Hostel Questions

[Alex]

In 3 weeks time I`m off travelling Europe.
I have been to europe before, but this will be my first time staying in Hostels.

There are a few questions that I have, I havent been able to find answers anywhere perhaps because the questions are a bit silly?

Id be gratefull for some answers.


Is shaving(Face) a problem, should I take electric shaver or is it ok to use blades?

Getting changed. I can imagine it varies from hostel to hostel but generally, will there be a seperate room for doing so or just in the dorm room.

I`m travelling with a female partner so we hope to stay in mixed sex dorms mainly, maybe a few hotel rooms along the way.
She is somewhat concerned about privacy getting changed/having shower, will others be able to see?

Thanls very much for any answers to these, perhaps silly questions.

Alex

[nitsansh]

Most electric instruments brought from North America won't work in Europe because the voltage is different: In Europe it's 220 or 230 Volts. You need a transformator to connect a 110V instrument to 220V elecric current. Also, the plugs may be different, so you would need an adaptor too.

About privacy in hostels...
Most hostels nowadays have showers with doors so you can lock yourself and no one would see... you can change either in the shower/bathroom or under the sheets in bed... some people I've seen don't make a fuss of revealing their underwear, it's quite common in sex-segregated rooms, but less in mixed dorms...

[Kim]

Regarding the mixed sex hostel rooms-you will have more luck finding them in the independent hostels over the HI hostels.

Re: the razor. I would just bring a bladed one or two(pack in your checked luggage, not check on) to save the hassle of the voltage thing.

Kim

[Alex]

Thank you very much for youre replys.

Im actually from the UK guess I made it sound a lot like Im not.

The electric shaver I have will work with the voltages in europe but pluging it in could be a pain(Are standard shaving sockets common in hostels?), Id prefer to use blades so long as there wouldnt be a problem.

It looks like the first hostel we will be staying in is the Globetrotter Odyssee in Berlin, it seems to be well liked.
Im not to bothered about getting changed in front of people but I just want to know what is appropriate/how im expected to behave. The female Im traveling with is somewhat more bothered. Im sure itll all work out fine.

We plan to take hoverspeed/seacat to Ostend then overnight to Berlin and from berlin we plan to head into poland, we somewhat expect lesser privacy in hostels in poland but well probably get double rooms here.

[nitsansh]

This webpage has all the info on electricity:
kropla.com/electric2.htm