Morning Routine Of A Backpacker – Hostel Edition

Have you ever wondered what the morning routine of a backpacker looks like? The digital nomads, the hostel go-ers, the folks on the road for an indefinite period of time… You may have asked yourself: how do these people live? I’m here to give you an insider’s perspective.

You may even have formed some ideas about what this kind of life is like. Maybe you think we hardly ever wash our clothes or sleep in beds covered with spider webs. Hey, you’re not entirely wrong. However, over the past few months, I’ve noticed that I do stick to a morning routine like I did in any other “permanent” place I’ve lived. It may not be as elaborate or include as many fancy skincare products (who am I kidding; it never really did), but it’s a routine, okay?

At the beginning of my trip through Central-America, I was mostly staying in Airbnb’s, because it’s cheap and I like to have my own space. After a bad experience in my last Airbnb, though, I decided to switch it up and book a hostel instead. Since then I’ve been enjoying that #hostellife!

I did a similar post to this one about my daily routine while living in a tent in Panama, which you might find interesting too. But, first things first: here’s my morning routine as a backpacker – hostel edition!

My Morning Routine While Staying In A Hostel!

AM I AWAKE OR AM I DREAMING?

I usually wake up anywhere between 6-8am, depending on the noise. Lots of things can wake you up in hostels: mosquitos, music, alarm clocks, roosters, people snoring, chatting, laughing, crying,… I’m probably forgetting things, but you get the gist!

After getting dressed while bumping into stuff 20+ times, I usually head straight for the bathroom. This is where I stare at my reflection for a few seconds, ponder the meaning of human existence and then quickly wash my face. Since I’ve only ever been in dorms with 10 other people, I try to be as quiet as possible. I’m not one of those ***** (insert preferred swear word) who thinks the rest of the world wakes up when they do.

• 

• 

• 

• 

WHERE’S THE FOOD?

By that point I’m too hungry to do anything else, so I’ll rush downstairs before I get hangry and accidently hurt someone. Breakfast options will greatly vary between hostels; sometimes it’s included in the price and sometimes you pay a little extra. Right now, I’m paying extra, but there’s pretty much anything I could want (bread, eggs, banana cake, fruits + tea or coffee), so I definitely think it’s worth it. Of course, in most hostels there’s a kitchen, so you can also make your own breakfast!

• 

• 

SHOWER + SKINCARE ROUTINE!

When I’m done with breakfast, I go back to my room, grab my stuff and try to find a shower. This can be a quest in itself, since there’s lots of people and we all need to stay on top of our personal hygiene (at least, most people). I feel like you can expect pretty much anything from hostel bathrooms. Gigantic spiders, sand everywhere, questionable soap,…

Recently, I was already in the shower, fully nude and ready to enjoy some lukewarm water, when I turn on the faucet aaand… nope. No water to be detected. J O Y! Don’t give up though, you’re bound to find something that works.

I keep my shower routine short & sweet, because I don’t want a line of people waiting outside of my door. Lately, I’ve been using these organic products that I found in a Costa Rican supermarket. I especially like the coconut shower gel, it smells amazing!

• 

• 

For skincare, I either use these tiny cleansers that I brought from home or I’ll use some sunflower oil! This is a great hack btw: if you’ve bought any kind of oil to cook with (olive, sunflower,…), you can use it as a cleanser as well! Before you think I’m crazy, the oil cleansing method is actually one of the most effective and natural ways to keep your skin clean + hydrated. The only other thing I do (aside from sunscreen, don’t ever skip sunscreen) is applying some type of moisturizer & lip balm. I like anything with minimal ingredients & Aloe Vera!

• 

• 

WHAT’S NEXT?

When all of this is done, I’ll either grab my laptop and do some writing or other blog-related stuff OR if we’re going out exploring, I’ll start preparing for that. If you’re tired and don’t feel like doing anything, you can also just chill at your hostel! In my experience, hostels generally have really nice common areas, as you can see below in the pictures. Some even have work spaces that you can use.

• 

• 

• 

• 

This was my morning routine as a backpacker while staying in a hostel! In my case, it’s not THAT different from my usual morning routine, although it’s definitely a bit more… minimal. I hope this post has given you some insight into hostel life and what really goes on there!

Have you ever stayed in a hostel? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

Don't forget to share!