Fresh off of a week of travel where I stayed in four different hostels, I have some thoughts:
A) Staying in hostels over the past five years has taught me how to be extremely resourceful.
and
B) A little prep will go a long way.
These essentials will make your stay at a hostel much easier - even if you get the top bunk!
A Dual-Port USB Wall Charger
You never know how many outlets you will be gifted (or have to share), so be prepared to do all of your charging in one socket.
Using a dual charger gives you extra power - I use mine to charge up my phone and my portable battery.
A Tote Bag
Remember- you don't have a private bathroom. A small, easily-foldable tote bag makes shower time a lot easier.
Toiletries, towels, clothes- it adds up even for the most efficient travelers. Bringing a tote will make the walk to the bathroom smoother- not to mention prevent you from losing a sock or waking everyone up when you drop your bottle of shampoo.
Flip Flops
Remember the showers in your college dorm? You wouldn't enter one of those bad boys without some flippy-floppies, and the same rules apply in a hostel.
Flips flops are also great for quick trips to the bathroom and walking around the shared spaces, without the hassle of putting on/taking off your shoes- top bunkers, this one is especially for you!
Headphones
I mean, let's be honest, these are probably in your backpack already to avoid crying airplane babies and enhance your wandering experiences, but double check before heading to a hostel.
They have come in handy multiple times- watching Netflix before bed, relaxing to music, and drowning out the sound of any extra roommate noises you don't care to be a part of.
[Bonus Non-Essential But Useful Item:]
A Ridiculously Long Charging Cord
Remember what I said about outlets? Well, that one outlet might be a bit of a reach.
I like to check my phone, alarms (vibrate only if you are a nice hostel guest!), research travel plans for the next day, and of course, get my social media fix before bed, so having my phone within reach makes my stay more comfortable.
I hope these five essentials make your next (or first!) hostel stay a bit more convenient!
Follow me on Instagram @travel.a.map for fun travel pictures!
-Jessie
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