As the evening rolls on, you may want to sit out into the night with your new friends. However, be aware that many hostels have curfews. 
 Many hostels now have a website where you can book a room. Backpacking can be a wonderful experience.

Experiencing different cultures, overcoming language barriers, and making new friends (locals and other travelers) are all part of the adventure of backpacking and staying in hostels and cheap hotels.
 Backpackers tend to travel for longer periods than the typical tourist. Travel in comfort - Bring a pillow with you for those long bus journeys.

In all hostels, although the custom is to remain as quiet as possible at night, you should expect a small amount of noise from your fellow hostel occupants. Expand your horizons - Taking excursions away from your original plan is part of what makes backpacking fun. Sample the locale - Visit local restaurants and bars. They are much cheaper and you can try the traditional specialities and even meet the locals.

Go to the tourist office. Here you can pickup a free tourist map and ask questions about what to do or what to see. Generally, large city hostels are open 24 hours per day, while others may have shorter opening hours. The majority of hostels around the world are independently owned and many of these have their own bars and restaurants.

Hostels are becoming more and more modern. Many hostels have remained old school and you do need to maintain an open mind when choosing this form of accommodation. Almost all hostels offer lockers, either free of charge or for hire so that people staying in dormitories can lock up their valuables. Many hostels are located in remarkable buildings.