Whether you’re traveling solo or simply on a budget, hostels are a great way to save money while visiting a different country.
Needless to mention the fact that you get to meet people from all over the world!
And while they offer numerous benefits, truth is the factor of safety is always in the back of a traveler’s mind (or at least it should be!).
Particularly when it comes to keeping their belongings safe while staying at a hostel with many different people, right?
That’s why knowing whether you can leave your luggage in a hostel and how you can keep it safe is essential for a stress-free trip!
Let’s give you some brief answers to those questions.
Can You Store Your Luggage in Hostels?
The short answer is: Yes, you can store your luggage in hostels.
This is because the vast majority of them offer dedicated spaces (such as lockers) for luggage storage, so travelers can keep their bags there.
Those lockers can either be found inside the rooms or in the public hallway outside of the rooms. Plus, they’re usually offered for no extra charge, as they’re included in the price you pay to book your accommodation.
However, there are several things you should consider before storing your luggage in a hostel.
Let’s have a closer look at them.
What to Keep in Mind Before Storing Your Luggage in a Hostel
Safety
Obviously, safety should be your first priority when storing your luggage in a hostel.
While most hostels are generally “safe”, there’s always the danger of having something taken.
After all, you’re staying with people you’ve never met before, right?
That’s why people who have experience with staying at hostels share tips on best practices to keep your things safe. You can get an idea of what we mean from the following screenshots from a relevant subreddit:
As you can see above, comments such as:
- “I kept my phone under my pillow”
- “I have two combination padlocks and a bike lock”
- “My friend takes his valuables into the shower with him in a waterproof bag”
Showcase the safety concerns regarding hostels.
Ideally, if you want to have a relaxed and stress-free journey, you shouldn’t be concerned about taking your valuables into the shower with you, right?
In a nutshell, hostels are generally safe but you need to take the right precautions to have peace of mind.
Extra Fees
Another factor you should consider is whether a hostel will charge you extra to store your luggage.
In most cases you won’t have to pay anything, since lockers and other luggage areas are included in the booking price.
However, keep an eye out for this so you don’t have to pay more.
Size of Lockers
Depending on what type of traveler you are, you might have different luggage storage needs, right?
Whether you’re carrying a simple backpack, a suitcase, a bike, or evel all of those together!
That’s why we advise you to get informed about the size of a hostel’s lockers beforehand, so you know whether your luggage will fit.
Insurance/Guarantee
Several luggage storage services offer their customers insurance up to a certain amount of money.
For example, here at Stasher we offer a £2,500 guarantee (or equivalent in other currencies) against theft or damage that might occur to your luggage.
Most hostels however don’t offer such a guarantee if your luggage gets stolen.
All you can do is alert the hostel owner and the local authorities to let them know about the incident.
4 Tips to Keep Your Luggage Safe in a Hostel
Since we’re talking about precautions, let’s have a look at some things you can do to ensure the safety of your things.
Tip #1: Buy high-quality lockers
A good high-quality locker is an essential travel accessory for every journey, whether you stay at a hostel or not.
After all, someone might go through your stuff anywhere; at the airport, a hostel, or even on the street.
That’s why keeping your bags safely closed is essential to not get any of your valuables stolen.
Tip #2: Invest in anti-theft luggage
Another item you should consider investing in is an anti-theft travel bag.
The name speaks for itself; such bags are designed with subtle, built-in safety features, while looking like ordinary bags on the outside.
That way, you can enjoy your travels stress-free without being afraid of pickpockets!
Tip #3: Don’t keep you bags unattended for too long
While it may sound obvious, keeping your bags unattended for too long should be avoided as much as possible.
Especially when they’re kept in shared spaces in hostels.
So although it might be a pain, try to keep an eye on your things often when you’re not sleeping, and take your most valuable items with you when leaving the hostel.
Tip #4: Get the staff’s contact details in advance
In the small chance that your luggage gets stolen, it’s only natural that you might panic (even a little).
That’s why it’s advisable to have the contact details of the hostel staff/owner so you can let them know about the incident ASAP, without losing time.
Even a few minutes might turn out to be a life-saver!
A Safer Alternative to Leaving Your Bags in a Hostel
If you’ve read so far, one thing is clear: Hostels can be an amazing experience, but when it comes to safety they don’t allow you to have peace of mind at all times.
Unlike hotels or Airbnbs where your valuables are generally safer (depending on many factors of course).
Partly, that’s why we created Stasher.
To not only offer travelers safety when it comes to their luggage storage, but also convenience so they don’t have to carry their bags around before check-in or after check-out.
By partnering with more than 4.000 locations (Stashpoints) in over 890 cities worldwide, you can easily store your luggage in places like a local shop or hotel.
Wondering how it works? Have a look below:
Simple, right?
Among the 890 cities covered, you can find some of the most popular ones for travelers such as:
So if you’re thinking about staying at a hostel but at the same time want your luggage to be safe, you can explore all our locations and find the closest Stashpoint possible to your Hostel!
