A few notes on hostels.

They can be great places to live, or they can suck. Just like anything else. Here are a few general hostel tips.

- free internet. it isn't hard or expensive to offer free internet, but old timers don't get that. I will almost never stay somewhere that doesn't have free internet, or internet I can steal.
- you'll never find anything worth while in the free food basket, but don't stop looking. i've heard of people finding good cheese and bread!
- bottom bunk. just bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk. bottom bunk.
- rip any CDs (or DVDs if you can) that you find laying around. you never know when you'll get a gem
- parking is usually a bitch.
- just say that you're staying for a night, and maybe more, that way if the place sucks you can just leave after one night.
- learn German. everyone will be German
- notice what tone the signs on the walls have. are they too 'big brother' or are the adverts about free food and activities?
- the location in the city doesn't mean anything, walking is just another part of traveling life
- do they offer accommodation in exchange for work? do it.
- make dinner early, the busiest time in a hostel is dinner time, when dozens of people you've never seen come home from work to make elaborate meals that use 4 burners and the oven.
- the more people are already in bed when you goto sleep, the fewer people you have to listen to when they come in and wake you up to goto sleep.
- never buy tea bags, they are always free and plentiful in hostels
-never reach excitedly for a book on the 'take one leave one' shelf. if you do, it will be in German. approach it as if you don't care what language it is in, and that you've already read it a few times, but want to see what this version's cover illustration looks like