Our Top 3 Tips For Hostels

Hostels can be one of the best ways to see the world, when done correctly. On the other hand, they can also be one of the worst experiences if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Don’t let that put you off these wonderful little places scattered across the globe. Not only are they a great way to keep your costs down, you can meet all sorts of amazing people from all sorts of places that you’d never come across in your normal day to day life. You get to try new things, make incredible memories, and drink those memories away a few hours later. Countless good stories begin with: I was at this hostel and… 

So, to make sure you get the best out of your hostel experience, here are our top 3 tips for staying in hostels.

1. Make the right hostel choice

There’s plenty of great hostels, and plenty of less than great ones out there. Save yourself the bad times by picking the best hostel for your location and your circumstances. Consider the obvious measures like budget, location, facilities and so on. On top of those, think about what you’re really looking for. Would you rather a shared dorm room or a private one for you and your friends? Think about what you plan to do in that city. If you plan on sightseeing and getting a good amount of sleep, consider the quieter hostels. On the other hand, maybe you want to focus your time on drinking and socialising, so consider a party hostel. A great way to gauge a particular hostel is through comparison sites such as hostelworld.com. Be sure to read up on other traveller’s reviews to get the best insight.

2. Pick a perfect bunch of mates

When you’re hopping between hostels, make sure you travel with at least a mate or two who you can properly trust. People you can rely on to look after you if things go south, which they unfortunately sometimes do. At the same time, try to avoid travelling in groups too large. Anyone who’s stayed at hostels can tell you how disliked the massive groups of dudes from Australia are. In addition, when you’re in a large group you’ll be less inclined to branch out to meet new people and try new things!

3. Bring the ideal towel

Whether you’re relaxing on beaches along the Amalfi Coast or just drying off after a shower, don’t underestimate the difference the right towel will make. When packing for a hostel journey you’ll truly realise how bulky traditional towels can be. Yes this is a shameless self-plug, but when a towel is going to take up half your bag, something needs to change. You do have a couple options you could try. Most hostels allow you to rent towels, but these towels are generally pretty sub-standard and the costs add up. You could also try another microfibre gym/travel towel, but god they can be boring. Get the best of all worlds with a Lazy Wombat! Super compact so it packs away nicely in your bag, and quick drying so it’s never damp for your next overnight bus ride. The spicy designs are a great conversation starter, not to mention the fact that sand falls right off them.

But hey, maybe we’re biased! Or maybe we’re onto something… there’s only one way to find out: Shop Now. 

Happy hostelling!