A Digital Nomad’s Hostel Survival Guide
04. Apr, 2009 
14 Comments
Today’s guest post is by Derek Johanson, from LiveUncomfortably.com. 
For the digital nomad, hostels can be a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they provide cheap rooms and great social atmosphere. But on the other hand, they provide endless sources for distraction.
As a digital nomad, you’ll inevitably end up staying in hostels along your travels. Here’s a quick survival guide for making it out alive with your job or business still intact.
If You Stay In A Hostel Don’t Work There
Find an internet cafe or somewhere with Wi-Fi nearby to get your important work done. Hostels are full of people who are on vacation. They have very little interest in working or understanding of those who are. They will distract you and try to pressure you into doing something.
It’s easier to not give them the chance. Get out of the hostel to do your work.
Don’t spend this time checking Facebook or Twitter. Power through your most important tasks and save your social media time for back at the hostel when distractions are welcomed.
Get An Eye Mask And Earplugs
I’ve stayed in a 22 person dorm room before. Imagine the amount of noise 22 people make during the night. People come in and out, snore loudly, turn the lights on, and have sex. You name it, it goes down in hostels.
If you need to get a good night’s sleep, get an eye mask and earplugs. You may look funny, but even the most vigorous sex noises will be tuned out.
Put Limits On Your Drinking
Hostels are synonymous with alcohol consumption. It doesn’t matter what night of the week it is, some one or some group is going to be drinking at the hostel. If you’re anything like me and like your liquor, it’s very easy to get caught up with the crowd.
If you have work that needs to be done the next day and a clear mind is necessary you’re going to have to either a) put a limit on your drinking or b) avoid it all together.
The best strategy for avoiding it is staying out of the hostel until later in the evening. Go have a long dinner and write a little bit. Chat with some locals before returning to the hostel. Usually, people will have gone out by this time and you avoid the peer pressure.
Meet The locals
I see it time and time again. A large group from the hostel goes and out and just talks amongst themselves. What’s the purpose of being in a foreign country if you’re not going to interact with the locals?
The digital nomad is traveling because he or she wants to experience something new and exciting – like a culture.
If you don’t know any of the language, learn some. You’d be surprised how far even just a basic knowledge of the language will get you. Most of the time, a little bit of alcohol is the only conversational lubricant you need to have hours of fun with locals.
Local friends will keep you out of the hostel and show you real city, not just the tourist spots.
Finding An Apartment Is Easier Than You Think
If you’re going to be staying in a city for a long time, then an apartment is the way to go. It shouldn’t be too hard to find one if you do a bit of digging. Check the local newspaper and ask the hostel workers.
I’ve now found 4 different apartments in Central and South America in 7 months with very little trouble. The best site I’ve come across for getting an apartment fast is CompartoDepto.com. Also try CouchSurfing.com and Craigslist.org.You can even negotiate long term stays at some hotel/resorts. All you have to do is ask.
Don’t get me wrong, hostels are fun. I’ve made great friends and had some awesome experiences staying at hostels. I’ve been the one pressuring people to go out on several occasions. But, if you’re a working digital nomad with a ton of work to get done and you can’t avoid staying in a hostel, you’ve got to have some distraction diversion plans.
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Derek’s philosophy on life can be described in two words, ‘Live Uncomfortably.’ His blog chronicles his experiments in micro testing his philosophy and creating his personal lifestyle design.
Website:
http://LiveUncomfortably.com
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!
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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.
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.
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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.
Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..The Magic Of Argentina
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.
Byteful Traveller´s last blog post..The Top 3 Exhibits at Chicago’s Field Museum
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.
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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!
All great suggestions Derek. How have you found staying with your laptop in a hostel?
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I agree with Jen, hostels are great for hanging out. I wouldn’t want to work in one, though.
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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.
Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..Experiments In Sobriety – 5 Things I’ve Accomplished In 1 Month
What kind of lock do you use? One of those kensington laptop locks?
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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.
Derek @ Live Uncomfortably´s last blog post..What Happens When I Don’t Masturbate
Thanks for replying, Derek.
Yes I could see that, esp if enough force is applied, it could possibly bend the casing I suppose.
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