4 Essentials For Your Hostel Stay

For the unfamiliar traveler, staying in a hostel can be intimidating. Common concerns range from safety and privacy to cleanliness, but I assure you that if you go into the experience with an open mind and these hostel essentials, your stay will be more than memorable.

1. Sandals / Foldable Slippers

If you’re even slightly concerned about cleanliness sandals are an ABSOLUTE must have. Unless you book a private room (which kind of defeats the purpose of the hostel experience) and even with a private room, the likelihood of having a private bathroom is slim to none. Of course it varies hostel to hostel, but if you are expecting a hotel bathroom, you are going to be very disappointed. Having sandals will keep your feet protected from the hostel’s bathroom floor and any potential foot fungus.
You can of course purchase a pair at your destination, but bringing a pair with you will not only save you the money, but the time you spend out shopping for reasonably priced sandals.
I would also strongly recommend a pair of foldable slippers. These can fit in your purse and are useful not only in the hostel bedroom (you don’t want to use the sandals and track water everywhere), but also in the airplane if you have a long flight and have taken your shoes off.

SUBSTITUTE: wear socks in the shower or cut open a plastic bag to step on while you’re showering.

2. Microfiber Towel

Microfiber towels are relatively cheap, dry quickly, and compact.
When you’re sharing a room with others, you never really know if someone is going to decide to go ahead and use your towel when you’re out. Leaving a normal towel on your bed or bag will leave it damp, but a microfiber towel will be relatively dry by the time you’ve finished getting ready to go out and definitely dry by the morning if you shower at night.

SUBSTITUTE: most hostels will have towels for rent and some provide towels for you.

3. Lock & Key

This one speaks for itself. Most hostels offer you a locker to store your valuables, but often don’t include a lock. Sometimes locks are available for purchase, but they tend to be the most basic locks. If you have expensive items, I would invest in a sturdier lock than the ones they sell.

4. Earplugs & Eye Mask

For the most cost effective hostel stay, you may, at times, end up in a room with as many as eleven other people. Even if you only have three other hostel roommates, you’re not always going to be on the same sleep schedule as them. You could even be in a private room and have to deal with noise if you’ve accidentally booked a party hostel.
All in all, earplugs and an eye mask will help reduce disruptions in your sleep. When you’re already jet lagged from travel and have full days planned, you’ll be thanking yourself for packing these.
These also come in handy on the plane and the earplugs can be used if you go out clubbing or to a rave and want to protect your eardrums.

SUBSTITUTE: a beanie will actually do wonders as a substitute eye mask and if you can fall asleep to music, noise cancelling headphones/earphones can take the place of your earplugs.