I’ve stayed in some EPIC hostels over the past few years, Reader.

Cozy beds, rooftop dinners, pool parties, instant travel friends.

Most of my hostel experiences have honestly been great.

​

But not all of them.

Today I’m sharing my worst hostel moments—not to scare you off, but to show you what can happen, how I handled it, and what I’d do differently next time.

These are the stories I was searching for before my first solo trip, so I hope they make you feel a little more prepared (and maybe a little less alone).

Let’s get into it.

​

That time a drunk guy opened my curtain at 1AM

I was in Pai, Thailand. Ten-bed dorm, mostly chill vibes.

I went to bed around midnight, closed my privacy curtain, and was woken up an hour later by the very drunk guy in the bunk below me, pestering me to come back out with the group. I said no. Repeatedly.

He opened my curtain—my closed curtain, which in hostel world is the universal sign for leave me alone—and then grabbed my arm and “joked” about climbing into my bed while I was sleeping.

It was honestly a little scary. I didn’t think he was going to hurt me, but I felt completely violated. Your bunk is supposed to be your safe space.

And the worst part? There were no staff around—this hostel only had reception during the day.

I didn’t make a big deal about it. I figured I’d never see him again and it wasn’t worth the awkwardness. Guess who ended up in the seat next to me on my flight to the islands a few days later??? Ugh.

What I learned:​
If someone crosses a line, get LOUD. You’re allowed to make people uncomfortable if they’re making you uncomfortable.

​

Ants in the bed (and yes, it was my fault)

Same rustic hostel in Northern Thailand. I left an open granola bar in my bed.

Came back later and… thousands of ants.

No overnight staff. I cleaned it myself and sprayed bug spray around my bunk like it was holy water.

I wonder if that's why a gecko was hanging out above my head all night.

What I learned:​
No snacks in bed. Always zip your food up tight. And bring bug spray.

​

Rowdy drunk guys at 2AM

My last night in San Salvador, El Salvador.

I was the only one in the dorm—until eight drunk guys came back from partying, turned on music, and started smoking in the room. I honestly don't even think they realized I was there, and the hostel should never have put a solo female traveler in a dorm room with a bunch of guys who were traveling together.

I laid there behind my curtain, now fully awake, and something just felt off. I didn’t speak Spanish well enough to follow the conversation.

How drunk were they? Did they know I was in the room?

I didn’t feel safe.

So, I trusted my gut, packed up quietly, and walked out.

Booked a last-minute hotel with points. The receptionist even walked me part of the way, because it was the middle of the night in San Salvador. They had an awesome breakfast.

And I came back the next morning to get a refund.

What I learned:​
If something feels wrong, you’re allowed to leave—even if it’s 2AM, even if it means spending more money. I don’t regret leaving.

​

Wrong hostel, wrong vibe, wrong turn

I was on a month-long solo road trip through the Balkans and had just crossed from Montenegro into Albania. My plan was to stay at a popular hostel in Shkodër—but when I arrived, they were fully booked.

Rookie move: I usually book at least a few days ahead, but for some reason I didn’t.

Luckily, there was another hostel across the street with decent enough reviews, so I checked in.

The room seemed okay—just two beds, so only one roommate. Except when I walked in, he was already in bed smoking a joint.

The staff member who showed me in looked mortified and told him he wasn’t allowed to smoke inside. Not a big deal, but… not a great first impression either.

That night I discovered my room was directly above the hostel bar, which turned into a full-on nightclub with a DJ that played late and loud. The facilities weren’t great either—definitely one of those “don’t look too closely” situations.

It was raining. I wasn’t having fun. So I decided to cut my losses and leave in the morning.

And just to wrap it up with a bow: as I drove away, I accidentally turned the wrong way down a narrow ancient street and scraped the side of my rental car on an old stone wall. Classic.

What I learned:​
Book ahead—especially in smaller towns. And trust your gut: if you’re not enjoying yourself and you’re able to leave, just go. The next stop is probably better anyway.

​

Traveler’s diarrhea and no privacy

You know that nightmare where you’re sick in a shared bathroom and everyone can hear you? Yeah. It happens.

I don't think you need any more details.

What I learned:​
Pack meds. Carry a sense of humor. Splurge on a private room when you need one. And remember, you’ll never see these people again.

​

Would I still stay in hostels?

Yes.

Even after the ants, the awkwardness, the bad bathrooms. These were moments, not the norm.

I've stayed in some incredible hostels all around the world.

And knowing how to spot the right kind of hostel (like I shared in last week's email) makes a huge difference.

​

I’ve had a couple of uncomfortable nights—but hundreds of good ones.

And I’ve always figured it out.

​

If you want the full post with all my best hostel advice, from tips to etiquette to the best gear for dorm life, you can read it here.

Talk soon,
Cat