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Are you planning to spend your first night in a hostel? Hostels are a great way to find inexpensive accommodations on the road, but I find that people have a lot of misconceptions about hostels and staying in one for the first time can definitely be a daunting experience! This post will tell you everything you need to bring with you to stay comfortably in a hostel, including a free downloadable printable hostel packing list so you don’t forget anything!

Pack Like a Pro for a Hostel

• Mid-size front-loading backpack or rolling suitcase – front-loading backpacks are much easier to pack and organize than top-loading, and rolling suitcases are easier to maneuver in urban settings.
• Hanging toiletry bag – bring a bag just large enough for your toiletries to take with you into the bathroom to keep your toiletries off the floor!
• Drawstring bag large enough to hold toiletries and clothing when showering – consider bringing a second bag to hold your clothes and towel when you’re going to the bathroom so it’s easy to keep organized
• Other stuffable sacks / packing cubes – stay organized with stuffable sacks, including one to hold your dirty clothes. (These BINGONE drawstring bags come in a variety of colors and sizes for just $7.)

Things You Need to Sleep in a Hostel

• Sleep sheet – be sure to bring along a sleep sheet to ward off any uninvited bed bugs. I like this one from the Traveling Swede because it is light, folds up easily, and is machine washable. (Make sure you check ahead of time to be sure the hotel allows you to bring your own sleep sheet.)
• Ear plugs – as an early-to-bed-and-early-to-riser, I don’t love how noisy it can get in hostels after I go to bed. I always wear ear plugs to try to block some of the noise.
• Face mask – if you’re sensitive to light, bring along a sleeping mask to get as much sleep as you can.
• Pajamas – even if you normally sleep nude, people! Don’t be that guy.

Bathroom Supplies & Toiletries for a Hostel

• 2 microfiber towels (1 body, 1 hand) – I only discovered microfiber towels this year and I looooove them! So compact, they’re easy to throw in any overnight bag just in case you need them. Consider this set of 2 from FEEMIC, which includes both a larger towel for showering in the hostel as well as a hand towel to wash your face.
• Shower sandals – don’t be a nube and touch the hostel floor or shower with your bare feet! Take along a cheap pair of grippy sandals to wear to the shower and around the hostel room when you’re getting ready for bed.
• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, etc.)
• Deodorant
• Hand sanitizer / wipes – you never know what you’re going to find in a shared bathroom, so bring along hand sanitizer or wet wipes just in case.
• Toilet paper / Facial Tissues – bring your own paper products just in case.
• Menstrual products (if needed)

Security in a Hostel

• Money belt / fanny pack – Make sure to keep your valuables safe and on your person while you’re sleeping! This money belt is perfect for your credit cards and important documents to make sure that you have everything you need when you wake up.
• TSA Travel Padlock(s) – you may have access to a locker while you’re staying in a hostel, in which case you will need a padlock to lock the door. Consider buying a TSA Master Padlock so you can also use it on your luggage when you travel by air.
• Lock cable – bring along a lock cable so you can lock your bag to the leg of your bed while you’re sleeping.

Electronics

• Cell phone and charger
• Power strip – this PowerCube is perfect if you have multiple electronics you need to charge and only have access to one outlet!
• Ear buds / headphones – be considerate of your fellow sleepers and use ear buds or headphones if you’re listening to audio in the room.
• Flash light (or a flashlight app for your phone) – in addition to sound pollution, also be aware of how much light you’re exposing other people to after they’ve gone to bed! Take a flashlight along so you can get up to use the restroom or get going in the morning without bothering other people! this mini flashlight is perfect for slipping into the pocket of a backpack or under your pillow so you can easily grab it when you need it, or I like these LED keychain flashlights.
• Reading light (if needed)

Food & Hydration

• Water bottle
• Food and snacks
• Eating utensils – depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing, you may want to bring along a spork so you can eat whatever you want, wherever you want.

Other Things You Need for a Hostel Just in Case

• Laundry supplies – bring along supplies to wash your laundry in the sink if you need something cleaned when you don’t have time / access to a washing machine. Click here for how to make an emergency laundry kit.
• Bottle opener– if you plan on drinking wine on the road.
• Mosquito coil / repellent – depending on where you’re staying, you may encounter some in-room mosquitoes.
• Utility knife
• Deck of cards / card game – make friends with other people in the hostel by bringing along a deck of cards. Gin rummy, anyone?

Download this hostel packing list as a free printable to make sure you don’t forget anything!

Did I forget anything? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Other Free Downloadable Packing Lists

Planning a trip? Check out my other free packing lists here: