Tips for staying at a hostel

I have been thinking about this lately. The last few times I have stayed at a hostel, people seem surprised by the things that I do to make my stay much more enjoyable. Here are some tips you can do to save money, time, and make your stay more comfortable.

1. Bring ear plugs. I can't tell you how many times I have stayed at hostels and there have been kids running up and down the hall very late at night and people snoring extremely loud in the dorm rooms. You can get ear plugs very cheap in airports and travel stores.
2. Always make sure the place you have includes a free breakfast. If you can get up and make it to breakfast, you might be able to snag some food for lunch. You'll save a lot of money in expensive cities like London and Paris.
3. Also make sure that the hostel doesn't charge for sheets. Some do, others don't. Some also don't allow you to use sleeping bags. I have no clue why.
4. Bring your own towels. Most hostels do not supply them. I use a backpacking towel when I stay at hostels. They are light, take up little room, and dry quickly.
   
5. If you have a laptop, try to stay somewhere that has free internet. If you don't have a laptop, stay somewhere that has cheap internet usage. If you stay for more than 3 days you'll want to use the internet.
6. Whether you are traveling by air or train, plan out your route through the city to your hostel. Once you check in and scope out the area, you can ask the front desk how to get to and from the hostel the quickest. Also find out where the nearest train/bus station is.
   
7. Sleep on the bottom bunk. It will save you the hassle of climbing down a ladder in the morning or when you need to go to the bathroom. Some ladders are also not very stable. You'll also have more room to store things (i.e. under the bed).
   
8. Try to get a bed near a electric outlet. Some rooms only have one, so if you need it, you'll be closer. And don't forget a electric converter for the country you are going to.