Be the first to hear about our brand-new destinations (BIG things are coming this yearđ), last-minute discounts, and more...
NIGHT IN A HOSTEL OR A BUSH TUCKER TRIAL?
Sometimes you can stay in some beautiful hostels, with friendly staff and great people. Other times, the trees and floors are infested with ants, the staff tape over windows because there isn't any glass, and the other travellers throw dirty clothes on your bed. Weâve had experiences where itâs felt like Ant and Dec are going to pop out at any moment, and award us stars so can eat something other than rice and beans. So, weâve made a list of how to survive the night if you have to suck it up and stay in a less than desirable hostel.
PADLOCK YOUR BACKPACK
Most hostels tend to have safes or lockers, but the smaller ones donât, so keeping your stuff safe is important. You donât want someone coming in drunk and thinking your backpack is theirs: PADLOCK IT. Get a lock with a code thatâs not super obvious, so your passport, money and clothes are safe.
PACK LOO ROLL
It sounds ridiculous but bring toilet paper EVERYWHERE. Even a small pack of tissues. Some hostels donât stock toilet roll so just bring some because you donât want to get caught short and end up having to use your sock. I mean, anything works in a pinch, but laundry days are few and far between...
HOLY GRAIL: EAR PLUGS!
The best part of travelling can be making friends with new people and experiencing the local life. But if youâve just got off a 12-hour flight and need to sleep off the jet leg and thereâs a group of rowdy boys singing about how much they love Liverpool FC, youâre not going to be happy. We recommend packing multiple packs of ear plugs to block out any noise.
MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Weâve been in hostels and the resident mosquitos have had an absolute field day. Not all hostels work to keep out bugs, so we cannot recommend having either a mosquito net, spray, or coil on hand. There is nothing worse than being dive bombed at 1am by a gang of hungry mosquitoes.
SINK SHOWERS
It might sound gross but some hostels donât clean their showers, and some have NEVER cleaned their showers. Most of the time, you can put on some flip flops and be fine, but some bathrooms arenât even worth going into. We recommend that you stock up on baby wipes so you can have a temporary wash in the sink. Itâs not the most glamorous but itâll do the trick.
Donât get us wrong, hostel life can be so fun and itâs all a part of the experience, but it never hurts to go on the trip prepared! If you're travelling for the first time, take a look at our blog full of tips and tricks for first timers here! Safe travels!