Lucas's Blog

Hostels aren’t just places to sleep — they’re pressure cookers of humanity.

Instead of teaching us the square root of Pi or the history of the stapler, schools should offer two new subjects:

• How to start a business
• How to survive in a hostel with other humans

It’s an art form — not as fancy as the fine arts

Not as beautiful as opera.

But still, an art

The ability to live alongside like-minded strangers

Like an adult version of school camp

Crammed into rooms of 2 to 14 people who were complete strangers five minutes ago

The people you’ll meet

The stories you’ll hear

The things you’ll unfortunately see

It’s a bit like tattooing

Sometimes painful

Mostly beautiful

And it will always stay with you

Hostels are a chaotic theatre of shared bathrooms

Unholy sounds

Clashing cultures

And unspoken rules that no one formally agreed on but everyone kind of follows

Where you’ll learn more about people, life, and yourself than you ever did in uni

You’ll share rooms with the eloquent

The eccentric

Truly the most unhinged characters of the world you’d never get to see otherwise

You’ll become best friends with someone you sat next to on a food tour

Only to forget their name three days later and still follow them on Instagram for the next five years

You’ll play more games of cards than you’ve had hot dinners

Lose every single one to a German girl

You’ll sleep through blaring alarms

6 a.m. departures, and once, a Zoom sales call at 3 a.m

You’ll hear sounds in the night that not even the most forgiving gods

Or noise-cancelling headphones could save you from

Yet somehow, despite the chaos

The clutter

The damp towels hanging off every bunk

You’ll miss it the second you leave

You’ll witness world-class snoring that defies science

Leave behind mystery coins for the next backpacker

And inherit someone else’s half-used shampoo

Some of the weirdest, funniest, and most unexpectedly human moments of your life

Will unfold in a 12-bed dorm with flickering lights, mysterious stains

Maybe, just maybe,

If the stars align,

The Wi-Fi will reach your bunk (and actually work)

But don’t be fooled

Hostel living is an art form

One I’ve had the pleasure of learning firsthand

A budget-friendly

Slightly chaotic dance of patience, self-awareness

and an ability to laugh at the chaos

After 46 countries, 100+ hostels

and 10 years of trial and error, I’ve seen it all

And I live to pass on the gospel that has served me so well

So here they are:

20 of the most efficient, outrageous, money-saving, and essential hostel survival tips you’ll ever need:

Enjoy.

1. Bottom Bunk or Riot.

The 50/50 you always seem to lose. As a kid you wanted the top. As a matured adult, you want the bottom. Bottom bunk is where the power lies — easy access to your stuff, no dangerous heights, and more likely to sleep through the night. Fight for it. Say you get altitude sickness sleeping on top. Have a fear of heights or once saw someone plummet to their death from the top bunk. Do what’s necessary.

2. Instagram is still the gold standard in travel communication.

You’ll meet some amazing people at hostels — but chances are, they’re only in town for a few days. Always ask for their Instagram or social media so you can stay in touch. Want to see what they’re doing later. If you want to hike up that mountain with them later that day. Or if you want to grab some food. Bonus tip, when you’re back in their city or on the road again, you have a local friend to crash with or grab a drink. If they’re cool, don’t forget to ask for it.

3. Plan on the Wi-Fi not working in your bed.

It’ll work for 10 minutes, then disappear. So, don’t plan your whole trip around it. Download maps, guides, and things to do while you can. Take the time to put your phone down and stare at the ceiling, talk to your new roommates, or read a book. Pro tip, almost always the Wifi will work in the reception of a hostel.

4. Book Direct, Save Cash.

Hostelworld and Booking.com are great, but they take a cut. The ‘deposit’ you pay on hostel world is merely their cut. All the platforms work similarly. Always type in the hostel into google first. Compare the rates, and see if you can get it cheaper through there. Book direct with the hostel when possible — you’ll usually pay less and sometimes get a free drink or a room upgrade for your trouble.

5. Learn to Cook One Good Hostel Meal.

You don’t need to be a chef — but if you can master one solid, shareable, good-smelling meal (pasta, shakshuka, curry), you’ll become a legend in the hostel kitchen. It’s cheaper than eating out, and it’s a guaranteed way to spark conversation. Bonus points if you make extra and casually offer it around. Friendships are forged through food.

6. Sleep With Earplugs or suffer snoring insomnia.

People snore like they’re possessed by their ancient ancestors, zip and unzip their bags 300 times a night, and decide 6 a.m. is the perfect time to rummage through a plastic bag for 12 minutes. Get quality earplugs. Use them religiously. Don’t wait until someone starts making the mattress springs squeak to realise you don’t have them.

7. Your Towel Is Your 2D Guardian Angel.

Bring your own quick-dry towel. It’s not just for showers — I’ve used mine as a pillow, a curtain, a beach mat, even as a makeshift bedsheet once in Nicaragua. It might not dry you like the towels at home, but they go the extra distance for you.

8. Bring a Power Bank.

Hostel power outlets are always at a premium. Someone will inevitably be charging their phone, camera, and laptop at the same time, and they’ll use all the outlets before you can plug in your life-sustaining device. Bring a power bank. Have it charged always. There will be times when you’re very grateful you have it. In a Utopian world, every hostel in the future will have a power outlet and curtains on each bed, until then, bring some charging insurance.

9. Be Sneaky with Your Food.

Hostels are brutal when it comes to the kitchen. People will steal your food like it’s free for the taking. Always stash your snacks and leftovers somewhere hidden, preferably in a bag, under your bed, or in your locker.

10. Always Take the Free Breakfast.

As a backpacker, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of dropping $20 on breakfast. So, take full advantage of the free hostel breakfast. Sure, it’s probably a sad slice of bread, a bowl of cornflakes and the saddest instant coffee available to purchase, but if you pretend that coffee is an espresso shot from a little café in Rome, you might just convince yourself. The more you can fill up at breakfast, the less you’ll fall into the tourist trap of overpriced food later. It’ll also make you appreciate the better meals to come throughout the day

11. Hostel Beds = Free Networking

Everyone’s in it together — they’re all strangers, in some random place, looking for something. Make the most of it. A random bedmate could turn into a travel buddy, a local contact, or just someone who knows where to find the best street food in town. Don’t be afraid to talk to people. As much as we all put on masks in an environment with strangers. PEOPLE STAY AT HOSTELS TO MEET PEOPLE. Sometimes all it takes is a “hey, where are you from”, a breakfast invitation or simply a smile to start a lifelong friendship. you’ll never know if you don’t try

12. Remember people’s names

If you can nail a person’s name, they’ll instantly feel more connected to you. The trick? Link it to something memorable — like a celebrity or rhyme. Brad? Brad Pitt. Mo? Mo Salah. Lamar? Jackson. It’s simple, but it works. I started doing this in hostels, and it made conversations flow so much easier. People love when you remember their name — it’s an instant connection. This also works really well in the real world too

13. Learn the Art of the Silent Exit.

At some point, you’ll be the one who needs to leave the dorm at 5 a.m. to catch a bus, train, or flight. But there’s one problem: You’re not just sneaking out of bed, you’re trying to escape without waking up everyone. Master the silent exit. Leave your shoes under the bed, roll your backpack up in a towel to avoid the clanking sound, and practice the art of the slow zip. Having to pack your entire life into your bag at 3AM with your phone flashlight isn’t fun. Set out everything the night before for an efficient escape.

14. Towel Thieves are Real.

Protect your towel with your life. If you get a hostel towel, hide it somewhere nice. Sometimes you’ll get a rag that looks like it’s served multiple decades. If you’re getting a real towel, hide it. Don’t leave it out in the dorm or it will be gone. This goes for your own personal towel too. Don’t leave them in common areas for too long.

15. Always Take Advantage of the Free Stuff.

Free walking tours, free dinners, free drinks — if it’s free, take it. Go to the free events, meet people, and make the most of it.

16. Take the “Alternative Transport” Challenge.

You’ll find people offering rides or sharing taxis in hostels. It’ll definitely work, but that’s not the fun of travelling. Often, it’s cheaper and more fun than traditional transport. Play the cheapest transport game. Then buy a meal with the money you saved on getting an Uber. If someone offers to split a ride to a nearby town, take it. You’ll save a ton and probably meet some cool people along the way. Local trains and busses will most likely be able to get you where you need to go.

17. Hostel Kitchens & Pool Tables: The Social Hotspots.

If you’re looking to meet people, skip the “hang out in your dorm” plan and head straight to the kitchen or pool table. The kitchen is where travellers unite, bonding over cooking methods and the occasional scavenged ingredient. One minute you’re stirring a pot of something you’re not sure is edible, the next you’ve found your new travel mate who’s willing to trade you pasta for a teabag. As for the pool table, it’s a guaranteed icebreaker. Whether you’re good or bad, you’ll quickly learn that everyone’s willing to bond over a game of 8-ball and a beer. Trust me. Tried and tested in 3 continents and still the best way to start a conversation.

18. Go to the Hostel Events, Even If You’re Too Tired.

Yes, you’re exhausted. But the real magic happens at hostel events. Even if you’re not in the mood, just show up for the free dinner, pub crawl, or whatever they’re offering. Everyone’s new to the city, and you never know who you’ll meet. Talk to the person next to you, the topic doesn’t matter. Ask them where to get a haircut in the city as an ice breaker.

19. Keep Your Lock Close.

The best way to keep your stuff safe in a dorm is to lock it up. Most hostels provide lockers, but you need to bring your own lock. Don’t risk leaving anything important unattended. Travellers are all usually in the same boat in dorms, having their stuff out, but it’s best not to tempt the gods.

20. Newton’s Third Law of Hostels.

Stick with me here. Sir Isaac Newton had a brilliant law that says, “For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction”? Well, I’ve applied that same logic to hostel life. I try my best to be respectful, quiet, and tidy in shared spaces — as we all should. But if someone’s being loud, inconsiderate, or completely oblivious, especially in the early hours, I’ve decided to return the favor. That bag I was going to pack quietly? I’ll pack it right next to your bed. That zipper I was going to close outside? I’ll unzip it like I’m conducting a violin symphony. If you’re watching TikTok at full volume while I’m trying to sleep, well, I might let my alarm ring out a few more times than required. It’s my own hostel justice system.

LB