Touring - Hostel Etiquette?

What are the rules in most hostels regarding making your bed, changing sheets etc? Are you expected to do it or will it be done for you?

Any other etiquette rules outside the obvious of being quite after hours, keeping your space somewhat neat etc.

usually at the end of your stay, you throw the sheets into a giant hamper but in the inbetween, no one makes your bed. I like to make my bed and put something personal on it (water bottle pictures, or book ,so that it looks like I am coming back)

Be nice and say good morning and good evening are my rules whereever I am\


where are you headed?

I am headed to Italy.

Most places I will be staying only one night. I was wondering if I need to change the sheets for the next guy.

And that should be quiet after hours not quite. :)

I am headed to Italy.

Most places I will be staying only one night. I was wondering if I need to change the sheets for the next guy.

And that should be quiet after hours not quite. :)

Dump your old sheet in the hamper/whatever provided, the hostel staff will hand the next guy his own freshly laundered sheets. I've also stayed in Club Alpin Italiano rifugios (climber's huts/hostels) where you brought your own sleeping bag, which pretty well solves the problem.

Stop worrying and enjoy the trip! Italy is a great country to travel in, enjoy yourself.

There will always be slight variations from hostel to hostel unless you stick to one chain.

Usually you should be pulling your own bedding off but rarely remaking the bed for the next guy. Afterall the hostel has no control over the quality of residence bed making. I there are blankets then fold them and leave tham as you found them.

The one rule is, if in doubt, just ask. Nobody minds if you make an effort to be a good resident.

Boy, things have really changed!

When I frequented hostels, you had to provide your own cover sheet. The pillow went in the short end and your body went in the long end. The hostel provided the pillow and a blanket. In the morning you take off the cover sheet and put it in your pack and neatly arrange the pillow and blanket. I don't remember there being any maid service in hostels.

Boy, things have really changed!

When I frequented hostels, you had to provide your own cover sheet. The pillow went in the short end and your body went in the long end. The hostel provided the pillow and a blanket. In the morning you take off the cover sheet and put it in your pack and neatly arrange the pillow and blanket. I don't remember there being any maid service in hostels.

I remember those days, there might still be some rural hostels doing things that way. I've stayed in gites d'etape in France (similar concept to hostels, catering to hikers on the various long distance footpaths in that country) and rifugios in Italy (climber's refuges, although they tend to be pretty elaborate "refuges"), that either expected you to bring your own linen or sleeping bag, or reduced the price of a bed if you did so.

"Maid service" might be stretching it a bit, they provide the sheets but you're on your own as far as getting them on your bed, and back to the laundry when you leave.

Note: I am a worry wart. Therefore I like to worry about things. You (and I) are not the only ones with a billion questions. However, they will pretty much tell you everything you need to know before you check in. Have a good time in Italy. When I was travelling through I had a blast, same to you. Let us know what happens.