DISQUS

Mark Lewis · 8 months ago

During undergraduate I did an internship in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I decided to take a weekend trip down to Dublin. I stayed in a hostel that wasn't in the best part of town. I don't remember the name of it now, but it was highly recommended. Anyways, I went to bed late the first night only to awake with something dripping on my face. You see, I was in the bottom bed of a bunk bed. The young kid above me had gone to bed after me and apparently had too much to drink. He wet himself and that dripping on my face was from the urine soaked mattress above!

I got up quickly once I realized what it was. There were no more beds available for me to sleep in at the hostel that night, so I curled up on a couch in the gathering room.

While I had little sleep that night I enjoy the following day. Around 8 PM I started looking for another place to stay that night. Unfortunately, there was a Six Nations match between France and Ireland that weekend and everywhere was booked. I finally found a place but it was quite scary and I slept with one eye open.

That is the only bad experience I've ever had with a hostel, and in retrospect it's an entertaining story. The lesson to be learned here is not to sleep in the bottom bunk at a hostel!

<abbr>Mark Lewis´s last blog post..Interview with Sailor Geoff Holt</abbr>

traveladdict · 8 months ago

Great advice by Derek Johanson. While traveling I use TFTHostels.com to compare hostels on prices and quality.

For information about the place I use travelersfortravelers.com. It's similair to couchsurfing.

Stevo · 8 months ago

Great tips. Am I the only one that hasn't had a great drunk time at a hostel?

The hostel I recently stayed at in London was full of long-term residents. People staying for a night or two were ignored. I can say the same for hostels in other countries. I met more people on the street or in cafes than I did in the hostel.

<abbr>Stevo´s last blog post..Canadian Heroes in China: John Robert Osborn, VC</abbr>

Derek @ Live Uncomfortably · 8 months ago

Stevo, you ARE the only one. Haha.

Your thoughts on long-term hostel residents is spot on. I have been to several hostels where people had been living for months. They generally ignored everyone else.

Which is fine because that meant I did less interacting in the hostel and more in the streets.

<abbr>Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..The Magic Of Argentina</abbr>

Byteful Traveller · 8 months ago

Some great things to keep in mind, Derek. I've been carrying ear plugs with me ever since I started traveling, and they've certainly come in handy from time to time. (Though mostly at concerts.)

And I certainly agree about finding an actual workplace to work as opposed to a hostel. You're just ASKING for someone to interrupt you there. ;)

<abbr>Byteful Traveller´s last blog post..The Top 3 Exhibits at Chicago’s Field Museum</abbr>

Erica · 8 months ago

Thanks for a great post, Derek. I especially agree with "if you stay in a hostel don't work there" because, as you say, you'll often have a lot of people around you and it's easy to get distracted. Better to find a nearby café with wi-fi or an internet café.

<abbr>Erica´s last blog post..Spanish Slang</abbr>

Jen · 8 months ago

Great tips! I've never tried to work from a hostel. Too many distractions. I love traveling and spend most of my nights in hostels. It's fun to hang out with new people and check out a new city. I hope to travel more soon!

Zach · 8 months ago

All great suggestions Derek. How have you found staying with your laptop in a hostel?

<abbr>Zach´s last blog post..I’m back writing for Louisville.com</abbr>

Fly Girl · 8 months ago

I agree with Jen, hostels are great for hanging out. I wouldn't want to work in one, though.

<abbr>Fly Girl´s last blog post..To Die Dreaming</abbr>

Derek @ Live Uncomfortably · 8 months ago

Traveling with a laptop is a bit of drag but I've managed so far. In the hostels I just make sure to lock it up. No problemo.

<abbr>Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..Experiments In Sobriety - 5 Things I’ve Accomplished In 1 Month</abbr>

Byteful Traveller · 8 months ago

What kind of lock do you use? One of those kensington laptop locks?

<abbr>Byteful Traveller´s last blog post..See Failure Enough to Succeed poem</abbr>

Derek @ Live Uncomfortably · 7 months ago

I lock it up in a locker.

I've heard good things about the Kensington laptop lock but I've also heard that it can damage your laptop casing.

<abbr>Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..What Happens When I Don’t Masturbate</abbr>

Byteful Traveller · 7 months ago

Thanks for replying, Derek. :)

Yes I could see that, esp if enough force is applied, it could possibly bend the casing I suppose.

<abbr>Byteful Traveller´s last blog post..How Standby Tickets Work, Why You Should Know</abbr>