Utilize the front desk, they can answer any questions about local restaurants, bars, or entertainment. In really classy hostels, they can even arrange your tours (at a discount price). But in all hostels you’re likely to find a group of people willing to explore with you– great way to make wonderful friends.

-Shower Slippers
Get some that are rubber or plastic. They dry instantly, and save you from those “questionable” surfaces.

-Earplugs
Even if you fork over for a single, you never know what your neighbors might be up to later. Ahem.

-Locks
Bring a couple. And use them! While most people are totally trustworthy, there are always a few who are looking for creative ways to extend their trip.

-Deck of Cards
Want to meet people? Having a deck of cards is one of the easiest ice breakers out there.

-Sleepsack
Most hostels will give you sheets and blankets, but it’s always nice to have something you know is clean and cozy. Just take an old sheet, fold it in half, and sew the edges. It barely takes up any room in the backpack.

-Marking Pen
If you’re planning on cooking, write your name on your food. For some reason, a lot of backpackers convienently forget that they didn’t buy that box of cereal they’re eating.

-Postcards of your Hometown
You’ll meet tons of people, and exchange heaps of emails. While you may or may not actually write to your new friends, it’s kind of fun to give them a sense of where you’re from, with your info on the back.

-String
Some people don’t like wet clothes hanging on their bed. Especially if they’re on the lower bunk. Fashion a clothesline and you’ll be a hero.

-A Flashlight
You’re jetlagged, and just want a quiet place to read. The common room is way too loud, and everyone in your room is asleep. Or you come in late and can’t find your toothbrush. Don’t be that guy that turns on all the lights and wakes everyone up.

Hostels are the fulfillment of Europe’s ancient tradition of roadside inns. Serving as occasional long-term homes for the poorer workers, they also serve as welcome refuges for weary travelers. The outcome is an eclectic, multi-flavored, and ever-churning mix of locals, students, life-long wanderers, and immigrants. Quixote spoke of them often; Hugo used their cousin—the pension—as stages for countless revolutionary chats. Refreshingly, nothing has really changed save the technology: At worst, hostels are dodgy establishments filled with drifters and scammers; at best, they are community-oriented, temporary homes incubating those unique connections only wandering souls coming together can produce. There simply is no substitute for the myriad of scenes you will play out with the troop of characters you will meet. Western-style hotels, with their isolated rooms, down hallways in which no one speaks, cooks together, sleeps together, flops down in the same room after a long day together, just can’t breed the cultural babies of interaction hostelling forces (hopefully welcomingly) on its guests. Think of it as a more mature, much more entertaining version of the dorm. If you can be happy for the humpers two beds over, and don’t mind breaking language barriers with the owner over a gallon of tequila, you’re going to be just fine.

Basic establishments will offer a commons area in which to realx and socialize, shower rooms, and group sleeping quarters. The better ones will have a choice of amenities, including kitchen and laundry facilities, private rooms, internet connections, keyed storage to secure belongings, 24-hour front desk service, and some version of security. When choosing a hostel, be careful, but not overly cautious. Check out your guidebook–a good one will give you a range in prices and on-site options. Some are coed, and many have curfews, so be sure to ask about these. If it’s high tourist season, book one in advance, but keep your options open. Listen to the locals once you get there, and combine their knowledge with your own—they often know priceless secrets, such as which one has the best kitchen, or who will give a discount if you ask.

Once you find a few you like, check out the neighborhood, and keep your eyes peeled for other hostels; there are usually smaller establishments in the same area that are just as nice, and sometimes cozier. Precisely because hostels are what they are—a haven for transients and travelers—the atmosphere can change from week to week, month to month, and you want to make sure you are comfortable. Ask questions. This is no time to be shy; after all, it will be your home for however long you stay. Remember to watch your back, and that loneliness is a choice: there’s always a cutie, hiding in the corner.