Most of the hostels I have stayed in are social but not necessarily a party hostel; until now. Now I have been traveling and dealing with my social anxiety along the way. 3 months in I finally felt ready to stay at a party hostel. Here is my review of it as someone with social anxiety.
What is a Party Hostel ?
A Party hostel is aimed at backpackers who want to experience the nightlife in a city. Hostels like this usually have a lot of drinking going on accompanied with games and a lot of mingling with one another. People who stay in these hostels are usually around 18-30 years old, sometimes older. Depending on the hostel itself, you can find a very clean drinking, fun party hostel or a party hostel geared towards hook up culture; so keep that in mind when looking at hostels like this.
Where I Stayed
Gili Castle/ Mansion in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia
This hostel was a party every night but in a good way. I was very surprised by this hostel because it was very social and the party was not “cliquey” and everyone was simply just enjoying each others company. No hook up culture involved and the people that stayed here were around min 20s. Drinking games every night right before hitting the bar after. Very much could avoid the party if you wanted to.
Now on to me and the Anxiety of it
Parties in College
As with most university, freshman year is accompanied with a lot of parties and for me it was my first time being a part of drinking, hook up, and drug culture; I was not exposed to any of this in high school. I was ready to embrace the parties in college but that did not come with its anxieties.
Every time we would go out I would have to build up this courage to do it and calm down my anxieties. Of course alcohol helped but that also tasted gross. I would be pre gaming with my friends dreading the night ahead and looking forward to when we got home.
The goal every party was always to stay out as long as possible meaning I was not getting home till 4am. By that time I would be sober and my social battery completely drained. We then do that all again the next night and I’d have to deal with the same anxieties.
I think ultimately it came down to me being scared of people talking to me. I did not want to talk to anyone outside of my friends nor did I want to dance with anyone. But its a party so you should want to do those things; therefore I would force myself to do it but never really enjoyed it. Social anxiety was eating me alive.
With all that being said some of my favorite memories are of going out with my favorite people in freshman year and enjoying our many all night adventures with the people I love.
How I felt this time Around
Why am I comparing the two? Because the first night partying at this hostel felt like I was back in a freshman year party but it also felt completely different.
Partying as an adult I feel so much more in control of my own personal party in the party. I did not feel like I was forcing myself to do anything and meeting other people felt a lot more natural. As soon as I got to talking with one person another one came along and I did not feel awkward. We played drinking games, exchanged travel stories and it just felt like we were genuinely enjoying each others company.
The great thing is that if I wanted to leave the party I simply could. I did not force myself to stay even when my social battery was not completely drained. I was my own person and only had to worry about myself and in knowing that it did bring me comfort.
I am so glad I stayed at the Gili Castle hostel as I had such a great time meeting people and I actually was loving the party aspect. It was the most fun I have had at a hostel.
Now I am not saying it would be like this in every hostel as this is just my experience in one hostel. But if you’re like me and have social anxiety that you are dealing with; when you find the courage to actually take the step to staying at a party hostel do not hesitate because it might led to something great.
