All hostels provide bedsheets and/or a blanket for your dorm bed, as well as a pillow, so there's no need to bring those. And thank heavens, because a pillow would be a pain in the neck to stuff into a backpack. Especially if you're squeezing your onesie in there too.
It's a common question, but almost all hostels provide sheets and linen for sleeping, so unless you're camping as part of your trip, you can leave this one out.
If you are wondering if you are too old to stay in a hostel, you are not. There's this funny thing I've noticed about aging: the older I get, the less I care what people think. If you had asked me if I would still stay in hostel dorm rooms in my thirties when I was 24, I probably would have told you I would not.
While most HI USA hostels do have private rooms, staying in a shared dorm is your best bet if you want to meet other travelers and make your travel budget go further.
Yes, but perhaps not in the way you're thinking. Most hostels have a communal bathroom with private shower stalls. So while they're technically “communal”, you'll still have a sense of privacy.
Don't leave your stuff unattendedIf you're staying in a shared space, try not to leave your things unattended or outside of a secure locker, even if it's just in your room. In a hostel dorm, if you leave your purse, phone, passport or laptop in the room while you're not there, you're taking a risk.
One reason why meeting girls in hostels is more likely to turn into success than other dating services is because everyone you meet will not only be in the same mindset as you, but everyone is also on holiday.
Many hook-ups that happen in hostels are spur-of-the-moment, passionate encounters between people that may not know each other very well. While that's all well and good, in fact that's part of the fun of it all, it is still important to practice safe sex. Use contraceptives, wear a condom, and avoid spreading disease.
Use the LockersNinety percent of the hostels we've stayed in have provided lockers -- use them! You should look to buy a padlock before you leave to travel to use with these lockers, but even if you don't have one you can usually rent padlocks from reception for a small fee.