Hostel safety

First night away

Setting off on a gap year is a daunting prospect for anyone; even people who've been around the block a few times will feel those last-minute butterflies. For some, particularly first-timers, the first night away from home is the hardest of their entire gap year. People often feel lonely, frightened and unsure that they're doing the right thing. Trust us; you almost certainly are doing the right thing, you just need to get into the swing of your gap year and you'll soon start to love it.

There is a practical safety reason why your first night away needs thought, too. When people first arrive in a new place they are generally lost, tired, nervous and, because of all those things, likely to make bad decisions or look vulnerable to criminals. This brief section gives practical advice and support on how to cope with your first night and how to make sure you know what you're doing as soon as you arrive.

Checklist

- The first night might be scary but think positive and keep things in perspective - it's the first night of the rest of your gap year
- Know where you're staying and how you're going to get there before you turn up
- Look confident and have a clear plan on your first night; this is when you're probably the most vulnerable you'll be at any stage on your trip
- Phone home to let them know you arrived - if you're feeling lonely or frightened don't tell them; they'll worry all night and you're bound to feel better in the morning

Scared?
The Internet is an anonymous entity so you can read this advice without even admitting you're feeling a little vulnerable. The fact is, we know what it's like. You've just arrived somewhere new, it's dark and, frankly, the place looks horrible. You're imagining what your friends will be doing back home and you feel lonely. The most important thing now is: don't panic, don't give up and don't let things get out of perspective. The first night away is a hurdle you have to jump over to get at the fun we know you're going to have on your gap year. When the whole trip's over, we promise you'll wish you could be right back where you are right now so you've still got the whole experience in front of you.

Get it sorted
Make life easy for yourself. To avoid finding yourself lost, dazed and confused in a foreign land in the dead of night, sort out your first night before it happens. Book accommodation, splash out on a taxi to get you there and arrange to phone home to let people back home know you've arrived. Rather than hunt through guidebooks to find the cheapest hostel possible - perhaps part of a heroic effort to set a budget-conscious tone for the rest of your trip - it's actually worth booking a room in a moderately-priced hotel. That way, you can get a good kip and wake up the first day of your gap year in comfort. Then, leave your heavy gear at reception and go for a wander. Look at different hostels, pick one you like and move accommodation later that day. No hurry - no nasty surprises.

Hostel vs 'Backpackers'

Until you get out there you may get confused by the term 'Backpackers'. "Yup - that's me!" you might say. However, it may not be... as a 'Backpackers' (with the 's' on the end) is the modern day term for youth hostel. The general rule of thumb to go with...

1. 'Youth Hostels' are generally the term for the hostels owned by the Youth Hostel Association (YHA). If you are ever stuck and need something good, then YHA's can always be trusted to have good standards, be safe and look after you well.

2. 'Hostels' & 'Backpackers' are the collective name for all the general accommodation that independent travellers will use on their travels.

Hostel safety

You may have seen the Childers Hostel fire on the news a few years ago. Fifteen backpackers died that night as the hostel went up in flames following an arson attack. Up until now there is no strict regulation on hostels, something which we have been campaigning for, so the standard of the hostels can be from outstanding to downright dangerous i.e. in some countries anyone can simply put up a few extra bunk beds, serve banana pancakes for breakfast and call it 'The Beach View Backpackers' - without any attention to the basic standards. Be aware of this and remember to ask the right questions before you pay to stay there the night.

Click here >> for our list of questions to ask

Where to stay

This is one of those subjects people worry about before they travel but which, once on the road, is never much of a problem. Still, it's worth booking accommodation in advance partly to make sure you have somewhere to rest your weary bones but also to get somewhere at the price you want. This section tackles accommodation options and safety. 

Click here >> to book or find hostels online.

Checklist

- Think about taking a tent if it fits with your travel plans - you'll never be homeless
- Book hostels in advance - particularly on your first night away
- Use hostels to meet other travellers
- Check out hotel and motel deals - these can be as cheap as hostels and are often more comfortable
- Look for basic fire safety measures wherever you stay
- Whenever possible, put your valuables in the hostel or hotel safe
- Use our 'Links' section to find hostels worlwide

Accommodation options

Camping
Depending on where you plan to go on your gap year, you might want to take a tent. Camping is great if you're heading for the hills but it's also a cheap way to spend the night - even in towns. Campsites are easy to find wherever tourists gather and usually cost no more than a couple of pounds a night. As long as you've got a tent on your back, you'll never be without a roof over your head.

Hostels
Most travelling gappers end up staying in hostels. Hostels are like cheap hotels which usually offer a mix of shared dormitory-style rooms and private rooms. Some are owned by big international hostel networks like YHA, Hostelling International and the YMCA organisation and some are private. The downside of some of the international hostels - particularly those owned by the YMCA - is that they usually have strict rules, perhaps even a curfew. On the other hand, they're almost always clean, central and well-equipped with gyms and a cafeteria.

Because hostels attract a like-minded crowd of travellers, you'll probably find you enjoy the social side of hostelling, too. Hostels vary a great deal in price and standards but you should expect to pay anywhere from £5 a night upwards for a shared room. Remember: just because it's cheap doesn't mean it has to be horrible - look around and find a hostel you like. Also remember that it's a good idea to book hostels in advance if you're heading for popular destinations.

Hotels and motels
Don't rule out staying at hotels or motels which, often, can represent better value than the local hostel. Hotels have offers and price deals so check them out. In the States, for example, the Motel 6 chain can work out cheaper than hostels and often better. Look around and don't get stuck in a hostelling rut.

Finding accommodation

Since most gappers head for hostels because they're cheap, sociable and convenient, the 'Links' section gives a comprehensive list of hostels worldwide, organised by country.

Guidebooks, local newspapers and past travellers are also excellent sources of information on where to find inexpensive accommodation.

In fact, you'll get to know which hostels are good and which aren't by word of mouth as you travel. This sort of advice from the 'backpacker grapevine' is invaluable since standards change. If you want to tap into the backpacker grapevine right now, click here >> to check out our travel messageboard in the community section.

Safety
Most hotels, motels and guesthouses are managed by scrupulous types who pay attention to details like fire safety - but some aren't. Because there are dangerous places out there, you'll need to nose around and ask a couple of questions to make sure you're not checking into a death trap. Follow these guidelines:

- Overcrowded rooms - check out the size and number of beds in your dorm room before booking. Is there a clear escape route?
- Fire exits - does the hostel have clear and unobstructed fire exits?
- Fire protection - are there alarms and smoke detectors?
- Escape plan - do you know how you would get out if you had to?
- Your kit - most hostels are friendly environments but, all the same, padlock the zips on your backpack and sleep with your passport and money in your sleeping bag or in the hostel safe
- Small is good - in our experience, smaller hostels are friendlier and see you as a person rather then just another backpacker; it's great to know that someone will miss you if you don't show up at your hostel