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How to Survive the Hostel LifeBy Joe'l Glover

February 4, 2015  |  12:17pmPhoto via Flickr/William Cho

There’s nothing as exciting as grabbing your pack and heading into the world. Freedom. And while many travelers are suckers for thisromanticized vagabond lifestyle, their modern sensibilities are often rattled by reality. An obsession with hand sanitizers anddisposable gloves doesn’t make for the best hitchhikers, for instance. Like most things—sex, driving, drinking, wearing stilettos—thefirst time is a little rough, and just might make you throw up … or at least break a heel.

For hopeful vagabonds, staying a hostel is no different. You never know what you’ll walk into. However, it’s a great way to travel … aslong as you know what to expect.

Bring FootwearEven if the entire floor smells like bleach and pine-sol, wear shoes. Most hostels are lightly staffed and sanitation isn’t always a highpriority. Unless foot fungus is your thing, it’s highly beneficial to don sandals or combat boots. Foldflops is a boutique retailer thatoffers water-resistant, foldable flip-flops that are perfect for your excursion.

Sleep Fully ClothedThis is non-negotiable. Hostels are not renowned for sanitized sheets and there’s a wonderful little thing called scabies … somethinglike lice but under your skin. These little devils burrow and procreate like rabbits on ExtenZe. They create an itch in your armpits, legpits, behind your ears (all the important spots) and you’ll beg for a whole-body chemical peel. Luckily there’s a cure: Neem oil,coconut oil and hot baths. All together these ingredients repel the critters and create a glorious quartet of eco-friendly, mite-killingrelief. Discover Neem has additional info.

Don’t Showcase your BelongingsSome hostels, such as Sweet Pea Hostel in Asheville, North Carolina, offer individual lockers where you can safely store belongings.There’s also the option of paying more for a single room, but it’s pricier. It’s tempting to think that there will be a myriad of JackKerouacs and Nellie Blys hanging out on the windowsills, smoking cigarettes and telling tales, but it’s also a probability that your

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roommates will be semi-homeless twenty-somethings running from the halfway-house, or addicts looking for a cheap place toshowcase their “product.” Don’t be obvious about what’s in your pack. And don’t carry nice bags—utilize that nineties Jansport withthe juice box stains. Also, pack a small bungee chord that you can lace onto your ankle. If anyone tries to grab your bag, they’ll have towake you up first.

Don’t Carry Important DocumentsIf you must have them for one or two nights, make sure you sleep with them close to you—under your shirt or in your pants. Makepotential thieves work for it. If you must take important documents for a purpose, mail them to the next place you’re heading or backto a friend for safekeeping.

Meet Your RoommatesOne of the benefits of a hostel is that there are communal areas where you can get to know other folks and get travel advice and tips.Glenwood Springs Hostel is notorious, by word of mouth, for having a ton of foreign visitors. It’s like an orated version of Around theWorld in 80 Days. Added bonus? You can walk around the neighborhood together and have a guaranteed person, or two, to watchyour back if trouble ensues.

Apart from the potential scabies, stolen goods and possible murders, hostels are still a unique and incredibly rewarding way toexperience a city. They provide a prime spot to meet locals, cook and survive on the cheap. Even if you do catch a mystery rash, havean awkward encounter with a subpar bandit, or the ghost of Nellie Bly yells at you for walking in on her in her petticoat, at least you’llhave one hell of an experience. And isn’t that the whole point of traveling?

For a list of available hostels in the U.S. and around the globe, visit Hostelling International.

Joe’l Glover is a freelance writer based in Charlotte, N.C.

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