Hostel packing list: Things guests often forget to pack

A hostel is a bit different from a hotel – and that’s usually a good thing. There’s more interaction here, the atmosphere is more relaxed, and the price is right. But anyone staying in a dorm (shared room) for the first time will soon realise that a few little things make all the difference between a relaxed evening and an unnecessarily stressful one.

We see this every day at reception: Guests asking for a padlock for their locker at 11 pm. Or walking down the corridor in the morning with a wet towel because their own isn’t dry yet. Or having to switch the light on in the middle of the night because their toothbrush has gone missing somewhere in their suitcase. A stay in a hostel is easy if you spend two minutes getting ready. This packing list shows you what really matters.

Category 1: Sleep & Light

• Earplugs:
  In a dorm, you share the background noise with others. Not everyone sleeps just as quietly, and not everyone comes in at the same time. Earplugs aren’t a luxury – they’re the most important investment for a good night’s sleep in a dorm. Good noise-cancelling in-ear headphones work too, if you can sleep with them in.
• Sleep mask:
  Light often wakes you up more than noise. Someone comes in late, someone’s looking for something in the morning, someone draws the curtains. A sleep mask is small, light and solves the problem completely.
• Essentials bag:
  In a hotel, you can spread your things out in the bathroom without a care. In a hostel, you stick to your own things – and when others are asleep, you don’t want to turn on the light to rummage through your suitcase or locker. The solution: pack a small bag with everything you need for the night: toothbrush, deodorant, charging cable, earplugs, sleep mask, pyjamas. Keep the bag within easy reach by your bed – and you won’t have to search for anything.

Category 2: Bathroom & Routine

• Bathroom slippers or flip-flops:
  Wet areas are shared. Bathroom slippers aren’t a sign of paranoia – they’re standard in hostels, just as they are in sports centres or swimming pools. Compact and lightweight, they fit into any corner of your rucksack. Note: At a&o hostels, each room comes with its own en-suite bathroom with shower and toilet as standard – so there are no large communal showers that dozens of guests have to share.
• Microfibre towel:
  It dries faster than a normal towel – which is important if you have a shower in the morning and can’t hang the towel up somewhere for the whole day. Many hostels offer towels for hire for a fee, but if you bring your own, you’ll have more flexibility. At a&o hostels, bed linen and towels are usually included in the price of your stay.
• Small toiletries bag:
  Instead of carrying everything separately: a compact bag for shower essentials, dental care and personal care products. You don’t want to have to rummage through your rucksack in a shared dorm in the morning, evening or at night when you really just want to pop to the bathroom quickly.

Category 3: Safety & Security

• Lock for the locker:
  In a hotel, everything is kept in your room. In a dorm, there are lockers – but they often don’t come with their own locks. A small suitcase lock or a combination lock is perfectly adequate. Don’t be paranoid, but be consistent: always put your belongings in the locker and always lock it – make it a habit. Valuables can be left at reception in a&o hostels, where they’ll be safe.
• Travel adaptor and multi-port USB:
  A modern hostel bed often has its own sockets – but if you want to charge your mobile, camera, headphones and power bank in the evening, one socket will quickly prove insufficient. A compact USB multi-socket or a small travel power strip will solve the problem. If you’re travelling to the United Kingdom or Ireland: don’t forget a UK adapter (also available at the hostel if necessary).

Summary

The difference between a good and a bad hostel stay rarely lies with the hostel itself. Most of the time, it comes down to two or three small things you’ve forgotten – and which can be sorted out in five minutes if you remember them in good time. Earplugs, a sleep mask, a toiletries bag, shower shoes, a microfibre towel, a padlock: that’s the short version. Everything else comes into play if you want to spend more time there. Your next hostel adventure awaits: book an a&o hostel now – for example in Berlin, Budapest, Edinburgh or Prague – and with the right preparation, you can arrive feeling completely relaxed.

Questions and Answers

What do I really need for a stay at a hostel?
The absolute essentials: earplugs, a sleep mask, a toiletries bag, shower shoes, a microfibre towel and a padlock for the locker. Everything else is optional.

What is the most important thing that hostel guests tend to forget?
Earplugs, a padlock and shower slippers – these are the three items we hear about most often at reception.

How can I sleep in a dorm if I’m a light sleeper?
Earplugs and a sleep mask are the most important aids. Also, make sure you’re well prepared before going to bed so you don’t have to search for anything.

Do I need shower slippers in a hostel?
Yes, they’re recommended. They’re standard in shared wet areas.

Do I need to bring my own towel or will I be given one?
Many hostels, including a&o, provide towels – either to borrow or to buy. If you bring your own microfibre towel, you’ll have more flexibility and independence.

What’s the best way to keep my valuables safe in a hostel?
Always use a locker and lock it. Never leave valuables lying out in the open by your bed – especially not whilst you’re in the shower.

Do I need a padlock for the locker?
Yes. Many hostels don’t provide their own padlocks – bringing a small one with you is the simplest solution.

Got hooked?

Then book your trip with a&o to Edinburgh!