8 random acts of kindness that can make a difference during your next backpacking adventure
Book a bunk in a hostel and you get not just an economical space to crash, but a community. Hostels are places that enrich your travels, be it for a long weekend, or several months of cross-continental backpacking. Your itinerary might be packed but as many intrepid travelers know, even well-planned trips leave gaps for socializing and connection. That’s why hostel communities are so important for many travelers. This style of travel brings people from all over the world together. See the sights by day, and afterwards, chill out with new travel friends in hostel common spaces. The real magic of hostel life often comes from the little acts of kindness we show each other.
Hostels are lively spaces where travellers can swap stories, experiences, or give quality travel recommendations that you don’t always find in a guide. But the real magic of hostel life often comes from the little acts of kindness we show each other. Simple gestures can turn fellow backpackers into lifelong friends, and make someone’s day for a relatively low effort.
So in the spirit of spreading kindness, here are eight ways you can pass along the good vibes during your next hostel stay!
Offer to share your meal in the hostel kitchen
Cooking for one can be difficult sometimes. Recipes aren’t usually geared towards solo diners and neither are the quantities offered in most markets and grocery stores. If you’re on the move and have extra servings to spare, why not offer to share some of your meal with whoever happens to be in the hostel kitchen? Even cheap noodles or extra salad is often much appreciated by hungry backpackers on shoestring budgets!
Leave a positive message on the underside of a bunk bed
This act of kindness is almost effortless but can truly make someone’s day. Write a message on a post-it, card, or folded up piece of paper and stick it to the underside of a bunk bed for the next travel-weary backpacker to discover. That’s it! Your note can be as simple as, “Have a good day,” “Welcome to [location],” or “Make today count.” This is just a little way to spread the warm fuzzies and put a smile on someone’s face.
Talk to the quiet person who may be looking for a friend
As great as solo travel is, most of us have our limits. Life on the road can get a little lonely… especially for those whose journeys span weeks or even months. Not every traveler is a social butterfly either. For those of us who are naturally more extroverted, it never hurts to include others or engage solo travelers in conversation. Sure, some prefer solitude or a quiet evening with a podcast or book. If that’s the case, great but extending the offer to join you and your group for a game of jenga or dinner could take the evening from fine to fantastic.
Leave behind useful extras like books, magazines, and good food
And spare change in the local currency! We all know the feeling of coming across a *really good* book in the hostel lounge or extra coffee after a particularly tiring day of wandering. These acts of kindness feel like a warm hug. Truly, giving these useful extras might as well be a traveler’s love language!
Be mindful of your use of resources
Some hostels will post notices to make guests aware of strains on resources like water so as to encourage shorter showers or reduced water usage. As the world heats up and evidence of global warming (like floods, landslides, and forest fires) become more prevalent around the globe, green travel has never been more important. Are there strains on local resources in your destination of choice? If so, can you change your actions to lessen your impact?
Spend mindfully by supporting the places that need your business
One of the simplest ways to show kindness as a traveler is by being thoughtful about where and how you spend your money. When you buy food, book tours, or shop for souvenirs, consider smaller, local businesses that rely on tourism income. Supporting these spots can strengthen the local economy, help communities flourish, keep businesses open and show locals that you value them.
Leave a positive review
Did you have a positive experience at a local restaurant today? Your hostel experience was even better than anticipated? You went on a tour with a guide who truly captured your attention from the first minute? Leave a pleasant review to thank them, let you know you appreciate them, and help them gain more business. It’s so easy to forget (guilty!) but it’s an act of kindness that can have a positive snowball effect
Ask locals for recommendations and take them
When you ask locals for recommendations for food, activities, and ways to spend your time, really listen and take their advice seriously. This is more a point about engaging in a genuine way than it is about being “kind” but this is how you witness local culture and signify to others that you value what they have to offer and say.
Hostels are such special places where true bonds form as we dash across the globe. Travelling isn’t just about the impact destinations can have on us, but also about the impression we leave with others. Adding touches of kindness and respect are ways to spread love and positivity between pit stops and layovers. Safe travels!
