When considering a backpacking journey or a solo visit to another country the word "hotel" usually makes me gag. I think hostels are truly the better way to go. Can't beat the experience of meeting fellow travelers, hanging out in the lounge, and you're not paying for "fluff" as you would for a hotel room. You get what you need- a place to hang your hat (or chain your backpack to your bed-as the case may be). There are drawbacks, however, to staying in hostels. You can do your part to make someone elses stay (not to mention your stay) more pleasant by avoiding certain dirty habits. Personally, I don't let these things bother me too much, as I'm not travelling to just sit around inside the hostel.
Okay. Here is an abridged list of my hostel pet-peeves
- Kitchens full of spoiled food and dirty dishes (please clean up after yourself!)
- Linen snatchers*
- unflushed toilets
- snorers
- messy roommates**
* if you need more linen, or another pillow, don't take them from the unattended beds. You never know what weary traveller might stumble into the room at 1am in need of those sheets!
** if you find your posessions becoming nomadic, round them up and keep them near your bed. If it seems that other people may have to tiptoe to the door to get around your stuff, then there's a problem.
Anything else?
-slee
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