One of the best ways to save money while travelling is to stay in hostels instead of hotels.
Hostels come in all shapes, sizes, locations and price brackets but in general they are a cost effective and convenient option, particularly for solo travel.
For someone who has never stayed in one before, the idea of sharing a room may be daunting, but have no fear.
Fellow hostellers are just like you. Its so easy to find people with common interests, probably travel(!) and everyone is usually very friendly.
There are however a few differences to be aware of when staying in a shared room so I want to share my top hostelling tips.
Pack Pajamas
This sounds obvious, but if you’re not someone who usually sleeps in pajamas, be sure to pack some on this trip! It’s a little awkard to get up in the middle of the night and creep to the bathroom down the corridor in your undies!
Bring a lock
Hostels will usually always provide a locker or drawer for you to store your valuables, but not always a padlock. Carry a combination lock with you to be sure you can secure your valuables safely in the shared room while you are out for the day or asleep at night.
Get Earplugs or headphones
Shared accommodation comes with the occasional downside of some extra noise in the evenings. Depending on the city or placement of the hotel, people may come home late at night which can disturb your sleep. The quick fix is to always ensure you pack earplugs or sleep with headphones and you’ll wake up the next morning fresh and ready to take on the day.
Utilise the Free Food
In a lot of hostels there will be a kitchen, and will that a free food box or fridge shelf full of goodies left from previous guests. Check it out when you arrive to make use of the spices, herbs or condiments for cheap dinners in the vening. Or, go one step further and see if you can create an entire meal from what’s on offer! I ate for free in Iceland by getting creative with spaghetti, herbs & tomato puree.
Bring flip-flops/ sandals
Chances are, you may have these in your luggage anyway, but even if you’re headed to a winter destination, sandals can be super useful in hostels. Specifically for showering where the facilities are usually shared, shower shoes are hygienic and an easy way to get back and forth to your room.
