By the time I head home I will have stayed in 30 Aussie backpackers so I'm getting to know how they can score points on the hostelling scale. All of the items on the list are there for a reason, even if they seem obvious. I've stayed in some amazing hostels that have close to all of these things and others that haven't even met the essentials. My favourite hostels have been clean, spacious, had plenty of space both in the kitchen and in the bedrooms, have benches and hooks in the shower cubicles and a light over each bed. In others I've had food stolen (by humans and mice!), rotting shower doors, banged my head on the bunk above, had nowhere to keep my clothes dry while I shower in a cubicle that doesn't lock and had to lock the bedroom door behind drunken room mates! I've timed my dinner so the kitchen was quiet, been frustrated when the lock in the best shower doesn't work and slyly unplugged other chargers to get mine in. Equally I've been into hostels that have amazing free food shelves, roof tops that overlook Sydney Harbour, plug sockets in the lockers and free Easter egg hunts!
So here's my list of what I look for in a good hostel.
Requisites
All areas are clean, well maintained, and in working order.
In the bedrooms
Doors that lock automatically when they close
Plug sockets
Lockable cupboards (used with your own padlock)
In the bathrooms
Locks on the shower cubicles
In the kitchen
Space to put dry food
Space to put refrigerated food
Cooking utensils, pots, pans, crockery, cutlery
Old, unrequired food thrown out regularly
To make your stay comfortable
In the bedrooms
Are there enough plug sockets for one per person?Are there beside lights for each bed?
Is there accessible space for everyone to keep their luggage? (Is the room big enough for the number of beds and does it have an appropriate layout?)
Is the space between the two bunks enough to be able to sit on the bottom bunk without ducking your head?
Even better:
Does each bed has a plug socket next to it?
Does each locker has a plug socket?
In the bathrooms
Is there a seperate space to the shower to keep clothes?
Does each shower cubicle have pegs?
Does each shower cubicle have a bench?
Is there a shower curtain (even better a shower door) between the shower and dressing area? Does it reach the floor?
In the kitchen
Is there enough space for everyone (who wishes to) to easily store dry goods?
Is there enough space for everyone (who wishes to) to easily store food in the fridge?
Are there enough dry tea towels?
Do all of the hobs work?
Is there space to eat your dinner at a table?
Are dirty dishes cleared away?
