There are going to be many times when guests arrive earlier than check-in or are not planning on leaving the area until long after their checkout time. Instead of making guests carry their luggage around with them all day, most hostels have set aside a space to store their luggage until they need it.
Research Your Hostel
The cleanliness and safety of hostels vary considerably from place to place. Some hostels are grimy, bed-bug infested lairs while others are on par with nicer hotels with a refreshing hip aesthetic. Prior to booking your hostel, it’s always wise to read some reviews of the place to get a feel for the general safety of it and whether the hostel you opting for provides a luggage storage, what sort of age demographic stays there, how clean it is, and how amicable the staff is. Hostels each have different policies about what to bring, how your luggage may be stored, and even when their individual curfews are. Browse this information beforehand and save yourself any bad surprises that you might otherwise experience by not doing your research. Staying in a hostel is usually a pleasant experience, so long as you know what to expect.
Use the Provided Lockers
All hostels have lockers within the rooms where you can store your things. Utilize them rather than splaying your belongings out on your bunk, as hostels are often very communal. It is rare that you will be able to get your own room in a hostel. Typically, you share a room with several other people, and unless your party is large enough to occupy an entire room, you’ll wind up with strangers. You can take advantage of the social atmosphere of hostels by befriending these roommates, but don’t assume that you can leave your things out unattended just because they seem friendly. Bring your own padlock for added safety, opting for something durable. While showering or leaving the room, always return your belongings to your locker where they can be safely stored in your absence.
Store Your Luggage
Hostels usually have a locked room where bulky bags are kept. It’s best to have some sort of daypack that you can separate from the rest of your luggage with only the items you’ll need while you stay at the hostel. Remember, all of your belongings need to be able to fit inside a small locker in your room, so prepare to shuffle around your clothing and valuables accordingly. The only people that have access to the storage rooms are the hostel employees themselves, so you should be fine leaving a laptop inside your bag for the day while you’re out traveling, especially if it doesn’t fit in your locker. But otherwise, you’ll want to keep most of your valuables on you at all times.