Crazy hostel situation, Etiquette?

Question

I stayed in a hostel in Amsterdam over the summer. I was in a large dorm style room with 6 bunk beds of mixed gender. The room had one bathroom/shower attached to it. Some of the people (men and women) in the room toweled off and changed there clothes in front of the other guests. The guy in the bunk right next to me came out of the shower dropped his towel and had a stiffy. My girlfriend had the bottom bunk and was at eye level with his stiffy.

Being foreigners we had no idea of what the etiquette is in Europe in mixed gender hostels.

Anyone had an simular experience or have a responce to the situation?

Answer 1

My high school in Denmark had co-ed toilets and in my second week of school, I walked in and saw the Headmaster at the urinal. I never got that image out of my head. During the year, I often saw my male teachers which I got used to, but it was still odd for me. On school trips, males and females often changed in front of each other. I was probably the only one who noticed since I was the foreigner...

Europeans are more relaxed about nudity. Your Amsterdam story is a bit extreme, but that's Amsterdam--anything is possible there!

Answer 2

I have travelled around most of Europe and stayed in dozens of hostels and I have never had an experience like that. It sounds like you were just unlucky.

In Europe (and especially the Netherlands) people are more relaxed about nudity than in the U.S. but it is NOT considered normal to be naked with a stiffy in front of strangers.

Where I have stayed people have never gotten butt naked in the room in front of other guests. Most change clothes somewhere more private or at least when there is nobody of the opposite sex in the room. Some would change some of their clothes with other people in the room, but they always kept their underwear on at least and tried to be discreet.

In one hostel in Budapest not everyone respected the gender-segregated bathrooms though. I bumped into guys in the female shower rooms a couple of times. One of them had clearly not been expecting any women to walk in there and freaked out, the other one didn't seem to care that he was in the wrong room.

Answer 3

Amsterdam is a world all in itself. Millions flock there every year for the relaxed attitude towards everything from drug use, prostitution, nudity, sexual experimentation and the like. Many other Americans have also found it a bit liberating, but also a bit intimidating. I still do not understand how anyone could reveal themselves with such freedom and not feel the least bit immodest. Typically, if you were in any other country, the locals would have been offended at the man's lack of sensitivity toward the other guests, but especially the women in the room. In Amsterdam, anything goes - literally.

Please express my heartfelt empathy for your girlfriend. Even I became a bit nauseated when reading your question... May you have much better hostel-mates in your future travels elsewhere. : )

Answer 4

Budapest is often explained since the "Little Paris of Middle Europe" and if you want to see this city you need to take a look with hotelbye . Budapest is popular not only for the monuments highlighting its 1,000-year-old culture, but also for the relics of others who settled here. Stays from both Roman occupation and much later ruled by the Turks may however be viewed in the city. Budapest has two edges, Buda and Pest, extending over the banks of the Danube, and they're addressing two different people of the city. Suburban Buda and its historic fortress district provide medieval roads and properties, museums, caves and Roman ruins. The energetic Pest part features the largest parliament developing in Europe, riverside promenades, flea areas, bookstores, vintage shops and café houses.

Answer 5

If a woman invites a younger guy out, then she should foot the bill. In most cases a 21 yr. old wouldn't have the money to support her lifestyle. If she is accustomed to the high style when she should invite a rich man out or pay for the evening herself. SOME women ,with money, are more than happy to pay ,if they can be seem with a young good looking man.I admit not all are like this ,but it you have the money to pay for the escort you want ,then you should foot the bill also.If it was an older lady that wanted to go to a decent more inexpensive reasturant ,.then you should use your own judgement, If she asked you out, you must have given her the idea that is what you wanted,

Answer 6

Europeans are generally much more relaxed about nudity than Americans and other nationalities. If the situation was very uncomfortable for you maybe stay in a single sex dorm or a hostel with private rooms next time.

Answer 7

Yeah, I had a bunch of wedding guests from Europe staying at my home in the US. Before everyone woke up in the morning, I dressed and walked downstairs to the kitchen to make coffee and put out some early cakes and juice for the risers. As people woke up and smelled the coffee, they all congregated in the kitchen, in boxer shorts for the men, bra and panty for the women. EVeryone felt at home, talked and drank coffee. My wife came down and her jaw almost dropped as I was sitting at the kitchen table with 4 young women in their skivvies. Well, at least I enjoyed the moment.

Answer 8

in berlin, in a hostel that had separate boy and girl quarters, i was put in with the boys because they recognised my name as being male... i didnt correct them though!

Answer 9

wow,
im quite surprised to hear that..being an European i always thought that Americans are more open and shameless..
but maybe you are more "puritan" than it shows in Mtv ;)

Answer 10

Wow- I'd freak out, definitely...