2 in 1 - hostel etiquette and Tenerife

[Isanyonereallyanonymous]

I am horrendously skint but had enough and booked 4 nights in Tenerife next week to just get away for a bit.

1. due to being on a budget I booked a bed in a shared dorm in a hostel. I’ve never done this before, I’m a bit nervous! But trying to do things that get me out of my comfort zone. Is there any etiquette for staying in a hostel - particularly when it comes to using the kitchen to cook? I’m autistic and not necessarily good in social settings - how to break into groups of people and chat rather than isolate myself?
2. My flight goes into south Tenerife and I’ll be staying in that area. Looks like most of the good things to do are more northern but it is what it is. Don’t really want to hire a car if I can help it, but are there any must see/do things whilst I’m there? Quite outdoorsy, not bothered by museums/don’t really want to go somewhere with lots of kids if it helps.

Apparently it's warmer in the south, I'm going in a couple of weeks and decided to go south in the end. Not sure on hostel etiquette but if you search trip advisor forum for the area you're going you will find all sorts of useful information on what to do, how to get around etc

I would have thought the main etiquette to sharing a kitchen would be to make sure you clear up after yourself as soon as reasonably possible. Also not to take up a disproportionate amount of equipment, eg if the kitchen just has one cooker with four hobs, it would be quite anti-social for one person to use all four hobs leaving none for anyone else.

We've stayed in hostels all over many many times. Keep your stuff tidy / on your bed / in your locker. Cook and clean up behind you. Respect other people's space. Chat if people chat to you. Don't chat if they look like they are happy alone. Lots of people travel & hostel to have people around them / cost but to enjoy own company too

If you want to chat to people I'd say make small talk in kitchens etc and see if people want to chat. If some one is Sat alone in a communal area of a hostel I'd say it's fine to ask about where they have travelled etc
If people don't want to be sociable they'll stay in room or head in phone

Thanks everyone. I know some of these things probably seem obvious but I start to panic about it and my mind goes blank and all social abilities desert me 🫣😂

They might be obvious to NT people ...

I recommend a trip to Mt Teide including the cable car to the top.

When solo backpacking I always stayed in hostels, until recently when age caught up with me and I started to snore!

They vary a lot in atmosphere and who's staying at the time. Some quiet places, some that lent themselves to being more friendly, and sometimes you make new best friends! I'm still in touch with some girls I met in a hostel nearly decade since we hung out for a couple of days!

So yep. Just play it by ear. The one 'must not' is faffing about in the dorm when others are trying to sleep. I'll never forgive the girls that came in at 1am and then took it in turns to pack their bags on the floor. Everything they owned seemed to be in loudly crackling carrier bags! Then they had an alarm set for 6am and I had to put up with them getting dressed and ready to leave 😡

I’ve stayed in hostels many, many times from age 19 right up to 31. It’s such a fun and cost effective way to travel when you’re young.

My tips:

• earplugs
• eye mask
• headphones - never play music/videos out loud in a dorm
• be friendly/chatty if people reciprocate, otherwise leave them alone - some people just want somewhere to sleep and to keep themselves to themselves
• join in with activities the hostel organises if they take your fancy - that’s a great way to meet people
• always keep valuables on you / in a locker

Good luck!