Hostel Dorms

I will be in Israel next month on vacation. I am staying mostly in youth hostels in the male dorms because that was what's in my budget. I am in my early 20's, and I have tried to research and book the safest and cleanest places possible. However, I'm slightly nervous about staying in a dorm full of guys I don't know. Is there anything I should be aware of? Obviously, I know to be polite and considerate of the other people. Have any of you stayed in a single sex dorm, specifically a male one? How do I keep myself and my belongings safe, especially while I am asleep?

Also, I am curious about dorm ettiquette. For example, is it alright to sleep in my underwear in a same sex dorm or should I be more conservative? What about other things, like how open people may be regarding sexuality or bodily functions? I've heard stories about guys bringing in girls and doing things, and I hope that isn't something I should expect. How "open" are these environments, and how open should I be? I'm trying to ask some sensitive questions while being polite and appropriate at the same time. It is not my intention to be offensive to anyone, I simply need these answered before I leave and don't know who else to ask.

Thank you so much.
Zachary

Hello Zachary
Personally i have never stayed in a dorm, but i have stayed in private rooms in youth hostels (which had dorms as well) for what i have seen, you will always get a locker to put your stuff in and keep it safe. Mostly guys are just lose and do all kinds of stuff. So you should not be shy, be open you might make really great friends along the way. I have also heard stories of guys bringin in girls, but i think that in israel does not happen much.
Hope you have fun there, me heading there next week :D
Miguel

I'm female, so I don't have experience of male dorms. However, I don't suppose things in men's dorms are very different. Hostels that are run by Hostelling International will not allow people to bring in members of the opposite sex, or for that matter members of the same sex, if the "attachments" are not paying to stay in the hostel. One bed, one guest. Privately run hostels may vary. Some (not exclusively in Israel) are notorious dens of iniquity (or great party places, depending on your point of view). Do some research on specific hostels.

Are you asking whether you should sleep in underwear instead of pyjamas, or sleep in underwear instead of naked? If you feel comfortable sleeping naked and others don't like it, it seems to me that it would be their problem, not yours. Bodily functions, well, don't we all have them?

In any hostel, anywhere in the world, when you are in a dorm with strangers, don't leave valuables lying around. Take your valuables with you when you go to the bathroom or the kitchen. Sleep with them under your pillow. This isn't to suggest that hostels are full of thieves, but it's a commonsense precaution.

i traveled 2 years around the world and slept in hostels/guesthouses/dorms. do not worry. the only recommendations i can say are the following: sleep in your underwear if you want in same-sex dorms; hide your money as theft is semi-common in dorms; almost anything goes in dorms, that is, if you are very conservative and worried about what may occur, stay in a private room as dorms are full of different people, so you never know what may occur.
personally, i think you are worrying too much. dorms are chill places to travel on a budget and you meet travelers from around the world. chill out, don't worry so much, and hide your money and other valuables. then you should be fine.
- julie