Okay, so I’m reaching that point in my travelling life when hostels are slowly being replaced by hotels and Airbnb. And now, if I do have to stay in one, I’m finding it hard to tolerate bad hostel etiquette.
Hostel etiquette is another one of those unwritten social conventions that we all submit to in light of living in a civilised society. Kind of like offering to take your shoes off when you enter someone’s home, or not farting in a confined space.
Now, I’ve been pretty much using hostels exclusively for the last ten years, and it’s safe to say I’ve probably stayed in over 100 of them. But lately I’ve been noticing some pretty bad hostel behaviour becoming pretty much standard behaviour in hostels around the world, and surely you guys know what I’m talking about.
If not, here are three don’ts you absolutely must live by if you’re staying in a hostel.
#1: Don’t pack your bag early in the morning
Source: budgettravel.com
It surprises me again and again that people fail to realise they’re sharing a room with between three and 10+ other travellers when they book a room. Surely the price would give it away, no? Now they’re either blissfully unaware that they could be sleeping in the same room as an axe murderer or the original inspiration behind the movie “Hostel,” or they are bloody selfish! Me, being the positive chap that I am, prefer to think the former.
But listen up people: no one wants to be woken up by the rustling of your plastic bags, nor the zipping/unzipping of your suitcase. If you do need to pack early, either do it the night before (ha, hardly), or take all your stuff outside the dorm and do it there. You dorm mates will appreciate you for it and you won’t have broken hostel etiquette rule #1. Oh yeah, don’t slam the door on your way out either!
#2: Don’t turn the main lights on after midnight
Source: lonelyplanet.com
Travellers operate on their own schedules. Some travellers may be holding onto dear life in the face of 32 hours of no sleep, whilst some travellers may be operating on a different time-zone, such that midnight is actually only 9am at home…
So in order to lend a little stability and predictability to the travelling world, it’s important ya’ll follow the rule of no lights after midnight. This is to keep everyone happy – whether they’re full of energy, full of fatigue, or just needing a lie down. If you do need some light, use your phone (there are torch apps, duh!) or, if your hostel’s cool, your own little personal light. Remember: happy dorm mates makes for a happy travelling experience!
#3: Don’t talk on your phone in the room
Source: gettyimages.in
Again and again, badly behaved travellers are treating a hostel dorm like it’s their own personal room, failing to understand that no one wants to hear their stupid conversations – no matter what the language – when they’re trying to get some rest, plan their day or night, or chill and watch a movie.
Take the conversation outside if you have to, but don’t be a douche and commit your dorm mates to audience members of your stupid emotional drama. Even better, switch the phone to airplane mode and actually talk to one of your potential new friends!
