anyway.

7) Flashlight/head lamp

Depending on your trip you might have use for a dedicated torch or head lamp anyway but just in case think about the types of experiences you’re likely to have. Often I’m mixing city stays with off the beaten track activities in jungle and river lodges. There is likely to be some sort of camping or “eco” situation where I will have to use an outside toilet.

Head lamps are awesome for this as you can go "hands-free" if you know what I mean… Ever tried wiping with one hand while directing a torch in the direction of the giant centipede you just saw 2 inches from your face?

At the every least, make sure your phone has a flashlight app that you can use in a pinch. This should be sufficient for rummaging through your stuff at four in the morning for an early departure without waking the whole dorm up.

8) Plastic bags

These are very multi-purpose: to separate your dirty clothes so they don’t stink up the rest of your clothes; to store your muddy shoes in that are still wet from a rainforest like but you have a 20 hours travel day ahead of you; keep your electronics dry during a rainy open water ferry crossing; super cheap way to store your soap so you don’t need a fancy soap case. Just make sure you always have a couple on hand and you’ll always have a use for them, I promise. 

One thing to keep in mind is that plastic bags are noisy as all hell in the middle of the night so try to avoid your immediate demise at the hands of your fellow bunk mates by not rummaging through your plastic bags when all is silent.

9) Bottle opener

Hostels are filled with happy travelers who are having the time of their lives, maybe this is the only two weeks they get off every year and they want to make the most of it, maybe they’re on an extended multi-year trip to find themselves and "every day is Friday” and “every hour is happy hour”.

Whatever the case, when you stay in a hostel, you will make the best of friends if you have a bottle opener on hand. Even better, if you know how to open a bottle with any object on hand. I once saw a guy open a beer with a shoe! How do they even do that??? Why did I not learn this in school?

10) A tupperware container

I learnt this one from a vegan I met traveling and thought it was a very cool idea. If you’re going to be cooking a bit and using those awesome hostel kitchens, then chances are you’re going to have some leftovers to contend with. Rather than throwing it out or leaving it to the other life in the hostel fridge, you can throw it into a tupperware container. This way you can eat it the next day and even carry it with you as a lunch option. The best part is they don’t take up any room, just stuff them with something else and you’re good to go!

11) Bonus - A playlist that reminds you of home

Before I leave on any trip I always put together a playlist of all my favourite songs and my friends’ favourites. Why? When I’m feeling homesick I just pop my headphones in, tune into Spotify and listen to all the music that makes me think of the people that I leave but in the best way possible. You could also try having some photo albums on your phone or even a couple of real life pics if you’re a visual person.

Don’t bring

1) Door jamb

So, this is a tricky one. I’ve never chosen to stay anywhere that I felt unsafe enough that I would use a door jamb. Saying that, I would hate to be the one to tell you not to bring it and then something happens to you so I’ll leave this one up to you. They’re heavy as hell but maybe there are some new solutions that can help you feel safe and not weigh down your luggage.

2) Sink plug

This is used for hand washing and soaking clothes in sinks. If you’re staying in a dorm this is just not practical. You’ll be sharing a room with at least 3 other people and they’re not going to be happy with you using the sink to keep your laundry in. If you’re in a private room it’s a little more practical but I usually just take my clothes in the shower with me to give them a good rinse and wash with whatever I have on hand. I’d wash my clothes like this maybe once or twice and then take them to a laundromat to give them a good wash after that.

3) Clothes hanger

This one is probably a personal choice and depends on how many clothes you’ll be washing at one time or how expensive it is to wash clothes where you’re staying. When travelling through Latin America I found that I was happy to pay the $2-$3 a week to wash, dry and fold a full load of clothes. Laundromats in the US and Canada were also reasonably priced. When I did want to save money, I would usually be washing clothes overnight and hanging them up on my bed or somewhere convenient. I only once saw anyone hanging clothes up on a line but again this could be appropriate for you.

Any surprises for you or is there anything that you would add? Let me know in the comments! 

This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase via these links, I receive a small percentage at no additional cost to you. Very small but very appreciated.

That Time When I Stayed In A Party Hostel And Went To Sunday Funday

I like to have a good time but I also love to be in bed by 10pm. Usually.

I had been hearing about Sunday Funday since Panama City and knew it was a pretty big deal. While staying at a backpacker resort in Laguna de Apoyo, Nicaragua, I met a lovely lady, Claire, who invited me to her 30th birthday party that was happening in San Juan Del Sur. It was to be on a Friday night, followed by a weekend of festivities with the big event on Sunday at Sunday Funday.

I happened to meet up with a couple that I had first met also at Laguna De Apoyo, Nate and Alex, and we started travelling around Nicaragua together  The week leading up to the birthday weekend we ended up in Isla Ometepe, a volcanic island in the middle of a large lake. We opted to stay in an eco-style hostel outside of town and after a few days of being at one with ourselves we decided to give Sunday Funday a try. How bad it could it possibly be?

My Alaskan besties, Nate and Alex

Traveling from Ometepe to San Juan Del Sur involves getting the ferry across to Rivas, catching a taxi to the main bus station and then a chicken bus to San Juan Del Sur. Once we got to Rivas we had already had a long morning and were more susceptible to the suggestions of the taxi driver to pay him to take us all the way to our hostel in San Juan. On arrival to the centre of town though, he said he wasn’t willing to take us all the way up to our hostel and would only drop us in town, unless we paid him more money of course. We thought it was just another ploy from an entrepreneurial cabbie but it turns out that our chosen hostel is actually located at the top of a pretty steep hill and the road up was all gravel.

I remembered that the hostel had a free shuttle from town so we wandered around trying to figure out where to meet it. Luckily we spotted some people we had met in Apoyo and then Ometepe who were also going to the party. This happens so much when you’re backpacking and is even more prominent in Central America as it’s such a small region and everyone is sharing the best places to go and the best hostels to stay in.

Pre drinks!

They were having some drinks in a little bar and were going to catch the next shuttle as well so we settled in for our first drinking session in San Juan Del Sur! Turns out the shuttle is a pickup truck so we climbed into the back and headed up the steep windy road to our new home for the weekend. The Sensible Susan in me thought this was not really the safest way to transport a bunch of tipsy backpackers but these are the sorts of situations you get to experience when you’re backpacking and sometimes I have to remind myself to just embrace the good times and appreciate it for what it is. Looking back, some of my best experiences on this trip have been in the back of a pickup truck, watching the world go past and interacting with locals on their way to and from work.

The birthday party

Arriving at the hostel was a bit of a shock. We were not in Nicargaua anymore, Toto. The party had well and truly begun and there was a lot of people already dressed in flouro and leopard leotards, including several brave men. Oh, I forgot to mention that this was an 80’s workout themed party! Very important information so you can understand my outfit below.

Our 80's workout outfits

We weren’t prepared enough to have fun 80’s outfits with us but Clare and her friends had thought ahead and raided a few op shops before getting to San Juan del Sur. Yes, there are op shops in Central America. After checking in to the hostel and receiving our complimentary welcome drink we rummaged through a pile of questionable outfits and eventually picked out some of the semi-ok options that were left.

The three of us quickly settled in to the dorm room and our beds, got dressed and then head downstairs to join in the fun. As Claire has spent the previous two weekends at the hostel just getting ready for her birthday party by way of drinking as much as possible, she was pretty much Naked Tiger family and the guys at Naked Tiger had pulled out all the stops for her. There was only 80’s music, lots of little surprises throughout the night and a huge birthday cake that they helped Clare’s best friend organise.

It was a super huge night and I quickly became comfortable with my residence in a party hostel. These people were just like me! Only drunker. And even though I was drinking more than I usually would, I felt very safe and in control at Naked Tiger. The staff were pretty much functional alcoholics, required as they were, to drink from the first thing in the morning and make sure the party was always on at the hostel.

The Naked Tiger Hostel

The hostel itself is amazing. It’s basically a huge mansion located at the top of a hill with amazing views and a huge pool area. It’s seriously one of the nicest places I’ve ever stayed in and it only cost $12.50 a night. The hostel has in-house food service so you can order breakfast, lunch and dinner there along with the always open bar. There are several places to hang out, including a large balcony upstairs, the pool deck and indoor seating areas.

As I was settling into bed on my first night in the partiest of all party hostel, I also got to experience what seemed to be a regular event at the hostel, a guest throwing up in bed. Not to get too graphic, I will say that this person was on the top bunk and luckily the person on the bottom bunk hadn’t made it to bed yet. Very lucky. I got one of the staff from downstairs who came up, grabbed the mattress and just put it outside on the deck. He said the cleaners would take care of it in the morning and that was it. Another day, another vomit covered mattress. Poor cleaners! The spewer was nice enough to tip the cleaners in the morning but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t their favourite person for the rest of the weekend.

Getting Iced

One activity that was rampant throughout the whole weekend was getting “Iced”. This basically involves one person, let’s call them the “Icer”, hiding a bottle of Smirnoff Ice in a spot that the Icee would stumble upon it. This could be under your pillow, in your backpack or in the shower. Once you’ve found the Smirnoff Ice, it’s up to the Icee to drink the whole drink in one go. Besides the fact that Smirnoff Ice’s are disgustingly sweet, your bottle may also have warmed up significantly by the time you discover it. Now imagine being hungover and discovering one of these bottles at nine in the morning after a big night of drinking. Truly awful.

Me after getting Smirnoff iced for the second time in one morning!

Detoxing on Saturday and exploring the town

The next day after a late breakfast in the hostel, Nate, Alex and I decided to head into town to check it out and get away from the alcoholic influences of the staff and threat of getting Iced. San Juan del Sur is a pretty small town and it’s as touristy as I’ve seen in Central America. There are burger joints galore and loads of expat-run clothing stores with short shorts, tiny two-pieces and a backpacker favourite – flip flops, or thongs as we call them in Australia.

That’s not a bad thing really, as I don’t think anyone is coming to San Juan for cultural experiences, unless that cultural experience is the ancient rite of getting smashed, taking loads of drugs and then stuffing your face with chilli cheese fries the next day. You know, like the ancient Mayans did.

San Juan is a great place to relax into the comforts that a thriving expat community bring to town. I even found an amazing gelato place that needs to be experienced. It's called Superfrutto and is next to Hotel Estrella.

The beaches aren’t great in town, they're fine but if you head a little bit outside of town you’ll find pretty, deserted beaches to relax in and some beaches with great conditions for surfing. Besides the beach, drinking and eating, there isn’t a lot more in terms of entertainment so make sure you bring a good book if you’re going to be hanging out for a while. Naked Tiger had a great movie lounge set up, with a projector and loads of DVDs, along with a variety of games, a book exchange and of course the beautiful pool area to just lay around in.

Getting ready for Sunday Funday

On the morning of Sunday Funday, the official reps of the event show up bearing wristbands, official shirts and glitter! Once you’ve paid for the event, you can choose your favourite shirt design and then head to the decoration station. This was one of my favourite parts of the day! What begins as a calculated effort to carefully design your Sunday Funday body art masterpiece ends up with everyone drawing crazy designs on everyone else and glitter going everywhere. You will definitely find specks of glitter weeks down the track, perhaps as you’re traveling in a small river boat on your way to a remote jungle village, and will think back fondly on a crazy weekend.

An artist I am not...

Heading to the first party

The first pool party is located in small resort closer to town. There will be pickup transportation from the other two hostels to get there at different intervals. Once there you will be greeted by a row of bouncers who will check your bags to make sure you aren’t trying to bring anything too crazy into the party and mostly to make sure you’re not smuggling in drinks. Be prepared for your first shot as you walk in!

This pool is located right on the beach so there’s a great view of the surf. It was at this pool party where one unfortunate guy dived into the pool and hit his head. You know how something happens at a party and the people who most want to help are usually the drunkest and least able to actually help? Well imagine dozens of people who see this incident and start to fuss over this poor guy. Utter chaos! Luckily the organisers are obviously used to this situation and were quick to respond. Getting the drunkeys out of the way and tending to the poor guy who kept insisting he was fine and ready to party on while having blood spurting into his eyes from his head wound and streaming down his face.

This pool party was the best for dancing. The DJ was awesome and there was a dedicated dance floor right next to the pool. I felt like I had already had a great time several hours in but there was still a lot of fun to be had and two more pool parties yet to go!

Second hostel

The second stop in the travelling pool party was Naked Tiger. It was a good opportunity for some chill out time in the dorms, as only hostel guests were allowed in the upstairs section and you could consider indulging in some of the free alcohol that you might have hidden up there to avoid spending too much on the expensive Sunday Funday drinks. They also plan this as the second hostel so you can view the amazing sunset from the highest point in town. This was my favourite spot and definitely had the best atmosphere as I felt by then most people had reached that sweet spot of buzzed but not too drunk.

By this stage everyone had caught up and there was a lot of people to talk to. Even a socially awkward anti-socialite person like me managed to find some very fun and interesting people to talk to. I learnt that a lot of people travel to San Juan del Sur and Nicaragua just for Sunday Funday. There were a lot of people outside of the traditional hostel crowd you would usually get to meet. When going through my phone the next day I had a lot of Facebook friends that I couldn’t remember meeting and Whatsapp numbers that were just entered as: “N” or “blonde guy”.

Sunday Funday Shenanigans

Third stop

At this point it was getting quite late so some of us were considering just staying at Naked Tiger instead of heading to the last hostel, which is back in the centre of town. We eventually decided that we had to see it through and ended up at the last point – Pacha Mama Hostel. This hostel had more of a plunge pool rather than the bigger pools we had during the day but at this stage no one was really into swimming. There was more dancing and a lot more debauchery as the stayers were in the mood to party all night long.

After a couple of hours I decided to head back to the hostel with the next pick-up as they were less regular the later it got. On the way I met some fun people who were staying at the hostel behind us, Casa De Olas. This was also supposed to be a really cool place to stay and they have some little rooms located at the back of the property that’s worth checking out. I ended up hanging out with some guys at their little cabin and chatting until the early morning while swinging in thier hammock. Oh, how I love hammocks.

When I made it back to the Naked Tiger there were still a lot of people up and hanging out but the party was definitely more toned down. I got to bed by about 3 am and considered myself lucky. I met some people the next morning who had been out the whole night and even met the poor guy who had hit his head at the first party. He was not a happy chappy and didn’t enjoy everyone asking him about his accident. Poor guy. There were also a few people passed out in some unfortunate places and unfortunate positions.

So much glitter!

The morning after

I was ready to just escape and head back to Granada the next day but for those who are keen to stay and sleep it off, Naked Tiger offers a special deal for your fourth night free. Just consider how much you will actually save as you will have to have all your meals at the hostel unless you take the free shuttle into town of course. This might not even be an option though for anyone nursing a hangover.

I said a quick goodbye to my travel friends who had been with me for three weeks by that stage and Alex gave me a present and a big hug which almost made me cry. I jumped into the back of the shuttle, backpack and all, and tried to forget about some of the stupid things I had said and done that weekend. As I drove down that steep rough gravel driveway for the last time I thought about how party hostels aren’t all bad and how alcohol can actual help stimulate conversations for an introverted person like me.

That weekend is still one of my most treasured travel memories. Naked Tiger is actually a very lush hostel and if it wasn’t for the fear of constantly getting Iced I would have enjoyed a longer stay there.

Should you go to Sunday Funday?

I do not go looking for a party. Usually I like nice quiet chats in a cool bar somewhere with a small group of people. Sunday Funday was never on my "must do list" for Central America and it certainly isn't for everyone. When I ask myself if I  would do it again, though, my answer is always yes! I had a great time at Naked Tiger and Sunday Funday and even though it can be viewed as hedonistic and a huge spend in an otherwise cheap country, it's also one of the craziest times I've ever had. 

I danced, I chatted, I drank, I did other things that I won't mention and I had an amazing day. I would recommend you at least give it a try and if you hate it, then you've only lost $15. Chances are you'll love the experience and look back on it as one of the craziest pool parties you've ever been to.

Sunday Funday Tips

• Sunday Funday is on every Sunday!
• If you stay at the Naked Tiger or Pacha Mama hostels you get half price entry
• The event staff come to the Naked Tiger hostel the morning of the event at about 9:30 to organise payment and hand out wrist bands and shirts which saves you from having to go into town
• The event officially starts at 2 pm
• No need to bring a bag and definitely best to leave any valuables at your hostel. Just bring as much cash as you think you’ll need for drinks
• Definitely don’t bring your phone, unless it’s waterproof. There were a few people who were thrown into the pool!
• There's a BBQ at the second stop, Naked Tiger, with veggie options. Don't forget to eat!
• Although it’s a pool party, I wouldn’t actually recommend swimming in any of the pools. They get pretty gross...
• Have fun and don't think about it too much. It's a party!

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What Is It Like Staying In A Hostel?

I am a solo female traveler. That’s how I identify myself when I travel and it speaks to both how I like to travel and also what my limitations are. I’m not independently wealthy, nor do I have the inclination to wait for friends or family to find the time to travel with me so that means that I travel alone and I also try to travel as economically as I can. Check out my article here on how to survive as a solo traveler.

A consequence to my circumstance is that I spend a lot of time staying in hostels.  After over 10 years of hostel life I feel overly qualified to help new travellers who are hesitant about staying in a hostel for the first time. Read on for a guide on what you can expect from a stay in a hostel.

How's this for $12 a night? Zephyr Lodge - Lanquin, Guatemala

What is NOT a hostel?

Sometimes when I speak to someone from an older generation and mention that I’ve been staying in a hostel they get a look of horror on their faces. Recently when visiting family in Toronto, my uncle described the only hostel he knew that was located in a shady part of the city. It was frequented by drug addicts and was often raided by the police. It was known to have a queer smell and respectable people generally stayed away.

Words I would use to describe these types of lodgings include halfway house, flophouse or lodging house. These types of accommodations cater more for transients, people on the fringes of society and more commonly addicts and people with mental disabilities. Modern hostels are not like this.

Cooking dinner in the hostel kitchen. Pagalu Hostel - Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

What is a hostel like?

Choosing your right kind of hostel is very important as there really is something for everyone out there. You might not want to stay in an eco-hostel because of the smell from the compost and the marijuana smoking residents but someone else might treasure the opportunity to make a difference to the environment and jamming into the night with a band of makeshift instruments.

A party hostel, on the other hand, is filled with booze-crazed 20-somethings and can be a good time until you’re woken up by the guy across the room throwing up on the bunk below him - true story!

Generally speaking, here’s the experience you can expect from a decent hostel:

You walk in and are greeted by someone at reception. Often this is another traveller like you who has opted to stay a while in the city and is working a few hours a day in exchange for a free bed and maybe some meals. They’ll check you in and probably ask for your passport as identification. They will offer you a map of the city and explain how the hostel works, point out the facilities and show you to your room and your bed.

I usually take this time to either introduce myself to anyone hanging out in the dorm or head to the common area to meet people and feel out the vibe. It’s better to do this sooner so that you know what’s on the cards for that evening and what everyone has planned for the next day. This way you don’t miss out on anything! 

A hostel might offer breakfast and this may as simple as toast, butter and jam with tea or coffee or as elaborate as a fully cooked breakfast with fruit, cereals and fresh juice. Some hostels offer a make-your-own pancake breakfast which is a happy medium. They provide the batter and syrup and you cook it yourself. Generally you will have to do all your dishes yourself in any scenario.

The "smoker's lounge" in my river hostel. Hotelito Perdido - Rio Dulce, Guatemala

Most hostels will have some sort of kitchen access and it can be a fun activity trying to find a knife capable of actually cutting. Even if you don’t plan on cooking, a kitchen is great to store and reheat leftovers the next day. There will usually be a pen or marker to label your food so it’s not thrown out. The hostel kitchen is also a good place to meet new people. Offer to share your meal with a hungry looking backpacker who’s got a sad looking bowl of cereal for dinner and you will have made a friend for life!

There should be some sort of common area and often there are multiple including a living room; tv room; courtyard; balcony; roof top; or terrace space. A good hostel has many places to just hang out and relax, perfect for those days when you are exhausted from a 20 hour bus trip or you’ve had enough of sightseeing.

A good hostel will have at least one activity organised during the week. This could be a walking tour, a pub crawl, a bbq or a trivia night. This will be another great opportunity to meet people!

Lastly, a hostel usually has all the regular amenities that you would expect from a good hotel or guesthouse, including wifi, computer access, book exchange and all the tourist information you can handle.

There are eco-hostels, party hostels, luxury hostels, youth-only hostels, all-inclusive hostels, meditation hostels, capsule hostels and the list really goes on and on. Once you decide what type of hostel you prefer that will dictate the type of people you’re likely to be surrounded with.

Check out my guide to booking travel to make sure you pick the best hostel in each location. 

The Group Dinner menu at Bubba's House in Boca Del Toro

What are the people like?

One of the benefits of a hostel is that you can meet people from all different walks of life who will have at least one thing in common with you; they love to travel! I’ve met people who are well off in their careers and could easily afford a nice hotel but choose to stay in a hostel because of the unique opportunity to meet new people.

There will be a mix of solo travellers, couples and groups of friends. You’ll meet people who are travelling for years, months or just a couple of weeks. I’ve stayed in dorms with people as young as 17 and one gentleman who was 75 and everyone in between. I'm almost 30 but have been staying in hostels since I was 18. There are lots of 20 years olds but also a fair number of people in their early 30's.

There will always be the night owl, who is incapable of going to bed before 3 in the morning, the early bird (usually me!) who quietly creeps out of bed at 6 am, the open-mouthed snorer and the guy with the smelliest pile of clothes you ever thought possible.

Some people you won’t click with and sometimes you get the opportunity to meet a new friend. I am lucky enough to have several people that I have met while staying in hostels that I consider to be some of my closest friends. At the very least you might meet someone who offers you a couch for some future destination.

Hostel in the middle of the jungle with infinity pool and sundeck. Zephyr Lodge - Lanquin, Guatemala

What are the rooms like?

In a hostel you often find dormitories and private rooms. In each option you might have an ensuite or separate shared bathrooms. Costs are dictated by the level of privacy involved, for example, a private room for 2 people with a private ensuite would be more expensive than an 8-bed dormitory with a separate shared bathroom located down the hall.

In a dormitory you will commonly find bunk beds of varying quality. Sometimes it will be the stock standard bunk bed that you can find in the shops and sometimes you will find some custom made bunks. These days I’ve started to expect the latter from my hostels, as a cheap bunk bed that squeaks and sways when someone gets in doesn’t cut it anymore. Some hostels will do only separate beds but that’s a rarity.

Sometimes they expect you to make your own bed and hand in the sheets when you leave. You should always be provided with sheets and blankets if you need them. You will often be offered a towel either for free, a deposit or a small fee.

Better hostels will often have some extras built into the bunk including a lamp for reading at night, your own power outlet, a bedside locker, small shelf or cubby and the ultimate indulgence - a privacy curtain! 

Dorms can have anywhere from 4 beds to 12 beds and above. I’ve stayed in a 20 bed dorm and heard stories of whole floors of bunk beds! They will often be priced based on how many beds are in a room. For female travellers traveling on their own, there are often female only dorms available to give you a greater sense of privacy and you get to avoid the smelly boys at night.

Most importantly, is the epic struggle for the bottom bunk. Bring it up when you first check in and if there isn’t one available make sure to find out when you can switch!

A hostel with a sloth nest?! Bambuda Lodge - Isla Solarte, Bocas Del Toro, Panama

What about the facilities?

You should either have a locker in your room or somewhere in the hostel to keep your electronics, cash, cards, passport and whatever else you want to keep safe. Most of the time you will need your own lock so make sure to bring a couple with you but often the hostel will rent or sell locks.

If the bathroom isn’t attached to the room, then you can expect a separate male and female shower area. As I mentioned, towels are not provided and the it’s likely that shower soap won’t be either.

Often the hostel will have some sort of honesty system for snacks and beer. This is basically a fridge where you can take a drink when you need one and write your name down on a tab and pay for everything when you check out. Some hostels also have a bar or cafe within or attached.

Luxury dorms and hostels

There are more luxury and up-market hostels popping up for those who still want the hostel environment but enjoy the finer things in life. I’ve stayed in some hostels that offer a separate wing, floor or area for VIP-style accommodation where you have access to faster wifi, fancy bathrooms, a separate common area and nicer dorms and private rooms. You can still mingle with the common folk but can retire to your nicer digs at night and when you want a break.

Check out this great post for some of best hostels in Australia.

This hostel had it's own deck for boat access. Bubba's House - Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Hostel Pros and Cons

Cons

• Potential to share with smelly/noisy/snorey people
• May have to wait for a toilet or shower
• Certain etiquette to be followed e.g. lights out at a reasonable time, no chatting in the room too late etc.

Pros

• Drastically reduced accommodation costs
• Breakfast often included
• Increased opportunity for meeting people
• Access to a kitchen
• Access to common areas
• Bar or café located on the grounds or connected

Are hostels for everybody?

Hostels are not for everyone. Sometimes even the private rooms can be below expectations and sleeping in a dorm with a group of strangers can certainly take some getting used to. That said, if you can get past the dramatic loss of privacy, staying in a hostel is a great option for those looking to stretch their money out and has the extra benefit of being the perfect place for solo travellers looking for temporary travel buddies.

A nap with a view! The hostel pet getting in the picture.

Have you got any advice for first timers staying in a hostel or have any extra questions? Let me know in the comments below!

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Solo Travel Tips - How to meet people while traveling

Traveling on your own can be very daunting. For some people, it’s the one thing that stops them from getting out there and visiting the places they want to. As an introvert, I still get anxious when I get to a new place and I have to make friends all over again.

Solo travel can be tough but it also has it’s benefits. Funnily enough, one of the main benefits is how easy it is to meet people!

When you’re travelling in pairs or as a group, you don’t naturally tend to include other people in your conversation and likewise, a group of solo travelers are less likely to reach out to big groups of friends. Some of my closest friends are people that I have met while travelling and sometimes have even met up again to visit new countries together.

To help you get over your own inhibitions about travelling on your own, here are some tips that has helped me over the years.

Group excursion to a small weaving community, Antigua, Guatemala

1) Choose the right hostel

On my travels I have found myself in some hotels that attract certain groups of traveler. There’s the all hippie, fire-twirling, crystal carrying crew with questionable hygiene and a focus on “eco” practices over all else. There was the all French Canadian hostel where the conversation was predominantly in French. Some places are just popular with certain groups of traveler because it meets that particular need. There’s even some hostels that mostly attract couples, not much fun for a single female!

To circumvent this, make sure to do you research when choosing where to stay. Read reviews online using either TripAdvisor or a hotel booking site and look for key phrases and guidance on where will suit your particular personality.

A lot of hostels these days also put on events, like free drink nights, Sunday BBQ's and movie nights. If you have a choice, I also highly recommend staying in a hostel that provides breakfast. A communal breakfast is a a great opportunity to chat to other travelers. 

Christmas picnic with some new friends

2) Stay in dorms

Depending on your budget, you might think that a dorm room is the last place you want to sleep. They can be noisy, smelly and personal space is at a minimum. If you do your research though, you can find some very nice dorms. The benefit of staying in a dorm is you have some automatic friends, people to chat with during the day and discuss travel plans.

I am currently staying in a "Deluxe Dorm" that has brand new orthopaedic mattresses, privacy curtains and personal outlets and lights as well as hotel-style bathrooms and a balcony. I can still sleep in comfort and take the opportunity to hang out with my fellow room mates.

3) Force yourself into the middle of the action

Just last night I arrived at a new hostel in San Cristobal, my all-female dorm was on the quiet side and everyone seemed to be hanging out in the garden by the bonfire. Even though it made me feel physically ill, I forced myself to go take a seat by the fire and say hi to everyone loudly. Once that was over with, everyone introduced themselves to me and I was instantly part of the conversation.

If being confident doesn’t come naturally to you, the best thing to do is to just pretend. Choose someone in your life that you admire for their assertiveness and pretend to be them. I pretend to be a good friend from home who is the most extroverted, confident women I know. When I’m on my own I just think, how would she assert herself into this conversation?

Hanging out with some new friends on an excursion to cerro del cruz in antigua, guatemala

4) Do some group activities

Just because you’re traveling on your own doesn’t mean you have to do everything by yourself. Sign up for some half-day or full-day trips that interest you, and you have some automatic friends for a few hours. If things work out, you then have some people to have dinner with or share a long bus trip with to the next destination. You might even end up with some travel partners for days or even weeks.

Cuba was one of the hardest places to meet other travelers because of the lack of hostels, but somehow I ended up with a great bunch of travel buddies after a horse riding trip. 

Have you got any advice for traveling on your own?