In this post I will present to you a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned over my time as a hostel traveler in Europe. Hostel traveling is cheap, fun and a great way to experience the world on a budget but, as always, there are a few tradeoffs.

Bring Ear Plugs

First things first. If you are someone that can fall asleep anywhere at any time, you might be fine, but if you are like me and can’t stand snorers, bring a pair of ear plugs. Trust me, you will somehow end up in a room with the world’s LOUDEST snorer, and it’s best to come prepared. It’s inescapable. I’m telling you, you couldn’t imagine how loud some people snore. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Check Bulletin Boards

Usually hostels will have bulletin boards located near the front desk or in the lounge area where activities and events are posted. The cost of the events varies depending on the hostel, but from my experience the majority of the time they are free for the hostel’s guests or at least discounted. These events can be anything from pub crawls to karaoke nights to free walking tours, and they’re always a great way to meet people. So be sure to check the board and see what you might be interested in.

Hostelworld.com

HostelWorld is my go-to hostel booking app. It has all the small details about the hostel such as distance from the city center, reception hours, customer reviews and ratings, pictures, lists of amenities, everything.

What’s more, there is a group chat feature where once you make your booking, you are put in a group chat with all of the other travelers staying at the hostel. There are constantly people asking if anyone would like to go to see a certain famous landmark in the city, or even just seeing if anyone would like to grab drinks. It’s a great way to meet new people and connect with travelers from around the world.

Pro tip: say you’re staying at one hostel but there’s a different one in the same city that seems to be either more fun or host people that are more your vibe. Book a room at that hostel, you’ll get access to that hostel’s group chat, then cancel your booking (usually for free). Thank me later.

Make Sure There is a Luggage Storage

Trust me, early hostel checkout paired with a late flight is a brutal combination. If you are arriving early in the morning or leaving later in the day, make sure to check that the hostel has a luggage storage area. Most hostels nowadays do have one, but it’s better to check and make sure before you reserve a bed. Some will cost a small amount, some are free. Just make sure that there is one. This way you can store your luggage and not have to lug it around with you while you go off exploring on your last day in that location.

Another thing is you should bring some type of lock. Regardless of whether it’s a bike lock or a combination lock (I recommend combination lock), it will come in handy when you want to lock your bag up for the night. Many hostels have storage spaces that come with your bed, but you are usually expected to provide your own lock. Most travelers that I’ve ran into just leave their stuff sitting out, but if you want an added sense of security then I recommend bringing your own lock. It’s not super common to get your stuff stolen, but there’s always a chance.

Mid-Day Naps

These are a game changer. From my experience, no one is normally in the hostel rooms from around 1pm to about 3 or 4pm. So, if you got up early to explore the area and get tired halfway through the day, just know that these times are great for naps in the hostel room. A nap with an open window and a slight breeze in a European city in summer? Chef’s kiss. Add a little rain in there? Even bigger chef’s kiss.

Read the Reviews

This is crucial to know what you’re getting yourself into. Guests review the hostels all the time, and even the best hostels sometimes get bad reviews. My advice is: if it’s something small that could’ve been easily fixed and is only mentioned by one or two people, don’t worry about it. But if there are many recent reviews mentioning a problem (especially if it has anything to do with the bathrooms or overall cleanliness) I would say steer clear.

Talk to the Receptionists

The receptionists at the hostels are locals (or at least know the area pretty well). They are a great asset when you are looking for a good place to eat or drink, or really if you’re looking for any advice at all. They’ll also be the best for recommending things to do that aren’t so touristy. And they’re almost always super friendly!

Enjoy It.

There’s something special about hostel traveling. It’s not a lifestyle for everyone, but there’s something bittersweet about the whole thing. It may suck that you have to share a bathroom with six other people that you don’t know, or listen to someone snoring all night long, or having to get ready for bed in the dark, but with it comes the feeling that you’re having an experience that you’re going to have lodged somewhere in your brain forever. It’s almost like a taste of adventure – to me at least. So have fun while you can, because while it may feel good to return to your bed back home, the longing to continue your travels returns quickly.

Happy travels everyone!