Wait, $65? For real? That is wild. My sister paid around $45 last fall and even that felt steep for what you get. Staring at a bald spot for 90 minutes is exactly the kind of thing that would happen to me, so your story checks out.

That fat acts like a buffer zone, so maybe the real lesson is to trust your hands over the knife.

The "guy packing at 4am" part hit me hard. I did the same thing in Barcelona, saved like 12 bucks and ended up sleeping in the common area on the couch for two nights because the snoring in my room sounded like a chainsaw choir. After that trip I started carrying earplugs and a cheap eye mask everywhere, but honestly the real fix is just budgeting one private night every few days. It breaks up the grind and you actually recharge. Now I look at hostels that have both options and book the private for the first night after I land, then downgrade if the vibe is chill enough. Sleep is a need, not a luxury, and learning that on a 3 week trip was a rough lesson.