Packing and what to bring

Type of bag?

Although a backpack is most hostel travellers’ luggage of choice, no one will judge you for taking a suitcase if that’s your jam! A backpack is quite handy to carry around especially if you are hopping between destinations, but a suitcase can be more convenient to pack and browse through. Pick according to your priorities. Maybe even a backpack that converts into a suitcase... 

What & how to pack?

Each of us with our own personal preferences and priorities results in no magical, one-fits-all packing list. One person will value comfort and be willing to pay more for luggage and carry it around, the other might value convenience or budget and stick to minimal packing. What’s important to you?

We suggest building your own personal packing list over time, but find out some of the lessons we’ve learned about packing for hostel travel in the next page.

Lessons and tips on packing for hostel travel

You can optimise to a certain extent, but eventually, you’ll have to accept the laws of physics. If you’ve cut your packing to a minimum and it still doesn’t fit, just accept that you need a bigger bag! Carrying around a million small tote bags is not fun, trust us.

There are loads of travel accessory brands selling bags and gear optimised for travel - some of them are really useful and work (hello, packing cubes), but some of them are just marketing. Think of what you really need.

Taking into consideration the length of your stay, the kind of activities you are going to partake in, climactic fluctuations and the type of luggage you are using, consider these things:

  • Two pairs of shoes: One for walking (hiking shoes, sneakers) that are ideally either water resistant or at least repellent, and one pair of light shoes like sandals or flipflops.

  • A light jacket: That serves you well in various circumstances, like hikes, the beach, sports, evening strolls etc.

  • A set of warm clothes: Maybe a hoodie, some long leggings and a pair of warmer socks. It tends to get quite cold in hostels at night, or maybe you’ll be doing an altitude hike!

  • A lock: You can usually rent or buy one for the lockers in the room at reception, but you’ll save some money by having your own already.

  • A microfiber towel: Some hostels might provide a towel, but better have your own. A microfiber towel takes very little space and dry fast.

  • Toiletries in form of bars: Like soaps, shampoo, conditioner and face wash.

“Packing cubes have made my packing a lot more organised: using a couple of cubes allows me to sort and know where everything is, and turn one of them into a dirty laundry bag.”
— Elli

Sleeping & Comfort

Sleeping & Comfort

When choosing to stay in a hostel, you have to be willing to compromise on some aspects of comfort. But how can you compromise as little as possible, you ask?

These are a few things to pack that we have found helpful:

  • The one thing that we absolutely cannot go without is earplugs. Riitta is the frailest sleeper we know: every sound, light or movement will wake her up. Staying at a hostel without earplugs is a hazard. The positive thing is that most hostels have earplugs either for free or for sale if you happen to forget yours (or are having a particularly rough night in your dorm). It’s generally not recommended to sleep with earplugs for longer periods of time, so make sure to get yourself plugs especially made for sleeping.

  • Are you sensitive to light? If you are counting on blinds or blackout curtains in your hostel, don’t. If you’re lucky, they might have some, but chances are slim. And even if they do, hostel etiquette is rarely followed, so early risers will be putting the light on regardless of other sleepers. Be prepared, get yourself an eye mask. Make sure to keep it clean and wash it regularly ;)

  • Water bottle, a sleeping essential? Having water by your bed is a personal preference, but if you are staying in a hot place without air conditioning, you might need it. Crawling to the shared bathroom is a real struggle during the night... So stay hydrated, friends.

  • When 20 people shower in the same space, you can bet the floor is not always tiptop no matter how often it’s cleaned. Flipflops will make it feel way less uncomfortable. Plus, they’re a versatile pair to have as a second set of shoes, especially in warm destinations.

  • If you’re arriving at odd times (maybe because you booked the cheapest flight possible), consider the option of booking a hostel for an extra night for the comfort of being able to check in right away and get some rest. This is worth the money if the alternative option is, say, spending a whole day half-asleep in a McDonald’s in Hong Kong, because you arrived at 5am but check in is only at 14. Been there, done that: it seems like a good idea to save money when booking, but it’s not worth it.