Can You Stay in Hostels With Type 1 Diabetes? Insulin Storage, Fridges and Safety Questions

Hostels are one of the best parts of solo travel. They are cheap, social and full of people who will invite you to another country five minutes after learning and then forgetting your name.

They are also chaotic, which becomes less charming when you are carrying insulin, two EpiPens and enough glucose tablets to make airport security think you are opening a pharmacy.

I did it for five months across Southeast Asia, from polished city hostels to questionable £2 a night hostels in Vietnam.

I stayed in hostels across Southeast Asia with Type 1 diabetes and severe peanut and shellfish allergies. Below is my guide to navigating hostels while also juggling the practical hurdles that come with these conditions.

Do hostels usually have a fridge for insulin?

Many hostels have a guest kitchen, staff fridge or minibar. Before booking, ask:

• Can I access the fridge 24 hours a day?
• Can medication stay inside a labelled container?
• Is there a freezer box or exposed cooling element?
• Will staff move it without speaking to me?

Where should insulin go inside the fridge?

Keep it away from the back wall, freezer compartment and cooling plate, where it may freeze. Put it inside a protective, clearly labelled container in the main body of the fridge. NHS guidance says frozen insulin should be discarded, even if it later thaws and looks normal.

My insulin froze in a hostel freezer during the Ha Giang Loop, so “cold” no longer reassures me by itself. If I am storing a large supply, I want to see the exact shelf.

What if the hostel has no fridge?

Check the instructions for your exact insulin because brands differ. Insulin currently in use can often remain at room temperature for a defined period, away from heat and sunlight, but follow the manufacturer’s leaflet and advice from your diabetes team or pharmacist.

I used FRIO cooling wallets during hot travel days and long journeys.

How do you secure diabetes equipment?

I use lockers for spare sensors and equipment but keep insulin, glucose and my immediate hypo treatment with me. I also divide backups where practical. One lost bag, theft or faulty fridge should not be able to remove everything in a single hit.

What about nighttime hypos in a dorm?

Keep glucose and your phone beside the bed. Do not be embarrassed if your alarms go off. Everyone I woke during the night was understanding once I explained what the alarm was for.

Hostels with Type 1 diabetes are possible. I just choose them carefully and make sure I have a backup plan for my insulin and supplies.