Grown-up backpacker’s survival kit: 10 hostel must-haves for over 30s

As an avid traveller who’s spent most of her adventures abroad as a solo backpacker, I’m a firm believer staying in hostels is the best way to see the world.

Not only is it the easiest way to meet people, but it’s affordable, meaning you can spend your hard-earned dollars on more than just where you’ll be sleeping each night.

There’s something oddly comforting about hostels. They’re all different, but each seems to share a list of common traits — like the constant smell of noodles wafting through the halls, or the all-too familiar sound of an overloaded backpack clattering to the floor at 4am.

As a seasoned backpacker, I can attest to the pure chaos, and magic, of hostel life. It’s often maddening — especially when you’re the only person in the dorm who remembers life before Google Maps and smartphones.

I will also be the first to admit sleeping in a communal dorm room as a 30-year-old woman was an entirely different experience from when I was 10 years younger.

So here are 10 tips on how to save your spine and your sanity when hostelling in your 30s.

A comfy travel pillow

No, a folded pile of clothes is not going to cut it now you’re out of your 20s. While most hostels will provide bedding, some don’t. Also, when you’re backpacking you often find yourself sleeping in less-than-ideal locations. Avoid my mistake and splurge on a comfortable, compact travel pillow. Trust me, your body will thank you later.

Noise-cancelling earplugs (wax ones if you know what’s good for you)

It blew me away how many bleary-eyed backpackers I met in hostel kitchens, clutching steaming cups of instant coffee like a lifeline as they muttered under their breath about the person snoring like a chainsaw in their 12-bed dorm. Apparently earplugs are one of the most overlooked items on packing lists.

And here’s another tip — chuck out the old-school foam earplugs. Do yourself a favour and buy a box of wax ones. They were the real MVP of my trip. In fact, I would’ve traded my passport before I gave those bad boys up.

Water purification tablets

Depending on where you go, your hostel might have safe tap water, or provide filtered drinking water. But it’s a bad idea to make assumptions — a lesson my stomach learnt the hard way.

I highly recommend avoiding the risk, and popping a water purification tablet in your reusable water bottle (another essential packing item) whenever in doubt. Save yourself the involuntary gut cleanse.

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries

Despite being in my 30s — and allegedly wiser — I confess I was not immune to the ancient curse of FOMO. But there comes a time when you inevitably have to say “no”, even if it does sound like the entire hostel is having the greatest night of their life without you. The truth is when you’re backpacking for an extended period of time, balance is key. You have to prioritise your health and listen to what your body and your mind need. Otherwise, the novelty wears off really quickly.

Thongs and a hanging toiletries bag

Thongs are a non-negotiable for me. I would rather go days without showering than brave a hostel shower’s floor barefoot. So please, just do me a favour — do yourself a favour — pack a pair of sturdy thongs. And while you’re at it, bring a toiletries bag you can hang up. Because let’s be honest, most hostel bathrooms weren’t designed with space or comfort in mind.

A sleep mask that means business

It’s an undisputed fact of hostel life that not everyone knows how to turn the light off. Enough said.

A portable charger with multiple ports

When it comes to charging your phone, camera or ereader in a dorm room, it’s often a survival-of-the-fittest type situation. In my experience, the number of beds far outweighs the number of available powerpoints. And the ones that are free are often in locations that leave you wondering what the electricians were thinking when they decided to place them in a tight corner one inch off the ground.

A padlock

Unlike my 19-year-old self, whose most valuable possession was a novelty shot glass from Barcelona and my half-functioning hot-pink iPod shuffle, I now travel with several items I’d be devastated to lose. Whether it’s a laptop, your journal, or the skincare product worth more than liquid gold, just stash it. Skip “hiding” it under your T-shirt like you did a decade ago, and give yourself some piece of mind.

Electrolytes and an emergency snack

Whether it’s a limited supply of water at your hostel or a wild night out, having a pack of electrolyte tablets handy is something I’ve never regretted while backpacking. Trust me, your body will thank you for it. You’re not 21 anymore, and that’s OK.

Go with the flow

Hostels are nothing if not unpredictable. You’ll stay at one and be treated like royalty, with free breakfast, bottomless coffee, and staff that cater to your every need. And then there are the others … You know what I’m talking about.

The ones where you question every life choice you made that led you to the rickety top bunk you currently find yourself in, which sways every time you breathe.

The only thing you can truly control is your attitude — so learn to roll with it. You might just find the most uncomfortable stays end up being the best stories from your trip.

As a 30-year-old solo female backpacker, I’ve lost count of how many people have warned me off hostels — as if I’d aged out of that particular experience. But the truth? Hostels have led to some of my most memorable travel moments. The conversations, the spontaneity, the unexpected friendships — all because of where I chose to stay. So if you’re hesitating, don’t. Age means nothing when you’re surrounded by like-minded people chasing the same kind of adventure.