Packing Guide: Hostels

As a heavy packer, I'm a huge proponent of packing the "just in case" top and an extra pair of shoes. But when it's just you and your carry-on staying in a hostel, tough decisions and cuts have to be made. If you're staying in a hostel for the first time, or just have no overhead storage on your flight over and want to know the necessities, here are the top 5 items that make my cut.

1. Luggage lock

Most hostels will provide a small locker for personal belongings, but not always a lock. Either way, with these you can either avoid the lock fee or use your luggage as additional safe storage. Most of the time, you won't need to be concerned about any roommates as they are probably out exploring with you! But a small luggage lock can go a long way to provide an extra layer of peace of mind. With easy-to-set and unlock codes, they can even be useful for large backpacks when you can't keep an eye on them hanging off your back.

2. Microfiber towel

Microfiber towels pack down to nothing and dry in minutes. This alone makes them an ideal addition to your travel bag. And for those of us giving up detailed hair routines to travel, it can be comforting knowing they are soft on your hair despite have to wash with the free 2-in-1 shampoo you'll be using. Hostels will have towels, like locks, to buy while you're there, but having your own that dries quickly in even the most humid rainforests is very comforting.

3. Portable charger

Unless you can guarantee your phone battery will make it through the day, keeping in mind all the pictures you're going to want to take, bring a portable charger. I specifically recommend them for hostels because, unlike hotels, outlets are pretty much one per person. So if you want to charge anything other than your phone at night, you'll have to make a choice. But I like to bring a portable charger and either let it charge throughout the day to charge my Airpods at night, or pick it up before a night out. I am usually the "my phone is dead" friend on the journey home from bars and clubs when everyone is trying to figure out which bus gets us home. It's not generally a good look, so if you want to keep any friends you make, get a portable charger.

4. Face wipes

Your feet ache from walking all day and dancing all night. But the one thing between you and your bed is a walk up four flights to get to the communal sinks to wash your face. Skip the trudge, get face wipes. I'm all for just washing in the morning, but you'll feel refreshed and cleaner after just a quick wipe with a cucumber lemon towelette to get the tequila and queso off your face from that one club in Ibiza you probably won't remember once you lay your head to rest. You can get small ten-packs that pack down and make the perfect ending to some of the best nights of your life.

5. Compression packing bags

Because not all outfits go so easily from day to night, from morning hikes in moors to rooftop dinners. I was able to pack for a month-and-a-half long trip in these bags and came home as one of the few on the trip who didn't have to check an extra bag. This is the best review I can give them. I have packed in these for everything from winter in New York to summer in Italy. Especially when you'll be staying in hostels and lugging around your pack the whole trip, these are worth the purchase.