Throughout the time as a ho(s)tel booker, I have found that there are certain items which all true hostelers should carry in their back-back, duffle bag, suitcase, or what-have-you, in order to make hostel life a little easier while sleeping through the night, soundly, among strangers:
1.Flash light: Although I have seen iPhones serve as flash lights throughout all hours of the night when hostelers are sneaking in the door and unto the dorm floor, navigating slowly toward their assigned bunk bed, followed by trying to open padlocked bins in silence (which, by the way is never a silent ordeal) so that tooth brushes, PJ's,computers, hair brushes and all other trivial items can be retrieved before stumbling in the dark toward the shared bathroom- also usually a task intended to be conducted in silence, but usually ends up awakening half the other hostelers; only to repeat the stumbling in not-so-silent way back to the bunk bed before passing out...until the next hosteler shows up and repeats the task of conquering the dorm room obstacle course in the dark; thus, the use of a small flash light makes the whole ordeal a little easier. Trust me, the bunk bed ladders, especially after consuming a few glasses of wine, becomes a death trap if attempting to climb with no light present! I have, regretfully, personal experience of this, and after almost crashing toward the floor as I was grasping into air instead of railing because of limited view of the ladder and rail. I was, thereafter, facing a choice: either to give up drinking wine whilst climbing hostel bunk bed ladders...or to bring a flash light next time I was living the ho(s)tel booking life! I opted, of course, for the latter choice, and found a cheap travel reading light which fits perfectly between the teeth (mission possible style!) while swinging myself up toward the top bed.
2. Beanie Hat: Now, I am not saying that I have actually heard of anyone having the "pleasure" of bringing with them the gift of a nice little family of head lice whilst hosteling, but I have had the experience of laying my head down on a hostel pillow with great hesitance, despite the fact that such pillow was covered with clean linen. So, I solved the problem by wearing a Beanie hat to bed! I couldn't tell you if wearing a hat will keep the little critters away from the scalp, but besides looking hipster fabulous while sleeping, I have found that it provides some sort of comfort knowing that lice and co. will face a greater challenge if they attempted to camp down somewhere among my reddish locks as opposed to an uncovered head; it also relieves of any psychosomatic tendencies such experiencing an itching scalp even before the head has landed unto the pillow...voila, problem solved!
3.Padlock: Ok, this one is an absolute must-have! Keep in mind, that even though some hostels have bins and/or lockers where luggage can be stored, it isn't always the case at all hostels. Therefore, having a small padlock which also can be used to lock your back-pack, suit case, etc. comes quite handy. Thus far, I have only had the pleasure of sharing dorm rooms with fantastic hostelers whom all have trusted each other by leaving everything from top-notch electronic devices out in the open, to hanging one's most intimate clothing about on the bunk bed railings...because nothing brightens a hostel dorm like newly washed undies in hot pink, lime green, and the occasional Bjorn Borg brief dangling from everywhere much like ornaments on a Christmas tree! However, it is always better to be safe than sorry; taking responsibility for your own belongings by locking it up keeps everyone honest...if you know what I mean!
4.Ear plugs: If you are annoyed because of the noise level in a hostel, then I am here to tell you that a life as a ho(s)tel booker is not for you! We all from time to time get distracted by all the activity which stirs in a dorm room, which, by the way, seems to increase depending upon the number of persons occupying such room, in addition to the fact that some people have a tendency to snore really,really loudly...I am talking about the nail-down-the-ceiling-before-it-blows-off kind of snoring; but there is a small solution to such a problem with enormous benefits: earplugs! The small spongy wonders are but a small investment which you will thank yourself for purchasing later once you have had the pleasure of sharing a room with a super-level snorer...
5. Passport and other form of valid ID: This on is self-explanatory; even in hostels are you asked to present identification when checking in.
6. Flip-flops: Everyone will love you for having a pair of flip-flops with you. As showers are shared by many, wearing these little sandals will prevent you from bringing an unwanted souvenir such as athlete's foot with you back home...or even worse yet, spreading the "joy" to shared bathrooms in other hostels.
Now that you have the little list of gadget-must-haves, there is nothing stopping you from becoming a bonafide ho(s)tel booker;
Bon Voyage!
Sincerely,
The Great Dane
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