Ever stayed in a hostel dorm room with one, or a few people, who missed the memo on mutual respect? Sharing a space with 4-12 other people, depending on room size, comes with a set of unwritten rules that in all honesty, should be common sense. But after traveling in Mexico for the last 6 months staying in many-a-hostel with all sorts of international characters (in mixed dorms, female-only dorms, outside in a bed under the stars, in posadas, cabanas, hammocks, etc.), I’ve found that a select few just don’t get it.
Ok, let’s cut these people a little slack – maybe they were never told, or maybe they’ve never stayed in a shared living space before. But ignorance can only be used as an excuse for so long. This one goes out to you, annoying drunk guy at 3AM making all that unnecessary noise. And you, passionate lovers in the bottom bunk. Oh and let’s not forget the cliquey set who refuse to say hello. Rude.
Behold: Your Guide To Hostel Etiquette
- If it’s after midnight and people are sleeping, don’t turn on the light. That’s what your flashlight/phone/other device that lights up is for.
- Same goes for early morning excursions/departures. Early enough to still be dark outside? Do us all a favor and pack your bags the night before.
- You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend, but at least say hello when you enter the room. Especially if you make eye contact. Especially if you’re new to the space. Especially if you plan to stay for more than a day. Most people who stay in hostels are like-minded and fun to talk to. You may even get some useful information out of them – they may have just come from where you’re going. Duh.
- Shared dorms are not for sex. That’s why private rooms exist. Can’t afford one/none available? There has to be some vacant common area somewhere. Or you can just opt to not have sex for the time being. No one wants to wake up to the sounds of amateur porn in the bottom bunk. Or worse, the top.
- Keep your stuff in some sort of concentrated area. Do your laundry every once in a while. Shower!
The hostel set are by-in-large a compassionate bunch, and we’ve all broken one of these rules at one time or another. As far as I’m concerned, you get one free pass. Maybe two. Don’t make it a habit or you will become who I’m talking about. Directly. Right now.
You may be thinking, ‘Jesus, staying in a hostel sounds like the worst.’ It’s awesome, I swear – affordable, social, comfortable and the best way to backpack through a country. And just for the record, 95 percent of the people who I’ve shared a space with in Mexico have been fun, clean, friendly and respectful. But it only takes a few really bad experiences in a short period to provoke a bitter blog post. Am I right?
TIP: There are two very small things to pack that will make a huge difference when your sleep is interrupted, solo female traveler. Say it with me. Write it down. Eye mask. Earplugs. Eye mask. Earplugs. Sometimes, people snore. They can’t help it. But that doesn’t mean you have to hear it. Eye mask. Earplugs. Rinse. Repeat.
What are your rules for hostel etiquette?
