06 May The Bougie Girl’s Guide to Staying in a Hostel

Am I bougie? I wouldn’t exactly say so. But am I particular and a bit anal retentive? Yes and yes! While hostels get a bad rap for being dirty, overcrowded and requiring a serious sacrifice in personal space, it’s possible to have a great experience in one even if you’re used to living the suite life.

Besides doing thorough research on a safe, comfortable hostel, here are some tips for making your stay as comfortable as possible.

Last week I returned from an awesome trip in Belize and while there I stayed at Yuma’s House Belize. It came highly recommended and didn’t disappoint. For just $15 USD per night, I rested my head in a four-person room. Four people! I’m an only child, so sharing space with anyone, let alone four strangers, can be tough. But I love hostels because they free up my cash to do other things while on vacation.

Here are some tips to staying in a hostel so your sleep and beauty routines aren’t totally thrown off and it feels a bit like home.

Shower Shoes
Foot fungus isn’t cute, so shower shoes are must. Cheap flip flops from Old Navy or H&M are perfect options. You can wear them in the shower and they’ll dry quickly. Yuma’s was pretty spotless, but I still kept my flip flops on at all times.

Shower Early or Late
Don’t be one of those people who take long showers while others are waiting. But if you must, do so early in the morning or late at night. There was a shower right next to my room at Yuma’s but it was the only one on that floor, so everyone used it. Instead, I went downstairs where there were four additional showers and there was never a wait. If your routine requires additional bathroom time to shave, do your hair or any other girly things, early morning {before 7am} or night {after 10pm} sees less traffic so you won’t have to worry about making people wait.

Satin Pillow Case
I’m a natural hair girl so I sleep with a satin pillow case, which is less harsh than the cotton variety and helps hair maintain moisture. Bringing an entire set of sheets isn’t practical, you can stash a pillow case with ease.

Earplugs or Eye Mask
While some people suggest ear plugs, I’m just super paranoid and want to hear everything around me. But they’re not a bad idea if you’re a light sleeper. However, a sleep mask is a great idea. My hostel mates were courteous about not turning the light on in the middle of the night, but a mask will shield your eyes from the bright light or even the sunlight if your hostel has thin curtains.

Extension Cord
When multiple people are sharing a room, outlets get scarce! And come on, you’ve gotta keep your electronics charged for snapping selfies. When I stayed at Yuma’s, the closest outlet was four feet away from my bed {another bed had one directly near it} and both fans were plugged into it, so my extension cord was a must. Otherwise I would have had to unplug one of the fans {something you don’t want to do in 80+ degree heat} and my iPad would have to charge across the room from me. Instead, I ran the cord from the wall to my bed and charged my camera and iPad overnight while they were under my pillow.

Keep Toiletries in a Single Location
As soon as I check into a hotel I unpack all of my stuff: hang clothes in the closet, fold items in the drawers and place my beauty products on the bathroom counter. Well, it’s a bit different in a hostel. Besides the space being limited, no single space {besides your bed and locker} is yours and yours alone. So it’s important to keep everything fairly contained. This is especially important when it comes to shampoo, shower gel, face wash, etc. I had everything in an oversized plastic baggie. It was clear so I didn’t have to dig through to find specific items. And since my lotions and potions were always in the bag, I didn’t have to go searching for anything in my carry-on or locker {i.e. being noisy while my roommates slept in the A.M.} and it was a single bag I took with me to the shower area.

Bring Your Own Towel
Some hostels will include a large bath towel or charge a small fee for one, but depending on where you go, smaller face towels aren’t available. If you’re used to using one, certainly bring your own. It’s easy to ball it up and place in your bag! I also bring a face towel that I use specifically for washing and drying my face.

This was just my second time staying in a hostel, so I’m still new to it all. But I can’t wait to stay in more. Yuma’s was awesome {I’ll have a more in depth review of how I did Belize on a budget!} and I spent just $60 for a four night stay in paradise.

How do you maintain your sanity and beauty routine while staying in a hostel? What tips would you share with someone who’s skeptical about hostels?