Hostel etiquette

What does hostel etiquette entail?? This is a question that is rarely asked but often thought. What can and cant we do when staying in hostels?

As a group of girls we often enter a room and take over by spreading all our clothes, toiletries and other items found in our bags, all over the floor. Not on purpose of course, this just seems to happen whether we like it or not. Living out of a bag is never an easy task. So other 'roomies' walk into the jungle with shocked looks on their faces. We always try to pack up before leaving for the days adventure but nevertheless our stuff is still lying around. However, this I classify as.. acceptable.

Lets face it, we all go out and party, come home at ridiculous hours and 'quietly' get into our bed. Needless to say there are sometimes people who may wake up to the rustling and giggling. Again.. acceptable.

Snoring. It often cant be helped. I know, its frustrating and annoying, and can possibly drive someone mad, but again.. it happens everywhere we just have to try extra hard to fall asleep, which equals.. acceptable.

Coming home at 3am in the morning and peeing on the radiator is UNACCEPTABLE!! yes its true. A guy came home, walked into our 14bed dorm, and cleverly decided that hey walking all the way to the toilet, the whole 2 doors down, is too much of a mission so why not pee on the floor?? I was woken up the the American below me shouting 'Man, are you peeing??' Right next to my bed 'pee boy' had urinated all over the floor. I wanted to cry. He then spent the next few hours vomiting out the window onto to the sidewalk. Again, the toilets were too far away. We reminded him of his disgusting little excursion the next morning, where the reply came..''haha did I??" All class.

Living in hostels has been an amazing experience, interesting, but amazing. You meet people who automatically become your close friends, and with 'the book' aka Facebook you continuously keep in contact with them. So lets keep the positive hostel vibe going.. Note: No peeing on the floor!! Go to the toilet!!

The Travel Bug

Being a traveler, do we all let ourselves go? Just a little? I mean, we all seem to wear dirty clothes, socks, undies (if desperate) until we come across a washing machine! We let our hair get a little bit dirtier between each wash, we eat and eat and eat some more, even when we aren't hungry! So the weight starts packing on, the funds diminish, and yet we have more and more fun!

So what are the things that make your trip the 'most amazing experience of your life'?? Is it the places you visit, the people you meet, the nights out, the moments you will never forget or the moments you try your hardest to forget??

I like to say its all comes down the 'Travel bug'. An addiction to traveling that encompasses all the wonderful things that are associated with seeing the world. You experience such a number of fascinating things that to go home and face reality is a nightmare. How can you go home and lead an everyday life when there are more people to meet, sights to see and memories to be made???

Top 3 things of the travel experience...

1. The places you go!

Europe has a never ending supply of history, sights, beaches, parties and events. It combines so many factors that you dont even know where to start. The Loney Plantet guide becomes your travel bible, and its such a great feeling to 'tick' a place off the to-visit list.

2. The people you meet!


In every place you go you always meet new people. Its these instant friends that make the destination. You share an 'travel' bond that include all the hilarious adventures that were undertaken. Plus of course.... Two words.. 'The Book' or better known as Facebook, has connected all the travelers together! 'I'll add you to Facebook' has got to be the most commonly used sentence! love it!!

3. The person you become!

By the time the travel adventure has come to an end, there is no way you are still the exact same person you were when you left home all those weeks, months or even years ago. You learn so much about yourself, who you are and what you can endure, i think going home will be quietly petrifying.

The 'Travel bug' will continue to play a role in our lives, especially in mine!! Good times!