Staying in a shared hostel is a perfect idea if you are travelling on a budget. Many student travellers and people who do not have the luxury to splurge book into shared hostels while travelling. For you to enjoy your time and make the people who you are sharing the room with to feel comfortable, you must embrace the etiquette of staying in a shared hostel.
The Dos
- Clean up after yourself. You will most likely be sharing facilities like kitchen and bathroom. Ensure that when you leave the hostel, everything you used has been returned where it was found, and surfaces cleaned.
- Carry your valuables with you when you go out. This is so that you do not accuse your roommates of stealing from you when you return.
- Be polite in conversations with the people you are sharing space with. They do not expect you to be unnecessarily chatty, but politeness goes a long way.
- Replace/pay for what you have broken. Some hostels deduct from everyone if something breaks and nobody owns up. Return what you borrowed without waiting to be reminded.
Donts
- Don’t blast music or engage in loud conversations especially when it is time to sleep. Have some phone etiquette and do not have phone conversations and arguments that make people around you feel awkward.
- Don’t touch what does not belong to you. Avoid touching people’s luggage especially when they are away. You should also not borrow anything without permission.
- Don’t ask personal questions that make people in the shared room feel uncomfortable. Conversations about sexuality, religion, salary, and other personal matters should be avoided unless it is a general talk.
- Don’t try gossiping someone else who is staying at the same hostel. If you have issues, candidly address them or escalate with the hostel manager.
Remember to enjoy yourself and not focus on what other people in your shared space are doing. The most important thing is to respect other people if you expect the same to be accorded to you.
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