Stacie
Staying in a hostel is a great way to meet like-minded people and a huge money-saver when travelling around New Zealand. If you haven’t stayed in a hostel before, there are a few things you should know about. In a hostel you are sharing a dorm room, kitchen and bathroom facilities with other backpackers, so there are some rules of etiquette to avoid any disputes.
Here is a quick guide of the hostels rules: a basic DO and DON’T to make sure that you are not the one that everybody complains about.
1. Be quiet in your dorm
Partying is fun but some people are working in the morning, so try to be respectful.
2. Clean up after yourself
… especially your dishes in the kitchen.
3. No sex in the dorm
Nobody can do that in complete silence. It’s all about respect. Take a private room!
4. Use the tumble dryer
Don’t line your clothes up to dry all around the dorm.
5. Don’t steal anything from anyone
Even if you only need some salt, just ask. Travellers are nice to each other. Don’t take other people’s food. If it’s not yours, don’t eat it!
6. Make friends
Introduce yourself around the dorm and the hostel. It is all about the human experience. Buy your hostel workers a drink once a week and have a beer with the group of people staying long-term in the hostel.
7. Pack the night before
… so you can leave quickly and quietly in the morning.
8. Wear some clothes
Nobody wants to see you half naked all day long. The same goes for sleeping at night.
9. Turn your phone on silent mode at night
10. Stay clean
Take regular showers and do laundry once a week. Nobody likes a smelly roommate.