At which time do you consider impolite/inappropriate to turn on the lights of the room?

Title: Navigating Lights, Quiet Time, and Roommate Etiquette in Hostels

A professional, user-focused discussion about hostel policies and shared living etiquette

While traveling solo through the Balkans, I’m staying in a hostel that enforces a quiet hours policy: lights off at 12:00 AM. It’s currently 10:15 PM, and one roommate was preparing for bed and turned the lights off. I was exhausted after a long day and also went to sleep early.

Soon after, another roommate arrived and turned the lights back on. The sleeper began to complain about the light, and I witnessed the disagreement from behind my curtain. The person who was resting asked me to side with her. I understand her point, but I wear an eye mask, so the light isn’t an issue for me personally.

In your view, should the “lights off” rule be strictly aligned with hostel policy, or should it be flexible based on when someone is actually going to sleep?

Update: At 2:00 AM, the sleeper also turns out to be a heavy snorer. The roommate who complained about the light has voiced frustration, and the room has escalated into a heated argument. I’m feeling the situation is less about a comfortable stay and more about a logistical tangle, but I’ll try to sleep with my eye mask and earplugs.

Discussion prompts:
– How do you interpret quiet hours versus individual sleep needs in shared hostel rooms?
– What strategies have you found effective for respecting others’ sleep while accommodating different sleep schedules?
– What are practical steps hostels can take to minimize conflicts around lights and noise?