Are Hostels Safe? A Complete Guide to Hostel Safety.

I have stayed in hostels all around the world and I absolutely love them. They’re going to be full of like-minded travellers all sharing amazing stories and helpful travel tips. But are you going to be safe whilst staying in them? Read on to find out!

Are Hostels Safe?

So are hostels safe? In short, yes! I have never felt unsafe in any hostel I have ever stayed in. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t take precautions. Like with anything you do in life there is always an element of risk, but the risk of anything bad happening at a hostel is very low. There are a lot of myths surrounding hostels which are just that. Myths. I love staying in hostels as do most travellers, they are a great place to meet people and generally have a good time. I write extensively about making friends in hostels here. But as I say, it doesn’t hurt to take some general precautions and use your common sense!

Theft.

So this is something most people will worry about before staying in hostels. Personally, I have never had anything stolen (apart from random toiletries I’ve left in the bathroom) but even this is rare. If I’m being perfectly honest I rarely worry about theft whilst staying in hostels. But that’s not to say it doesn’t happen. In reality, it all comes down to who you’re sharing the room with. Most hostels are full of kind, honest travellers. But just in case you do get unlucky and find yourself with an opportunist thief in your dorm there are some precautions you can take.

• Take a small padlock you can lock the zips of your bag with (read my full packing list here)
• Carry a small piece of looped wire to lock your bag to something fixed
• Make use of the lockers provided in some hostels (you may still need your own padlock)
• Don’t take valuables with you from home that you don’t need
• Keep your money hidden in your backpack
• Don’t flash your valuables in the room
• Read reviews and book hostels with a high rating

Personal Safety.

Now I’m not completely sure what to write here because I have never felt my own or anyone else’s personal safety has been at risk whilst staying at a hostel. I think the biggest danger is really yourself whilst staying at a hostel. Everyone around you is going to be pretty friendly and if there was any kind of trouble, people would step in and help you out. For female travellers, most hostels offer female-only dorms if you don’t feel comfortable sharing with the opposite sex. This is a nice option to have, but you will defiantly be safe in a mixed dorm. Please only use these dorms for privacy rather than safety! We are not all animals!

A lot of hostels will have a 24-hour reception desk and do not allow people who are not staying in the hostel inside, your door will also usually have a keycard entry system or maybe a good old fashion combination lock. This is also the case for the main entrance to the hostel. I have even stayed at some hostels which had security on the door, but I believe this was more for noise control of the guests. But still nice to have, although almost certainly not needed.

Long story short you have nothing to worry about in regards to personal safety whilst staying in hostels.

Some Tips on Staying Safe in Hostels.

There are some general rules you can follow to keep your valuables and yourself safe in hostels. It is worth bearing them in mind on your travels as it can be a real headache if you end up being the victim of a theft.

• Read the reviews!
• Keep your belongings in a locker.
• If no locker is available, lock your zippers with a TSA padlock.
• Keep a looped piece of wire to lock your whole pack if you feel it’s necessary – just be wary this may attract thieves rather than deter them…
• Only take valuables with you that you need. If you’ve got nothing to steal you’ve got nothing to worry about!
• Don’t flash your valuables.
• Don’t get too drunk – although we have all done it.
• Trust your gut! If something doesn’t feel right the ask to move rooms or change hostel.
• Split your cash reserves between multiple sections of your backpack
• Keep a credit card somewhere hidden in case of emergencies
• Keep copies of your passport, either printed or digitally – Preferably both.
• Don’t bring strangers back to the hostel. Even if they are new friends the other guests and hostel staff won’t appreciate it.
• Make friends in your room! They can look out for your stuff while you’re not there.
• If you want more information on staying at hostels I have a complete guide you can read here.

If you are worried about safety in hostels don’t be! Like I said previously I’ve never been the victim of theft and I am pretty relaxed about security. Just use your own intuition and if something seems off, trust your gut!