Abe's Pro Tips: Hostel Etiquette

While the pun is unintentional, when sharing a dormitory with a large number of other people there are quite a few bad habits which can lead to a very irritated group of bunkmates. Here are some tips on how to survive in a hostel environment (ok, that one was intentional).

1) Whether its waiting to get a spot, wash your clothes, take a shower, or use the toilet; don't cut in line. I know they say that lines aren't such a big deal in Europe, but hostels usually have an eclectic mix of nationalities many of whom get very angry with line-jumpers (just ask our Canadian friends, eh).

2) Try not to giggle (to loudly) at all the old man/women ass you are likely to see. European's are apparently all secret nudists and are not very shy about their bodies. 

    

    2.a) Along the same lines, there is a difference between getting undressed to go to sleep or the  showers and just strutting your stuff. Don't be that guy.

3) Bring Ear plugs. You share the room with a lot of people. Sometimes a whole lot of people... 

And some (if not most) will snore. Usually you just have to deal. However if you are lucky enough (and the snoring is bad enough) a fiery Spanish lady will scare you half-to-death by yelling at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night at the offending nostrils and threatening to start throwing things if they dont shut-up.

4) Respect the quiet hours. In fact, if you are going to be loud at any time get out of the bed area. People are trying to sleep. There is no real reason you can't go outside to argue about where you are going to go tomorrow. And for heaven's sake, don't leave the bathroom door open and proceed to blow-dry your hair at 5 in the morning. 

5) Don't put things on the heater to dry. No one wants the whole room to smell like your underwear.

6) Use your head lamp sparingly. I don't care if its on the red-light setting, it still blinds the crap out of me when you point it in my face. 

7) Last but not least. If you want to get on the road early, go into the hallway to pack your bag. Digging through a rucksack sounds unfortunately similar to crinkling large amounts of aluminum foil before 6 in the morning.

If you follow these simple tips, and use a little coming sense our spanish friend won't have to throw her walking stick at you.