How to behave in a hostel. Unspoken rules of etiquette

If you have never stayed in a hostel before, it will be useful for you to familiarize yourself with the unspoken rules of etiquette adopted in such places.

Clean up after yourself

This applies not only to the tidiness of the room where you sleep but also to common areas. Remember that you are a guest, and other people live in the room and the hostel with you, so small indulgences you allow yourself at home are undesirable and, in some cases, even unacceptable here. Bathroom should be clean after you, with no traces of shaving foam, toothpaste, and especially no hair in the drain. As for the kitchen, a hostel is not a restaurant; there are no waiters here, so always clean up and wash your dishes after yourself.

Room. In the room where you sleep, you should also avoid clutter; make your bed, as no one else will do it, and don’t scatter dirty clothes. If you’ve washed clothes and want to dry them, dry them on your bed or ask for permission before occupying someone else’s space. Additionally, you can use the radiator, and if it’s occupied and someone else’s clothes have already dried on it, ask them to remove them. If the owner isn’t around, you can remove them yourself, carefully placing them on a nearby chair or bed. And please, do not dry dirty clothes in the room!

Quiet hours are still in effect!

Try not to make noise from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM. If checking out early, pack your belongings in advance. If you need to leave the hostel before 8–9 AM, pack all your belongings the night before. Pack your suitcase or backpack and prepare the clothes you plan to wear. There’s no need to wake up at 5 AM and start packing, making noise with bags. If you arrive late, do not turn on the light. People are sleeping at night, and you shouldn’t burst into the room at 1 AM, turn on the light, and get ready for bed. If you plan to be out late, buy a small flashlight or use the one on your phone. Also, prepare the items you might need — pajamas, a toothbrush, and other toiletries. This way, you won’t disturb others by rummaging through your bags for toothpaste or a razor. Do not talk at night. If you feel like having heartfelt conversations, even in a whisper, it’s better to go out and talk in the common room or kitchen. No parties in the room. For these purposes, many hostels have separate common areas, or as a last resort, the kitchen. But you should not throw a party in the room, even if all the residents of your dormitory agree. Music, noise, and loud conversations will be heard in other rooms as well. Do you snore? Perhaps a hotel would be better? If snoring is an issue for you, spare other guests’ sleep and book a hotel. However, if you are determined to stay in a hostel, at least warn about your “little problem” in advance, ideally during check-in; if there are available rooms, they might be able to accommodate you separately.

Be sociable

When you check into a room, it’s considered good manners to greet everyone, ideally introducing yourself and getting to know each person. Don’t be a withdrawn loner; many people stay in hostels for communication and new acquaintances. It’s a great chance to practice English and get acquainted with the cultures of different countries.