What It's Really Like Living in a Hostel Full-Time
The hostel life is not something most people know about. Americans, especially, have a skewed or otherwise incomplete idea of what hostels are and what they can provide travelers. It often takes, as I have found, staying at a hostel to truly understand just how impressionable they can be for someone. While many travelers stay for one or just a few nights, some decide to live in hostels full-time. One way to do that is by volunteering at a hostel.
Outside of my own personal experiences with volunteering in hostels, I have seen others become so enamored with the lifestyle and smitten with the idea of sticking around as a volunteer that they change their travel plans entirely and decide to stay at the hostel they booked for a few days and volunteer there for a few weeks or months. While that is not exactly the story of how I ended up living in hostels full-time, it is more common than one might think.
What does it mean to volunteer at a hostel?
The terms for volunteering at a hostel can vary, depending on how the hostel operates and also which country the hostel is located in. Typically, hostels ask their volunteers to work anywhere from 15-25 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on housekeeping and reception. Most volunteers, moreover, start as housekeepers and then work their way up to pulling a few reception shifts. Housekeeping consists mainly of cleaning common areas, including kitchens and bathrooms, as well as changing beds and performing daily side projects to help keep the hostel clean and free of clutter. On any given day, there can be dozens of check-outs, depending on the size of the hostel, which can mean changing out several beds in a short window of time.
As a receptionist, hostel volunteers are responsible for checking in guests, showing them around the facilities, and managing bookings. When things are busy at the hostel, reception may have dozens of check-ins in a single night. If things are slow, there's usually something to clean or a space to organize. The receptionist is also responsible for answering phone calls, responding to questions, providing local suggestions, and maintaining the security of the hostel. It's important that receptionists know who is coming in and out of the hostel at any given time, and almost all hostels enforce a strict 'guest only' policy, which is done to maintain security for all guests.
Both housekeeping and reception shifts tend to range in hours, but typically range from 3-6 hours per shift. Also, depending on the size of the staff, there may be more than one volunteer assigned to a certain shift to ensure all of the work gets done. Management is often present as well, to help answer questions and assist in flipping beds and cleaning spaces.
What are some of the perks of volunteering at a hostel?
Backpackers often choose to volunteer at a hostel as a way to save money while traveling. They also do it to experience a place instead of simply passing through. Being a volunteer means you basically get to become a local of a certain town or city for a while, and from there, get to know the area and some of its best attractions. Many hostels offer tours, activities, and other guided events around town, which often means volunteers are put in charge of leading guests around to different activities.
To many volunteers, this is one of the biggest perks of the job. Leading activities, organizing social group outings, and mingling with other backpackers are some of the best things about staying in and volunteering at hostels. It's a way to connect with travelers from all around the globe, and it naturally forces people out of their comfort zones. Since many travelers stay in hostels to meet other travelers, being the host of the party is one of the best ways to build a network of friends without ever having to leave the hostel.
Connecting with backpackers is one benefit, but there is also the sense of community that is built within the team of volunteers. Some teams stay together for months and build lifelong connections that span the corners of the globe. The volunteer program is unique in that it puts a group of strangers into the same space together and forces them to work together, which builds a strong bond and sense of camaraderie. There are several instances of volunteers who fell in love while volunteering at a hostel, and some even go on to start families together.
What are some of the drawbacks of living in a hostel full-time?
For starters, the benefits of volunteering in a hostel far outweigh the negatives. But there are aspects to the lifestyle that can be challenging. It can be hard for travelers to be away from family and friends for weeks or months at a time. It can take a toll on the budget, since there are always new people to explore with and fun things to do all the time. It can also be exhausting, trying to keep up with all of the new energy that constantly comes through the hostel. There are some nights when you might not sleep as much as you'd like, whether that comes from staying out with other travelers or being in a room with someone who snores.
But at the end of the day, there are many enriching and lasting experiences that make living in a hostel full-time a truly one-of-a-kind experience. It's something that people of all ages do, and it opens up immense travel opportunities for the ambitious backpacker.
