Call ahead. Nothing is worse than showing up and finding out there’s no room in the inn. Reservations are especially important during the summer. You’ll also want to verify check-in times since many hostels are closed during portions of the day. Dress the part. Hostels are casual. Shorts, jeans and flip-flops are the norm unless you’re a business traveler staying in a big city hostel. Think explorer vs. tourist (e.g. backpacks not fanny packs for daytime sighseeing). One caveat: older men need to walk a fine line. Casual is good. Looking like you’re a scary homeless person is bad. Pack smart. Bring a lock for the lockers, earplugs for the dorms, and a flashlight so as to not wake others for midnight runs to the bathroom. Bathroom items aren’t provided, so you’ll need to bring your own towel, soap and toiletries. If the hostel requires you to produce a passport, don’t forget yours at home. One novel is a good idea, more is unnecessary weight in your pack. (You can always buy a new one and many hostels allow you to trade yours for a new one in their library.) Drivers with room in the car may want to pack laundry detergent, a cooler of food and a set of sheets. Taking personal sheets helps provide a home-away-from home feel and saves you from having to rent them from the hostel. Finally, everyone is encouraged to take a long a journal to capture the experience. Follow hostel protocol. The first thing you should do upon check-in is make up your bed. This marks it as yours. The second thing you should do is neatly store your stuff ­ in a locker if it’s available and next to, or under your bed, otherwise. For the rest of your stay, the rules are easy: clean up your cooking area and wash your dishes if you use the kitchen, don’t bring in alcohol if it isn’t allowed, be quiet and don’t wake up your roommates if you return home late and don’t leave your personal items in the bathroom. When it’s time for you to go home, clean up after yourself, strip your bed and leave their sheets wherever they ask you to leave them. Participate. If you go to a quiet hostel just to be commune with nature, that’s fine. Otherwise, you probably didn’t choose to hostel if you wanted to be a hermit. Big city hostels often offer free walking tours. They are great ways to meet people. In smaller hostels, just hang out in the common room and strike up a conversation. Offering people free food around meal time (extra spaghetti, cookies, etc.) also works wonders. Plan for lock-outs. Many hostels are closed for portions of the day and guests must leave. Hostellers are traveling to experience their surroundings not sit inside all day, so it isn’t a big deal. But it’s helpful to make a plan and take a backpack with maps, a water bottle, etc. when you head out for the afternoon. Be generous. If you have extra food, offer it to someone else. If your driving into town, at lease consider giving someone a ride (but not if they seem weird or scary). Don’t be naïve. Hostellers are a reflection of society: most are honest, a few aren’t. Be generous of spirit, but don’t be a mark/victim. Leave valuable jewelry and irreplaceable items at home and use lockers when they are available. Don’t loan people money. And trust your instincts - especially when it comes to intimate encounters. Many a romance has blossomed between hostellers, so be open to that possibility. However, if something just doesn’t feel right, do not give him/her the benefit of the doubt. Don’t even thing twice about it. Go talk to someone new. Listen more than you talk. Hostelling is a great opportunity to listen to other points of view. Travelers from all across the world bring with them a variety of perspectives. Offering yours is encouraged, just listen to theirs first. You might learn something new. Ask hostel staff and fellow hostellers for recommendations. The staff knows whether sights are worth visiting and the best restaurants to fit your budget. The best club in town also varies from night to night. The locals can generally steer you to the right spot and their advise will be more current than any book your reading (including this one!). Ask fellow hostellers about hostels that you plan to visit. If it’s hard to find, they can give you landmark tips. If they’re a cool pub nearby, they’ll know it.