Hostel help

[mbo108]

Okay, i aologize, i'm sure there is the answer out there somewhere, but I couldnt read all the posts on this site (not that wouldnt be more exciting than actually working today).

I'm leaving for Dublin in 9 days (9!). i've travelled to europe twice before but i've never stayed at a hostel.

i'm at the ashfield house in dublin btw. anyways, what do i need to know that i dont know now? i'll need a lock for the cage/locker to store my backpack correct? what do i do with my passport? that and my digital cam are my only real valuables and i'll be taking my camera with me.

any advice would help, thanks!

-mbo108

[space virgin]

Keep your passport with you at all times. Seriously. Occasionally I was stuck in hostels that didn't have lockers in the room so I took whatever was valuable to me out of my bag (passport, wallet, camera, that's about it) and I either slept with my moneybelt on if I was REALLY paranoid or just had my small purse/daypack with me in my bed, lol. Usually I don't really move around too much when I sleep so I wasn't worried about it falling off. Normally I prefer to sleep on the bottom bunk but I always took the top one in rooms that didn't have lockers. Have a great trip!!

[pinion]

Your passport should be in your money belt, along with any other important documents & money.

Your digi cam and any other valuables should probably be kept in your day pack. I would make sure to buy some zipper locks for both your day pack and your main pack. They won't all together stop people from stealing from you, but they'll make someone thing twice. Remember, if someone wants to steal something from you chances are they'll get it!

I kept my money belt and day pack with me for pretty much the whole time I was in Europe. If you do have to leave both of them behind at the hostel, make sure they are locked up in a locker or a cage.

Try to worry about your stuff too much, you'll wreck your trip. Hence why you shouldn't bring too much stuff you don't want to part with.

Just keep the bling bling on the d-low and you'll be fine.

[mbo108]

Just keep the bling bling on the d-low and you'll be fine.

Low down...down low...no doubt. nevermind. yeah, dont worry, not so much with the bling.

Thanks for your help.

One more thing, i saw they have automatec security lockers, so the staff won't have access to them (supposedly) do you think these things are safe?

[GoKrazy]

I would keep my passport and money/credit cards with me as much as possible (money belt, etc.). Some hostels also have a safe where you can keep your passport of money. If you decide to use it I suggest you put everything in a sealed envelope and initial the seal, so nobody is tempted to tamper with any of it.

[bellelass]

Keep your money and your passport and your credit cards in a money belt around your waist. I have the silk one (wicks away the sweat and dries fast) on rick steve's website and its wonderful. The one time I didnt use it I got taken for 70 pounds in Rome. Its not bulky, and the peace of mind is absolutely priceless. Just keep a day's worth of money in your (carefully guarded) purse or wallet so you dont dig into your pants to buy a coffee or something.

One more thing, i saw they have automatec security lockers, so the staff won't have access to them (supposedly) do you think these things are safe?

As for that, it sounds fine. A word on being suspicious of hostel staff- their job sucks, they arent in it for the money, and they arent in it to take you for all you have. If you're nice to them, they'll be nice to you. But honestly, hostel staff have too many things to do without trying to get into your belongings. That's my experience anyway. There's always going to be dishonest people in this world, but hostel staff are poor young people 99.9% of the time and we HATED theft in the hostel.

[mbo108]

Sounds good, thanks a lot for all of your help everyone.

i leave in a week!

[Diorama]

Yes the above advice is good,

I spent the past year traveling and I barely ever locked up anything. I would always leave my bag out with my camera out etc..(or "hiding" under my covers) Yes its stupid, but seriously after awhile you will get so sick and tired of locking and relocking stuff all day long. But basically the point i'm trying to tell you is that even though i'd always have stuff in plain view nothing was ever stolen from me. So don't get too paranoid. You can generally get a vibe from a hostel/dorm room. There were certainly times where I didn't trust my roomate so then I slept with my wallet.