Best Tips for Staying at a Hostel
Hey y'all! About a year and a half ago, I spent several months working at a hostel in downtown DC. Hostel work is wild (not something that's for me long term, to be honest), but I'm glad I did it because it taught me a lot of great tips and tricks for working at hostels. This week in one of my online comics, the 7/11 Barcrawl, the main characters end up having issues with another hostel guests. As the comic progresses (please keep tuning in, hehe), they'll meet amazing friends and travel companions there! There are some epic highs and lows. Because of this, I wanted to write this post so I can teach you how to handle anything that might come your way. Here are all my best tips:
1. Take advantage of free food.
Most hostels will offer free breakfast. It's not typically fancy, but it can help stretch your trip funds! It's also nice to grab food early and then get right to your day without worrying about tracking down breakfast. My hostel also offered free group dinner once a week, which is a great way to meet people (AND get free food). You can ask front desk staff about what food is available and at what times and they'll be happy to help.
2. Gender neutral dorms: the good and the bad
Most hostels now will offer gender neutral or co-ed dormrooms. This is great, because it means that if you are staying with a friend who is not the same gender as you, you can stay in the same dorm room. It also means that trans and nonbinary travelers don't have to choose to stay in a gendered dorm if they don't want to. Before working at the hostel, I stayed in gender neutral dorms a few times with my male friends and had good experiences. However, after having worked at a hostel, I would NOT recommend staying in a gender neutral dorm to women or most non-binary people unless you are traveling with a male companion. There are a lot of creepy dudes who intentionally ask to stay in gender neutral dorms because they are hoping women will be there. It's exactly as freaky as it sounds and was so bad at the hostel I worked at that I would refuse to book a single man into a gender neutral dorm. I know it sounds insane, but I saw some creepy things happen, so I recommend doing whatever you need to do to feel safe.
3. If you have a problem, tell hostel staff ASAP.
It is unlikely that you'll run into problems during a hostel stay, but if you happen to, staff is there to help! Tell someone at the front desk what's going on right away, and they'll do what they can to fix the situation. If it's something structural (A/C isn't working, for example), they may not be able to fix these issues right away since maintenance staff is often only available during typical business hours. However, they'll do what they can do help fix the situation for you even if they can't solve a problem like A/C right away; switching your dorm to one with functional A/C, for example. If you are having any issues with another guest, tell staff right away! I know it's temping to ignore it, but staff can change your room or remove the other guest, or do something else to help. Better to have a peaceful stay than to feel like you have to ignore a guest who is being loud while you are sleeping, for example. When people had problems with other guests at my hostel, I often switched them into private rooms for free, or did something else to make sure their stay was still enjoyable. The staff wants you to be able to relax and feel safe, so don't hesitate to ask if there are any problems (big or small).
4. Location, location, location.
If you're staying at a hostel in any American city, it's worth thinking about where it's located, because America doesn't always have reliable public transportation. Look on Google maps to double check that there are train/bus stops nearby, or choose a hostel that is close to tourist attractions that you want to see. Better to pay a little bit more to stay closer to your activities than to end up spending a fortune on Ubers.
5. My favorite hostels
I wanted to share a few of my favorite hostels/hostel chains!
The Local NYC -- This is such a nice hostel if you are going to stay in New York. It's gorgeous, clean, and cheap. There's a really nice bar in the lobby, and a gorgeous rooftop where you can see all of Manhattan. I recommend it so highly. I think about that rooftop a lot...it's one of the first places I want to go after COVID.
High Road Hostel -- this is a DC hostel that is gorgeous and is in a great location, easily accessible to many restaurants, bars, and cute shopping. You can walk downtown from here, but buses and trains are also easy to get to and very cheap.
Anne Hostel Tokyo -- I stayed in Anne Hostel in Tokyo and LOVED it. There is free breakfast every morning, and the location is great. It's quiet, but there are tons of restaurants and stores close by. The train is only a few blocks away and is super, super cheap. The staff is so nice and there are lots of other friendly guests!
That's all for now! Feel free to comment if you have any other questions and I would be happy to answer!
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