ashok mansukhani retweetledi
Forget about Indians going abroad and creating a nuisance. I mostly travel solo and usually stay in backpacker hostels like Zostel or GoStops. Lately, though, I have noticed something that is slowly ruining the whole hostel experience.
Groups of friends now book dorms instead of private rooms. And honestly, if you are travelling as a group and your plan is to spend the night drinking, chatting loudly, playing music, and hanging out with each other, why not just book a private room, a hotel, or an Airbnb? Instead, they check into dorms and treat the entire space as their personal hangout spot. Endless conversations late into the night, loud laughter, music, drinking in common areas, and complete disregard for the fact that there are other people around trying to sleep, work, read, or simply enjoy some quiet time.
When backpacking culture was still relatively new, there was an unwritten code. People socialised, made friends, and shared stories, but they were also mindful of the fact that they were sharing a space with strangers. The whole idea of a backpacker hostel was to create a comfortable environment where travellers, especially solo travellers, could meet people while still respecting each other’s peace. That culture seems to be fading away.
And honestly, I think this goes beyond hostels. It is part of a larger decline in civic sense and consideration for others. Somewhere along the way, we have become less aware of how our behaviour affects the people around us. Maybe this sounds like a small thing, but anyone who has spent enough time in hostels will understand. A dorm is a shared space. It works only when people remember that they are not the only ones in it.
And also I strongly believe there is a difference between a traveller and a tourist. A traveller adapts to the place and respects the people around them. A tourist expects the place to adapt to them. Sadly, more and more backpacker hostels today seem to be attracting the latter.
@ZostelHostel @gostopsofficial @thehosteller
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