Across the world, hostels have been set-up to provide accommodation for travellers – as well as offering a chance to meet others. Hostels tend to be the least expensive accommodation choice, at least of those that offer a roof and a bed. As they vary in quality, clientele, cleanliness, and atmosphere, it is impossible to make precise generalisations about them. But there are features that usually define hostels: shared bedrooms, communal spaces, and a less formal environment compared to hotels.

I have stayed in many hostels across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Asia, Central America, and Europe. I have witnessed the good, the bad, and the ugly (which I shall touch on shortly). I have also learned what to expect, and how to get the most out of staying in a hostel.

My experiences

I have experienced a variety of different types of hostels – from a surfer shack on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, to a stone cottage in a remote village below the mountains of Spain, and bustling hostels in the centres of Europe’s biggest cities.

I lived in hostels across Australia for around 12 months in total. My stays ranged from one night, to a week, while the single longest stay in one hostel was seven months. That extended stay was while fruit picking in a small town in Victoria, two hours north of Melbourne, with fellow workers. That hostel became my home, and my roommates my family. It is an experience that I will never forget.

In contrast, while I was in Brisbane, I stayed in eight hostels across a period of three months. I moved as I saw fit, when I had decided I wanted somewhere new: a change of scenery, atmosphere, or people. Sometimes it was because I wasn’t fond of the place. I was working in Brisbane, and some hostels there attracted tourists that were more interested in partying and having late nights – that’s not compatible with full-time work.

What you should expect

Opinions of hostels must be largely subjective, because of both one’s preferences and desires. That is, what you want from your stay will likely determine whether you enjoy what that hostel offers. And your toleration of activities that may or may not occur will also be a factor: cleanliness issues, noise – often fuelled by alcohol, illegal drug taking on or around the premises, physical relations between roommates, and other nefarious activities.

But most hostels are welcoming, safe, orderly, and well-maintained. There are a few essentials to staying in hostels, and although this isn’t an exhaustive guide (and I welcome further suggestions), I hope this helps you prepare for, and enjoy, your stays in hostels.

Valuables

Keep everything you really don’t want to lose on your person or stored away: in a safe or a locker with a padlock. Don’t give an opportunistic thief the opportunity.

Food

Label your food with your name and date purchased – to put off any would-be thieves or staff looking to clean out old food from the cupboard or fridge.

Friends

Seeing all the other guests socialise while you sit and eat alone can feel extraordinarily lonely. Most guests will be in a similar position to you, though – away from friends and family. So, don’t be shy and strike up a conversation. And, even if you don’t want to be friends with everyone you meet, being polite and building rapport with other guests might mean they look out for you during your time there.

Enemies

Be considerate. No one expects you to be a saint, and most guests will expect some disturbance in a hostel. But crossing the line – taking others’ food, loud noise in the early hours of the morning, or other unsociable behaviour is a quick way to become unpopular.

Reviews

Do some research on the place beforehand, if possible. Any mention of bedbugs in the reviews is a major red flag for me. Not only are the bites irritating; bedbugs can travel with you in your bag or on your clothes. Reviews may also hint at whether it’s a “party” hostel – expect noise, or if it’s a “working” hostel – expect quieter evenings.

Common decency

Don’t use the beds in shared rooms for anything other than sleeping. No one should be made to feel uncomfortable because you (and your companion) didn’t pay extra for a private room.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

I have witnessed the downsides of hostels – the sights, the sounds, and the smells. Life in hostels can be frustrating at the best of times. And yet, my feeling towards hostels is overwhelmingly positive. I have discovered that when I’m away from family and friends, striking up a new friendship – even if fleeting – can be more meaningful than it otherwise might have been.

Hostels have provided me with opportunities to meet and bond with people from all over the world. I have heard many fascinating travel stories, learned about foreign food and recipes, listened to different types of music, and had insights into other cultures. They also gave me a chance to share my own experiences to listeners who were genuinely interested in where I had been and what I had been up to.

Hostels can be great fun. Most hostel guests are friendly. And if you can adapt to the nuances of hostel life, they can thoroughly enrich your travels.