The Hostel Experience - Page 2 - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**marc873** · 01-24-2007, 04:24 PM

Yeah, at your age, definately watch the alcohol intake around other male travelers, some of us can be quite decieving..... As for me, I like to put my money belt inside the pillow case. I am a heavy sleaper, and don't have much trust in others, I have never had a problem, but always like to keep it safe just in case. As for shower time, I always get up in the morning and put a hat on and tour for a while and hit the showers mid day when everyone else is out and about. That gives you a lot of privacy, and keeps you from feeling rushed. As for locks, I always lock my zippers during transit times between cities. And as for the hostels, I use a bike chain to lock my pack up to the bed frame. Maybe I'm paranoid, but in the slim chance of getting robbed in a hostel, I would rather just be safe!!!

**BigE** · 01-25-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentira

Hey Guys,

So before I ask you my questions, I'm going to give a little back ground information on myself. In three weeks I am going to Europe for seven months, and I plan on staying in England, France, Germany, Spain, Protugal, Italy, Croatia, and Greece. I will be taking my 75 liter pack with me, and my digital camera and mp3. I have gone to Europe once before on a school trip, where we spent most of our time in Malaga Spain living with a homestay family. I loved the experience, but this time; with the exception of Malaga, I will be staying in hostels. I have never stayed in a hostel before, and I have never had to live out of a backpack, and I have never been away from home for more than a month, so I am a very very extreme newbie to this. I'm used to having my own room, a shower when I feel like it, etc,etc, but I know this will be a good experiene.

Anyways, I just wanted to illustrate my situation, now onto the questions.

1. I will only be staying in single sex dorms, for those with experience, did you feel safe when you were staying in your hostel..
2. My hostels have lockers, what tips can you give me on security though?
3. How did you get to know people/get involved? I like being on my own, but that can only last a person to a certain extent.
4. How were the showers? Lol :D
5. Any other newbie tips?

Thanks in advance!

That is cool! I am going on my first backpacking trip this summer and I am 32. I couldn't of done it when I was your age. I wasn't very street smart and I lived in my head. That's ok. They say that 32 is the new 22. You will have an incredible experience. Have a great time!

The only advice I would give you, and not because you are a woman (it goes with men too), is be careful with alcohol. As a college student in Boston, alcohol got me in a load of trouble at times. Fortunately it didn't ruin my life. Just be smart.

mentira · 01-25-2007, 05:49 AM

Yeah my mom cautioned me on that too, but I never binge drink, and usually don't even get to the point where I'm tipsy. That's not to say I won't drink over there, I'm turning 18 while I'm in Ibiza, (but my mom will be there then haha), but I definitely agree, I've seen what alchohol can result in, and it's not pretty.

**joe7f** · 01-25-2007, 06:43 PM

Mentira, the important thing about drinking is just to watch it. I remember when I first started doing that, I placed my keys in a box under a pile of clothes so I would drive accidentally.

Yeah, I was dumb. If you stick to beer, it is tougher to get that sloshed that you become the limping gazelle on the African Serengetti.

--Joey

**omisan** · 01-26-2007, 11:08 AM

People drink in Ibiza?

Ok, I guess you need water to wash down all that E and coke.

Dell · 02-08-2007, 09:28 AM

Mentira, do you have any specific activities you want to do or do you just want to show up and figure it out? If you have a rough idea that will help choose the type of hostel that you want to stay at. I am partial to the socializing aspect of backpacking as well as the cultural side so I tend to pick hostels that would meet one aspect or the other. If you want to wake up check out the sunrise at the millenium bridge then I would reccomend staying at a hostel with a lock out. If you want to stay up and see it then I would reccomend one without.

D