Revealed: 5 Of My Most Memorable Hostel Experiences

It’s been a while since I wrote a more personal post on this blog. Quite a long while. These days I have so much content about hostels and destinations that when I do get the time to sit down and write, I feel the need to write yet another guide.

But recently I spent some time co-working in one of my favourite Roman bars with another blogger, Estrella from La Casabloga. I mentioned to her how I didn’t write many personal posts on here anymore. And when she asked why, I didn’t really have an answer.

So today I’m testing something out and sharing something more personal with you guys. A collection of a few of my most memorable hostel experiences.

I hope you like the post. And most of all, I hope that the post shows you just why I love hostels so much.

Revealed: 5 Of My Most Memorable Hostel Experiences

1. Introductions at The Paintshop Hostel

I wanted to start this list with my first hostel experience as a solo female traveller. And really, it was one of the first hostel experiences that came to mind when I thought of writing this post.

I remember being super nervous as I entered The Paintshop. I had been nervous on the whole train ride from the airport to Figueira da Foz. But I was greeted with a huge smile from the receptionist, who then told me to just drop my bag down where I stood so she could introduce me to the rest of the guests who were hanging out in the lounge.

She then proceeded to introduce each guest individually by name and told me where they were from. As she did this, she told them my name. So by the time I had circled the small, cosy lounge and shaken hands with people from all over the world my nerves had completely settled.

2. A Spontaneous Rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody in Amsterdam

It was snowing in Amsterdam, and myself and the other guests spent most of our nights in the hostel’s smoking room because that’s where they kept the pool table. There was a group of us who would meet at this pool table every night, but the room was also full on this particular night with guests from all over the world.

Suddenly, one girl just stood up and started singing the opening lines to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. And then, out of nowhere, the whole room joined in. No music. No planning, Just 30 strangers from around the world belting out one of the most iconic songs ever written.

It was pretty cool. Oh and you can watch it below…!

3. Midnight Fence Jumping in Paris

This is one of my most memorable moments because it was just the most surreal and unexpected ending to a night out! I was staying in a hostel in Paris for the opening of their new bar after which myself and another blogger venture downstairs to the club and met a local Parisian.

The three of us got chatting and some way or another we ended up climbing a fence and getting an entire park in Paris to ourselves! Most of the parks in Paris are locked up at night, and this was one of the biggest! Note for you guys: this is absolutely illegal and so I’m not advocating this kind of behaviour…

But the view was incredible and the idea that we had the whole park to ourselves was exhilarating! The cocktails in the hostel bar beforehand obviously helped a lot… as did the beers we took with us!

4. Pablo’s Pizza Oven

It’s not a secret at all that I have a few favourite hostels that I try and visit the most. It’s not that I always need to be in the city. Usually, it’s because I want to be there to see the same old smiling staff and relax in a place that feels like home.

Hostel ROOM Rotterdam is one of those hostels. And here’s an example of why. After a few years of popping back and forth to the city, I’ve got to know the staff quite well. In fact, a few of them are coming here to visit me in Rome and I’m super excited!

So one day I shared a post on social media sharing my enthusiasm for being on my way back to the hostel. Instantly I got a message back from Pablo, one of the hostel’s longest-serving staff members. He knew I always want two things when I turn up at the hostel after a day of travelling… beer and food!

5. My 25th Birthday in Morocco

I have an uncanny knack for moving abroad around a week before my birthday. The first time I did it was in Budapest. The third here in Rome.

The second time I moved abroad shortly before my birthday was when I moved to The Lunar Surf House in Morocco. Each time my new colleagues and soon to be friends made sure I celebrated. But Morocco was extra special!

We spent the afternoon in a traditional Morocco hammam in the next village of Aourir. Then we went back to the hostel and made our own kaftans out of material we had also bought in Aourir. And we topped off the whole preparation with getting henna tattoos from a local lady before I was surprised with cake! The rest of the night was spent with very new friends who soon became my Moroccan family and I still couldn’t be more grateful to them!

So there you have it! Of course, after all this time I have many more memorable hostel experiences to share with you. So I plan to follow this up with similar posts in the future. Let me know in the comments if you want to hear them!

Also, let me know about your own memorable hostel experiences! It will be a great help for hostel newbies who read this blog about whether to stay in a hostel for the first time!