Hostelling is unique. Whether it’s the quirky, varied locations you find hostels set within; the sights and smells of the diverse creations rustled up in a shared self-catering kitchen; or the sense of camaraderie enjoyed between like-minded travellers, weary after a long day of adventure, there’s nothing quite like it.
One thing’s for sure, though, sharing a dorm room can be quite the experience. Let’s be honest, when else would you be sharing sleeping space with a wide assortment of travellers, potentially from across the world? It’s a great way to save money (to spend on real adventures), to make new friends, and to share stories – essentially what hostelling is all about!
To make sure everybody enjoys their stay, we’ve compiled a guide of top tips for sharing a dorm room…
Dorm tips from hostellers
“Everyone loves an organised dorm-roomer – try and get your clothes ready for the next morning, so you are not zipping and unzipping your bags, gathering things for a shower, or searching for clean clothes to wear.” – Janine, Facebook
“Great manners go a long way, especially late at night. Use the light on your mobile or a small torch to help you get from door to bunk bed with ninja-like prowess and minimal disruption. Use of the main light and late-night noise are unpopular with sleeping guests.” – Carri, Facebook
“Use the facilities provided within your bunk bed. USB charging points and bed lamps mean that you shouldn’t need to look for sockets and switches. Put down electronic devices and talk to people. Play cards, share a drink in the bar, exchange stories and provide advice on future travel plans. That is the joy of the shared dorm and a great way of meeting friends and future travel companions!” – Claire, Facebook
“Make use of shared spaces – when self-catering, eat your food in kitchens, dining rooms, or communal areas and not in bedrooms. Earplugs and an eye mask are a must – it’s also a great idea to put your towel on the side of the bed (definitely not over the ladder, though) to protect it from the light of latecomers.” – Nadege, Facebook
“Be considerate with plug sockets – if you’re travelling with lots of devices, avoid commandeering all of the sockets in the room to charge your phone, tablet, laptop, and camera – other people need them too!” – ClaoWue, Twitter
“Avoid plastic bags if you can – there is plenty of focus on minimising the use of plastic bags for environmental reasons. Hostellers, however, would more likely refer to their sanity and sleep deprivation as motives for their eradication! These bags may be handy but they’re noisy when being fiddled with first thing in the morning, so try to avoid using them!” – Lisa, Facebook
Some things to avoid
Consider the space – try not to leave your shoes (or any of your other belongings) in front of the door or in the middle of the room where other people are likely to walk. Nobody wants to be awoken by the sound of somebody clattering into a bunk bed or yelping in pain.
Don’t leave your phone on loud or vibrate as a constant pinging and buzzing will drive your fellow dorm-dwellers crazy, especially if you are the only one fast asleep, oblivious to the noise!
Keep the noise to a minimum – as much as you love playing the guitar, and we’re sure you’re supremely talented, a rendition of Wonderwall at 2 am is probably not what 99% of the other guests are in need of.
Fancy it? Book a dorm room today.
