More of Best European Hostels
Europe has over 2,000 hostels. Which are your favorite(s) and why?
The Beehive is a great place!
Since I consider The Beehive in Rome one of the best hostels I ever encountered
(and I've encountered many), and since they are a cash-only operation, requiring
credit cards only to hold a reservation, I was quite surprised at CJ's 12/26
outburst. The Beehive charges your credit card for the room or bed only
if you don't follow the cancellation policy clearly stated on their website
(www.the-beehive.com, follow the "reservations" link). Before hollering
"fraud," CJ should explain if he followed this policy to the letter (i.e.
cancelled by the close of the day on the 8th if he had a reservation for
the 10th). The Beehive's cancellation policy is much more liberal than that
of many budget accomodations in Europe, where (as seen in multiple Graffiti
Wall postings) guests who cancel are charged one night's lodging no matter
how far in advance they give notification. Remember that the hostel or hotel
probably had to turn away several customers who wanted your bed or room
(especially true of Rick Steves' listings because they are in such demand).
Instead of screaming "fraud," it would have been better to provide details
of the circumstances so we can judge for ourselves.
Mary from Oregon
USA 12/29/01
Great Prague Hostel
The Hostel Boathouse in Prague is brilliant! Friendly staff, convienient
location (on tramline), great common room and cheap, yummy breakfast. We
even were given free postcards and a pen from the staff upon arrival.
Rebecca <email>
Minneapolis, mn USA 12/11/01
I just returned from London a week ago and had a marvelous time.
As we all know London is not a cheap city. Hardly will you ever get a deal
especially when it comes to accomodations. However I have two places I would
highly recommend to all who want to save, be comfortable on their visit
to London.
The Earl's Court Hostel I stayed in my first night on my most recent excursion to London was about 16.50 GBpounds a person if you're under 18 and 18.50 GBP if you're over 18 and it was cleaner and more comfortable than that $120/night hotel from our last visit to London. The staff at the hostel was courteous, there's internet access, and a decent breakfast included in the price. The bathrooms, showers and linens were all very clean as well. I would totally stay there again if I needed to sleep in Central London again. Plus the reception desk opens late.. I believe till 10-11PM and there's no curfew.
Now, for the fabulous London Hotel. The Chumleigh Lodge Hotel is a small
family run bed and breakfast hotel situated in the Finchely area of North
London. It's only about a 20-25 minute ride to Leicester Square on the
highly efficient Northern Line. So although it's not Centrally located,
it's quite easy to get to Central London. For a double room en-suite it's
an incredible bargain at about 55 GBPounds a night, which is about $80.
Which is only about $5-10 more than a two person stay at the Earl's Court
Hostel (although it was nice, I kinda like having a private bathroom and
a larger bed for $5-10 more). The room was pretty spacious for a London
hotel. It was also clean and well-decorated. Plus, a delicious hot breakfast
of eggs, beans, sausages, bacon and unlimited toast, coffee and tea are
included in the price. The Chumleigh lodge is situated in a beautiful
Victorian house in a residential, non-touristy area of North London. The
only thing is the reception desk closes at 9PM, so if you arrive in London
in the late evening, you won't be able to check in (that's what happened
to us, but we knew that ahead of time). But once you check in, you'll
get a key to the lodge which will permit your entrance to the lodge if
you decide to stay out late in the evening.
Karen L. <email>
New York, NY USA 12/03/01
Barcelona
In Barcelona, we stayed in a family house ran by the most wonderful
family! He showed us how to use the metro, where to go and what to do! Not
only that, he did our laundry! You can't beat that deal!
Christi <email>
Chandler, AZ USA 12/03/01
Hostels
Although I see others have said it before me, I have to recommend
Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald Switzerland. Great people, great atmosphere.
Wish I was there now...
Erin Parker <email>
Snohomish, WA USA 11/29/01
okura - amsterdam
Amsterdam: hotel okura!! 5* luxury. I didn't think I was worth it,
but i've changed my mind ;) I was there unexpectededly for a long summer
wknd and surprise, surprise EVERYTHING is booked. Thank you http://lastminute.com
for hooking up a room for $110/night - apparently this hotel gets most of
its traffic from weekday biz travellers. Way more than I'd normally pay,
but not too bad for a big city and pretty incredible considering the number
of stars. Well worth it. Unwind in the d-lux fitness centre: includes 1st
class sauna complete with immersive cold dip. The location is down in de
pipj (nice little hood) a bit outside the center, but on the tram line.
If you can get a special rate, by all means check this place out!... and
oh yea, don't forget to see this truly fab city too ;)
stu mermonkey <email>
cambridge, UK 11/28/01
Studenten Hotel Berlin - we goofed and didn't make reservations,
arriving in Berlin after 1800. The TI finally directed us to Studenten Hotel
Berlin which was clean and inexpensive, had a friendly staff and a good
breakfast. Definitely a younger crowd, but quiet enough at all times to
get some rest. I recommend this hostel, but you should make a reservation
in advance (we got the last two beds). Met people from all over, even my
own hometown!
Hotel Passage - Bruges/Belgium. The hostel was clean, decent, friendly staff and reasonable rates. Plus, it's not far from everything in Bruges. Was a great place to meet young people from all over the world.
Mountain Hostel - Gimmelwald/Switzerland. A nice place, full of young people, many of whom choose to stay awhile in Gimmelwald. A beautiful setting, with decent rates and a friendly staff.
Euro Youth Hotel - Munich. A few blocks from the train station, two stops
from the Hofbrauehaus! Decent breakfast, friendly staff and a variety
of rooms, including dormitory style and private rooms. It was the last
leg of our trip, so we opted for a room with two twin beds, and it was
still less than 50 DM/each (~$20). Definitely recommend this place.
Mike Broyles <email>
Tucson, AZ USA 11/25/01
Barcelona, Rome, Venice & Paris
All from Rick's guide books:
Barcelona — Hotel Occidental Reding — reding@occidental-hoteles.com — Nice continental breakfast, good sized rooms, English speaking and helpful and air conditioning!
Rome — Hotel Aberdeen — hotel.aberdeen@travel.it — Very nice continental breakfast, good sized room, English speaking, air conditioning, close to Termini, internet access in lobby for guests!!
Venice — Hotel Marin — htlmarin@gpnet.it — OK continental breakfast, small clean room, English speaking, charming helpful owners, NO air conditioning, close to train station and self-serve laundromat (only one in Venice!).
Paris — Hotel Elysa-Luxembourg — hotel@elysa-luxembourg.fr — Very
nice continental breakfast, English speaking and helpful, very good sized
room, air conditioning, close to train station convenient to everything!
Shellee <email>
Rochester, NY USA 11/09/01
Best European Hostels
My sister and I stayed at the Residenza al Corso in Rome this past October.
The hotel is small and has a lovely little breakfast room where you are
served fabulous cappucino in the morning. It is right on the Via del Corso
(#18)just below the Piazza del Popolo. I am fond of this hotel for more
reasons than its ambience and location. One evening, I became very ill and
around 11PM my sister asked the hotel staff for assistance. They called
the owner of the hotel who personally came to the hotel and drove me to
the emergency room. He gave the ER Staff information about me and then stayed
until my sister told him I was going to be all right. The next day he sent
inquiries regarding my health. I was overwhelmed by his kindness.
Janine Belveal <email>
Canon City, CO USA 11/09/01
If visiting Dingle, Ireland stay at the GRAPEVINE hostel. It's right
in town, within walking distance of everything - pubs, grocery stores, bike
rental, waterfront. Large dorm rooms, very clean and friendly staff. Other
hostels around are okay, but are a few miles outside of town - ideal for
campers, bikers and people with cars.
Amy
Seattle, USA 11/06/01
Favorite Hostels
BARCELONA: Kabul Hostel. The staff isn't the best but the atmostphere
is great. The common area is always crowded. The rooms were ok but the showers
were clean- a big plus.
VENICE: I second Casa Gerotto. But do make reservations or you could get stuck paying more for it's hotel instead of a dorm.
BRUGGES: Bauhaus is great. I loved that place. Clean rooms, nice showers, and the bar/restaurant is fun. It's got a great location and just let the bus driver know where you are going and he/she will let you know where to get off.
BRUSSELS: CHAB Van Gogh is by far my favorite there. Friendly staff and standard breakfast. Central location too. The Bruegel HI hostel is a bit more difficult to find (especially if you are driving) but a nice place with an excellent cheap bar in the basement. (don't miss Happy Hour!) Make reservations on the weekends as hostels in Brussels fill up fast- no matter what season it is.
PARIS: Auberge International de Jeunesse is cheap and functional. The common area is ok and the rooms are nice and clean. I stayed at Friends also. It was cheap and I loved the location- right across from a Metro stop. The staff was super-friendly to me but the rooms weren't too great. Still a decent place to stay when you have to leave early in the morning.
VIENNA- Wombat's. The staff is so friendly and helpful (especially when your luggage gets lost!) and the rooms are hotel-like- very clean. Nice bar.
SALZBURG- I liked the YoHo. Clean and efficient. Plus do not miss dinner. It's cheap and sooo good.
MUNICH- 4U was not the best place to stay. The rooms were ok and I met some great people but I wouldn't stay there again. Eurohostel looked soo much better.
BUT my favorite hostel of all-times was the HI hostel in Bacharach, Germany.
It's one of the castle hostels and it was clean, cheery, and had a better
shower than the one in my flat in France. The town itself is small but
there's a great restaurant there and the views are just beautiful. Plus
you get to stay in a castle for $15! What more could you want? I also
stayed in various places around Britain but I won't post those now.
Carissa <email>
Sterling, VA USA 10/24/01
budapest
Oooh "Station Guesthouse" in Budapest... the best hostel I've ever come
across. Just the greatest. Atmosphere, great people, not too sterile, no
curfew, just nice and cozy. Loved staying there... mm...
Hanna
Umeå, AC Sweden 10/19/01
accomodations
I had an excellent time and found great accomodations in Prague. Jarmila
Krajcova (dominium@DOMINIUM.cz) owns several apartments in the center of
Prague. She picked us up from the train station in the middle of the night
and drove us to our apartment which she charged $50.00 a night. It came
complete with kitchen, two bedrooms, shower, and toilet. Located on the
second floor with windows overlooking the narrow cobblestoned street.
Just down the street was the U.S. and Irish Embassy and an Irish pub.
The apartment was about three blocks away from Charles Bridge. Having
not changed our money to Czech Korunas yet, Jarmila offered some money
until we can get to an ATM so that we could at least get a beer at the
pub. And this apartment, though simple, had all the comforts of home and
centrally located, was one of the cheaper ones. She also picked us up
and drove us to the train station. Thank you for a pleasurable experience
Jarmila.
Arnold Van Lingen <email>
Carlsbad, CA USA 10/17/01
Hostels
I backpacked through Europe for the month of May 2001. It was AMAZING to
say the least. I went with my boyfriend and we stayed in hotels, hostels,
B & B's, and even private homes. The one hostel I DO recommend staying at
is Vondelpark Hostel in Amsterdam. It's clean, friendly and in a great location.
Young and Happy Hostel in Paris, Marais District. This place isn't that
clean or big, but the location is GREAT and the people are friendly.
LDYBG <email>
Hillsborough, CA USA 10/12/01
ABERDEEN HOTEL-ROME
The Aberdeen is wonderful! Recently redecorated and painted. Breakfast is
great and they do speak English.
JOHN DOROSK <email>
Sarasota, fl USA 10/12/01
greek islands (ios)
I spent 2.5 months b.packing through Europe and started out with Greece.
The Greek islands are definitely worth visiting and really, really cheap.
There's a place on the island of Ios called Hermes. It looks like a luxury
resort. Theres a pool out back overlooking the Aegean sea with a bar and
tons of lounge chairs. I call it the biggest secret in Europe 'cause you
are able to live like royalty for the equivalent of 18-20 bucks a night.It's
right next to a beach too. Awesome. It's run by a little Greek family. The
sister's a witch, but the brother; Nikko is really cool. The family also
owns a bar in town and Nikko will drive you and your friends from the bar
if you get messed up. The best thing about the Greek islands is that after
you get off of the ferry people run up to you begging you to stay at their
establishment. You get to comparison shop without walking 5 feet. Definitely
worth looking into. I haven't seen that many comments on Greece and think
it's unfortunate that so many people are leaving it out of their trip itinerary.
niya <email>
washington , dc USA 10/08/01
My hostel experience
OSTELLO CINQUE TERRE, Manorola, Cinque Terre, Italy: The location was fabulous,
and the view from the lovely rooftop terrace enchanting. The rooms were
clean, big, lockable, single sex, with nice lockers for EVERYONE! The shower
tokens only gave you 5 minutes, and the laundry machines were inefficient.
The lockout was long, from 10 to 5, and the curfew was strict. Price — average.
Breakfast — average. Staff — average. Reserve EARLY!!!!!
YELLOW HOSTEL, Rome Close to train station, long but do-able walk to other sites. Staff: very friendly, helpful. Rooms: co-ed, unlockable, without lockers (and not even the front door really locked), hot, not pretty. Bathrooms always dripping wet. That said, I had a great time. There are 8-10 people in the rooms, and everyone was super friendly. We did things together, exchanged stories, stayed up talking. VERY FUN!!!! Free internet, kitchen, map exchange, very social atmosphere. Price — average.
VILLA CAMARETA — Florence 30 minute bus ride from train station — bus driver will help you get off at right spot. Beautiful frescoed villa located in a beautiful wooded area with vineyards. Lovely — and a break from the city. Staff — not overly friendly, but adequate. Lockable doors, but not often locked. No lockers. Single sex. Also cheap camping spots. Lots of mosquitos in July. Mediocre breakfast and dinner (dinner reasonably priced). From my understanding, you must have a HI card.
YO-HO, SALZBURG. Good location Staff: prettygood, though decidedly more friendly to pretty girls. Lockers for rent, had to pay 10 AS for a 6-minute shower, one internet machine. Hopping bar and room where you find people playing cards, etc. — little noisy but not bad in single sex rooms. Excellent food, at decent prices. Pick up spot for tours such as the Sound of Music tour.
WOMBATS, Vienna. Rooms: very nice and clean, with 4-8 people in a room, and a private bath. Like a hotel after other hostels. However, they were co-ed, and I, being a woman, felt a bit uncomfortable with 3 guys and no other girls. Rooms overlook the outdoor bar patio, so in good weather it's noisy. Near Westbahnhof (train station). Staff average. Internet. Very social.
HOTEL FORTUNA, Budapest. They can hook you up with this place on the train in, and even take you there.. 4-6 beds, cute rooms with own bathrooms and lockers. It's a hotel, but they stick you with other people, so it's more like a hostel. Excellent buffet breakfast. Right on the Metro line. Helpful staff. As cheap as an average hostel.
THE TENT, Munich. I think this would be a really great place, except I was sick, and the cold hard floor didn't make things any better. And there weren't enough lockers. Kitchen, laundry, free showers, small book exchange, Fun bonfire every night (if you're not sick and exhausted). Small breakfast included, plus you can buy more cheap. Cheap dinner. For 15 DM (about $7) you get a pad and a stack of blankets to put on the floor of a big circus tent. Definately interesting.
NOERDLINGEN DJH — Germany, Must be under 26. Small, full of kids, nice owners, free breakfast at certain time. 12 beds in rooms with lockers. Showers were just a big room with shower heads and no privacy. I wore a swimming suit. Very pretty building, just outside city walls. Strict 10pm curfew. Cheap.
Wuerzburg DJH — Germany, Just below castle, nice location right on river. 6 beds in room with sinks and lockers and table. Free showers Free buffet breakfast. Noisy bar, but only until 10:00. Loud church bells 7AM TITISEE DJH — Germany Get into town before 7:00, because that's when the bus leaves, and it's a 2 mile walk with your bags. Beautiful building, close to lake, close to Blackforest trails. Smallish rooms, no lockers, free nice showers, lots of kids, nice decoration. Big buffet breakfast
ALOHA — Paris, Good location — easy walk to tower — cute rooms (but co-ed,
and again I was the only girl with 2 guys). Small breakfast, must rent
sheets, not the cleanest showers, helpful, friendly staff. More expensive
than other hostels, but...this is Paris
Melinda Brasher <email>
Glendale, AZ USA 09/18/01
good hostels in Italy
DEFINITE DO: LA PRIMULA IN MENAGGIO on Lake Como. It's like staying with family and you can completely relax. Sit on the front porch and eat your dinner in the company of fascinating travellers while gazing at the lake below. The staff is kind, helpful and accommodating. You can do laundry, you can send email, you can float around the lake or hike if so inclined.
PERUGIA HOSTEL It is easy to stay in, with its full kitchen and clean bathrooms, and has an incredible view from its veranda. You can sit at the end of a day and watch the constantly changing colors over the valley below. On a nearby rooftop, you can see what the evening entertainment will be: movie, concert, whatever, and you have an unobstructed view of the festivities. Perugia is a town full of music and university life and is one of my favorites.
FINALE LIGURE is a beach town above Savona and its hostel is in a castle
at the top of the town. Splurge on a taxi to bring your luggage up there,
you'll find that it is an enjoyable place to stay. They include breakfast
in the price for a night and offer 3-course dinner for the American equivalent
of $7.50. There are 260 steps down to the town of Finale Ligure and it's
steep. In the summer demand is high.
Nancy Baltz <email>
Menlo Park, CA USA 09/14/01
looking for a good hostel in amsterdam? try 'the flying pig'. there
are two locations, one by central station and one a nice walk, close to
the museumplein. they are cheap and offer a wonderful crowd of generally
younger people. the real bonus for this place is that if you are staying
at the hostel, the bar never closes!! most bars close at 1 on weekdays,
and 3 on weekends, so this can be a big plus! also, at the central station
location, they have a nice pillow room to hang out in! definately 2 thumbs
up!
stephanie :) <email>
USA 09/10/01
I backpacked through seven countries in Europe this summer and had
such a blast. I recommend the Funnyfarm hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland
to open minded liberal individuals who are just looking for a place to sleep.
I don't recommend it to people who are looking for a very accomodating,
family type place to stay. They have a camp fire every night and backpackers
from all over just hang out and exchange their travel stories.
julie <email>
Burlington, VT USA 09/07/01
For a great place to stay, Hotel Pendini in Florence. Great staff and
location can't be beat. Only concern was A/C in 2 of the 3 rooms we stayed
in was weak.
Dale
Dayton, OH USA 09/02/01
I took my first trip to Europe this summer, to England and Scotland.
I had the best time ever. There were 2 hostels I enjoyed very much: The
Oxford Street Youth Hostel in London and The Stratford-Upon-Avon Hostel
they had both very nice people and they were clean.
Kira <email>
hoquiam, wa USA 09/01/01
We stayed at the Hotel Muguet in Paris this summer. What a find! It's only a couple blocks from the metro, it's in a quiet area, the rooms are small as are all rooms in Paris, but spotlessly clean. There's a working lift for transporting luggage - and people if you're not claustrophobic. Best of all, it was only $89 per night! Our friends who took a room with two single beds only paid $79!
Don't bother with the breakfast - it's not very good (how can you get
a stale croissant in Paris??), but there are plenty of nearby places to
pick up a good breakfast. There are two cafes just as you emerge from
the metro - both have excellent food and service. I'm sure there are cheaper
hostels, but for those of us who prefer a little less rugged travel accomodations,
this is a terrific hotel!
Patty Latham <email>
Warren, OH USA 09/01/01
My partner and I were in Rome, last February 2001. We stayed at the Hotel
Paba on Via Cavour., near Fori Imperiali. This 2 star hotel is about a 1
km walk from the train station. The walk took about 15 minutes — with heavy
bags that thankfully had wheels. The hotel was fabulous. Very friendly hosts,
and beautifully renovated room. Bar fridge made keeping snacks and wine
possible. Highly recommend this hotel. You will be able to walk everywhere
— Trevi Fountain, Colosseum is right around the corner. We even walked
to the Vatican, — it took about 30 minutes, so have good walking shoes.
In Venice we stayed on the Lido, and it was very inexpensive! The ride back
to St. Mark's is only 5 - 10 minutes on the water taxi which runs all night
long.! A good buy, and green grass in everywhere. A good way to get away
from the claustrophobic nature of Venice, and still be there.
Donna Law <email>
Winnipeg, MB CAN 08/26/01
Rodez, France. South of France Hotel very centrally located next to terrifying and gigantic cathedral, post office and tourist office. The hotel itself has integrated a major stone tower into its reception area and is very interesting. The hotel is named after this tower, La Tour Maje.
It is always the people who make the difference in whether your stay
is memorable or not and this case is no exception. The two women who work
in the reception, Patricia and Christine, are hard working, professional,
warm and friendly and pretty darn funny. I enjoyed them both immensely
for both their helpfulness and warmth. The hotel itself is quiet and comfortable,
a restaurant is adjacent and a busy cafeteria across the street and a
wonderful bakery less than a block away. This is a winner. Le Tour Maje,
Blvd Gally 12000 Rodez, Tel/ 05 65 68 34 68 email: bernard.lacaze@wanadoo.fr
Jeanine Ballenger <email>
Birch Bay, WA USA 08/16/01
St.Chely-D'Aubrac, France.
I am currently walking the Pilgrimage of St. James (GR 65) and after 30 km of walking the very dark, very cold, and very isolated road to St. Chely, the Hotel Domiere made room for me (even though they didn't have any). This was due largely to a heroic woman named Marie Claude who could see I was panicked, exhausted and shaking like a leaf.
My room was warm and comfortable and the next morning a man named David greeted me warmly and led me to a most extraordinary breakfast.
Big mugs of hot coffee and frothy milk, homemade jams and artisan bread made at the hotel, buttery honey from the premises and the most delicious hand pressed and bottled apple juice made in the ville.
All this aside, it is these two people's exceptional kindness that set this hotel in a class of its own and in the end, isn't it always the people who make the best memories?
Hotel Domiere,@Aubrac 12470, St. Chely-d'Aubrac, tel: 05 65 42 58 72
Jeanine Ballenger <email>
Birch Bay Washington, WA USA 08/16/01
I've done the 2-month European Whirlwind Tour TWICE. I've mixed it up with hostels, B&B's, 5-Star Hotels, Airports, and Train Stations. Here are my top Hostel listings:
1. Bauhaus International (Bruges, Belgium). It was cheap and clean (the basic Qualities in a good hostel). It also has a bar/resterant. There are some great pubs/resterants on the same block. There is even a Laundrymat on the same block. Very convenient to the city center.
2. Balmer's (Interlaken, Switz). The staff there is very helpful. The activities desk is unsurpassed in their wealth of info on fun stuff to do. Many perks with staying there: There's always room for you and free breakfast. They also serve cheap meals too. The atmosphere is great for getting to know others.
3. Flying Pig Palace (Vondelpark, Amsterdam, Netherlands). Great Location.
Near all the major museums and the very cool Liedseplein area. Rooms are
spartan but the place as a whole has much charm. Directly across from
Vondel Park.
A. F. Castellanos <email>
CA USA 08/10/01
Just got back from a month in Europe two days ago. We stayed mostly
in hostels with a few hotels thrown in. Our two favorites: Ostello 5 Terre
in Manarola, Italy (Fabulous! I can't believe we forgot to sign the guest
book! Even has a clothesline!) and the Salzburg HI hostel near the train
station (a four-block walk; included breakfast and only 4 beds in the room;
has weird double showers, though, and a rather smelly common room).
Kyla Gurganus <email>
Ypsilanti, MI USA 08/02/01
Gulliver's House in Rome. My family and I just returned from 5 days
in Rome and truly enjoyed our stay there. The atmosphere and accomodations
were great! Everyone we spoke with said this was the best hostel they had
stayed in. Sara, Simon and Laura are great hosts. They offered helpful tips
on what to see, how to get there and good food recommendations (especially
Gelato)! We will stay here again!
Thom Lipski <email>
Fairfield, CA USA 08/01/01
I just got back from a 48day/10 country Europe excursion and stayed
in hostels the whole time. The Hostel International (HI) Card is a waste!!!
Save your $$$. Unless you plan on staying in HI hostels only, and I don't
recommend that. Some are good though, don't get me wrong you just limit
your options a great deal. You can save about 10% on HI hostels, that's
an average of $1.50...it will take you a long time to get your $$'s worth
out of that silly card. If you would like some info about where i stayed
and what i thought, i'd love to help out!
Justin <email>
St.Louis, MO USA 07/27/01
I just returned from a 2-week backpacking trip in northern Europe,
and I must recommend the Vondelpark Hostel in Amsterdam. The location was
superb, the rooms were nice, there was no curfew, and the breakfast was
good. I also liked the lounge and bar, it was conducive to meeting people.
My only complaint is that there was one desk clerk who was obnoxious, but
that's about it. I also stayed at the Amager Hostel in Copenhagen, and while
the facilities were just superb, and the breakfast was incredible, the location
was less than ideal, since one had to take 2 buses (after 5:15pm or so)
to get there, which only ran until 12:30 am. Also note, rooms are single
sex. Finally, I also stayed in Auf dem Stinfang Hostel in Hamburg. Centrally
located but sketchy at night (due to the fact that you had to walk through
a dark park to get there), and unfortunately there was a 2am curfew. My
room was very nice, with a great view of the harbor, but breakfast was complete
mayhem and not worth the 20 min. wait on line! Also note, single sex rooms.
Betsey Gardstein <email>
Cambridge, MA USA 07/21/01
Just returned from another 3 months in Europe. Here's another vote
for the Beehive in Rome (www.thebeehive.com); they also have single, double
and family rooms. The hostel is run by a truly wonderful young couple who
are Americans who decided to move to Rome and run their own hostel. They
are one metro stop from Termini station but it's actually quicker to walk
from the station (they are not that close to the metro stop and walking
from Termini saves lots of stair climbing in the metro). You can walk from
the Behive to all major Rome sights except the Vatican. And the owners'
recommendations for nearby restaurants and other places are excellent! Another
great hostel was the HI hostel in Grindelwald, Switzerland, with all rooms
and their deck having a dramatic view of the North Face of the Eiger! The
third hostel I highly recommend is La Primula (also HI) in Menaggio, Italy,
with gourmet dinners in addition to a great location. Unfortunately there
are lots of hostels out there which are not much fun to stay in, with inadequate
plumbing facilities, top bunks with no ladders or guardrails, of questionable
cleanliness and full of noisy school groups. Several times I ended up splurging
on a hotel room just to find something clean and decent. The only country
where I've found consistently great hostel accomodations was in Norway.
Norway is also the only country where, for a couple, a double room in a
hostel is consistently cheaper than a double room in an inexpensive hotel
(those don't exist in Norway).
Mary from Oregon
USA 07/21/01
I did an interrail trip last year and reccommend the following hostels.
FRANCE - NEAR CANNES. The hostel in Le Trayas which is about 30 mins along
the coast from Cannes towards St. Raphael is the best i've ever seen with
views all along the coast. HOLLAND - Amsterdam - The Globe is v. central,
sociable and do great hash browns with breakfast. Also the camping in Andorra
is fabulous.
Matt <email>
London, UK 07/21/01
I highly recommend the Sleep Well in Brussels, Belguim. Not only was
it cheap ($14USD a night), but it includes sparkling clean rooms, nice staff,
and a bar/tv/internet area to hang out in when you want to chill. Must say
that I had the best time there because I knew I would come home to a quiet,
nice bed. Its located right in central Brussels, within walking distance
to the Grand Place & other monuments. Visit www.sleepwell.be to see for
yourself.
Tiffany <email>
Berkeley, CA USA 07/19/01
Edinbergh, be sure to stay at Castle Rock Hostel! It is an incredible
place. It was 11£ a night, and was really nice. They show a movie FREE every
night at 9 PM, plus offer a wake up service til 7:30 AM (helpful if you
have to catch a tour the next morning like we did), and also will lock up
all your stuff behind the counter for you! They were very helpful and had
great showers (something you really appreciate after being in Europe for
a while). They also offer a great deal on breakfast. For 1.90£ you get a
huge bowl of cereal, one freshly baked croissant, and a glass of juice.
It is a great deal, and a great way to start off your morning. Be sure to
book this hostel early and stay here. Oh, I forgot to mention that it is
only a five minute walk from the station, and overlooks the beautiful castle
of Edinbergh. Also, they have sheets on all the beds, no sleep sheet needed.
Enjoy!
Blair Graham <email>
Gainesville, FL USA 07/18/01
Baumer's in Interlocken. Free breakfast, really cool people, helpful
and friendly staff, Internet access, laundry, comfy beds and they'll book
any activity you want to do. Also, cheap beer during happy hour!
Kim <email>
Cleveland, OH USA 07/17/01
We lucked out on four of our hostels, except the one in Amsterdam.
If in Zurich, I'd highly recommend Marta's Guesthouse- it's reasonable and
very clean. You will pay a little more, but not too much, and it's worth
it! We didn't want to deal with other people after a long day. I had the
best luck finding e-mail addresses for hostels on their websites and e-mailing
in advance whether they had double rooms available for the time we would
be there. If not, I wouldn't pursue it, and that way I did not waste money
calling or faxing a reservation. If there was availability, I always called
to make the reservation, and called again a few days before we left. If
you are in a room with other people, you'll either want to put your bags
in a locker or lock them up when you're sleeping, and then lock them to
your bed or something sturdy.
Jamie <email>
WI USA 07/13/01
My daughter and I just returned from 4 glorious weeks in Europe. It
was our first time using hostels. We had our share of surprises! First,
some hostels do not separate the sexes. There were guys in the rooms with
us! Some Hostel are beautiful, spotless & give topnotch service such as
the HI hostel in Lausanne, Switzerland (4 stars!) Many of the other places
were just plain pig pens with dirty mattresses,dirty floors, smelly bathrooms.
Sometimes the staff can be very unhelpful, even rude. Many people told
us to just show up in a town and find a hostel. Many of our fellow travelers
went this way and had problems. Do you really want to spend half the day
looking for a room only to find that the hostel has an available bed just
for tonight and that you have to start looking again in the morning? Reserve
ahead and spare your self.
LM <email>
Philadelphia, PA USA 07/13/01
Italy has some great new hostels!! We found three that had opened relatively
recently and had excellent facilities and super staff: 1) Cava De' Terreni
near Naples. Lovely old town. Close to Pompei and Paestum if you have
a car. Also on train route. The hostel is a converted convent complete
with bell tower and church next door. Great meal deal with Il Moor resturant
in the old medieval town. 2) Villavallelonga. Silvia and Anna (great folks)
run this nice new building nestling under the Appennini in a little village.
Bus access to the village. Bike rental at hostel. They'll fix lunches
for hikes in the mountains (Abruzzo National Park) 3)Bangacavallo is a
gem. Bagna is near Ravenna and not far from Bologna. Non-touristy Italian
town that is good base with car. Also great for groups. (Until they find
it it's peaceful!! ) Another huge old converted monastery, all small group
(4-8)rooms with private bathrooms. It's part of the old church at the
west end of the old town. It's too new to be in the Europe guide. Michela
(speaks good English) and Viktoria are in charge and are very helpful.
Phone Italy - 05-45-60622 info@ostellosanfrancesco.com
Miranda <email>
Cincinnati, OH USA
STAY AT THE BEEHIVE in rome. it's a tiny place in a great location and
at 15 american a night....a steal for a bunk! in their living room we
met some of the nicest people (who we spent our four days in rome with)
entire families stayed there and made dinners in the kitchen with the
rest of us! plus the biggest bonus came out of something that could have
been horrible. somebody brought a bug in, and they had to exterminate,
putting everyone out for two nights. steve (the owner) hooked our group
of four up with a phat three bedroom apartment belonging to his friend
and ate the cost difference!!! that's service!
krissy <email>
san jose, ca USA
I have spent my entire stay in Switzerland in International Youth Hostels in Zurich, Bern and Lausanne.
I liked Zurich for its convenience and helpfulness as well as its breakfast selection. Loved the self-serve espresso machine!
Bern, although at the bottom of the hill from the Swiss parliament building (funicular costs 1 franc for one-way ride), was a very nice cozy place. At night I could take a bus from downtown (SBB Bahnhof to Baerenplatz/Parliament, Zytglogge and downhill to Dalmazibruecke) to the hostel. Didn't really care for its breakfast muesli but enjoyed the other foods.
Lausanne had a nice location next to the old Roman town. They only served rolls and cornflakes and flavorful Tilsiter. (Avoid the "tilleul" tea since it's not very tasty.)
Staff at all the locations were very friendly. Every hostel had at least
some vacancy even though I already booked the rooms a couple months in
advance. Glad I stayed at these hostels and saved quite a bundle! Switzerland
is not cheap but at least its hostels are a very good deal.
tony hown <email>
USA 05/16/01
Centre International de Sejour in Besancon, France is wonderful — but bring
something to defend yourself against mosquitoes as there are no screens
and the Doub river winds through town.
Carol
CA USA 05/10/01
I've just returned from Portugal and spent time in 4 different hostels
(Evora, Lagos, Porto & Lisbon's newer one at the Expo site). All rooms
are 4 person (no large dorms). Prices are incredible - less than $10 US
per night, and all include breakfast & sheets for no extra charge. All
bathrooms have liquid soap & paper towels (unknown in many other countries'
hostels). Porto hostel is located on the outskirts of town but looks over
the Douro River and each room has private balcony with tables and chairs.
Re Carroll <email>
Abbotsford, BC Canada, 05/07/01
in ansterdam, the world hostel is right off the red light district,
but not raunchy. it's quiet (yes it can be quiet around the red light
district!), a 5-minute walk from the central station, and it's open 24
hours a day. i'm staying here for 2 nights for 90 guilders or 45us — not
bad. (it's in the lets go europe guidebook.)
paolo tinio <email>
san jose, ca USA 05/07/01
For anyone traveling to Poland, I have an updated non-profit website detailing
all of the hostels and camping sites in Poland:
http://www.geocities.com/ejmarkow/poland_hostels.html
There are 573 hostels in Poland, and this figure ranks in the top 3
for Europe. I welcome any feedback from my fellow travelers and backpackers.
Have a great trip in Europe and in Poland.
Eugene Markow <email>
Staten Island, NY USA 04/11/01
If anyone is going to Italy try the hostel in Trieste, about two hours'
train ride from Venice. The hostel is four miles outside town but there
is an autobus from the station. It sits right on the beach and serves
wonderful food, as well as having a bar in the courtyard. The views are
to die for, and the sea breeze is wonderful, as well as the free beach
open all day in the summer.
Chris <email>
Milwaukee, WI USA 04/10/01
Just returned from vacation in Switzerland. We spent a couple of nights
at The Funny Farm in Interlaken. It's a very nice alternative to Balmer's,
and it's just down the street so it's pretty easy to locate. We enjoyed
our stay and would recommend it to others.
Robert <email>
Pflugerville, TX USA 03/22/01
The Hostel Boathouse in Prague is great. They make you feel at home
and offer all kinds of helpful information. Not only is it very inexpensive,
but it is also in a relatively quiet spot along the Vltava River with
easy access to a tram that goes into the city. I highly recommend it.
Their phone number is 00420-2-4021076.
Fred Minnich <email>
Ishpeming, MI USA 03/16/01
The hostel in Cassis, France was wonderful! It was my favorite hostel in France. Very "granola" and friendly. The people staying there were from 18-30 years old and the men running the beautiful yellow building speak perfect English. Get to the hostel by going through town, not over the highway like we did. There is a map in the train station.
The beaches in Cassis are stone, not sand...but lovely nonetheless.
Jon Boush <email>
Eugene, OR USA 03/11/01
I am currently travelling around Turkey and have come across a great hostel
in Kusadasi. Sammy's Palace is a great, cheap, clean, friendly hostel.
The staff are so friendly and make you feel right at home. There is so
much to see and do around Kusadasi, including the great ancient ruins
of Ephesus, and the fascinating calcium formations at Pamukkale. If you
are interested you can take a Hamam (Turkish Bath) which is a great experience.
Sammy's Palace is just a minute's walk to the beach as well as the shops.
The nightlife is great. And Turkey is AMAZING! (E-mail: sammy@hotelsammyspalace.com;
www.hotelsammyspalace.com)
helen <email>
miami, fl USA 02/17/01
Just stayed at the Lambeth Sportsman Hostel in London, close to Westminster
Bridge. Very cheap, with friendly staff, and clean. London can be expensive,
but at last I have found somewhere that means budget! (http://thesportsman.topcities.com)
Lee <email>
Sydney, Aus 02/09/01
In Ceske Krumlov, in the Czech Republic, the best hostel in Europe in
the best-preserved medieval town in Europe is U Vodnika, with only 9 beds
and a great laid-back atmosphere.(Telephone: 00420-337-711935; E-mail
vodnik@ck.bohem-net.cz)
Richard <email>
Vienna, Austria 02/09/01
There are two hostels in Interlaken that are superior to Balmer's (which has a daytime lockout): Backpacker's Villa and Funny Farm.
The Tent in Munich is a blast. The name describes the place; it is a huge tent with mats on the floor for sleeping.
The Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald is great. Beautiful views and hikes.
It is right in the middle of the Jungfrau. But Petra needs to mix in a
fly swatter in the summer to keep the flies out of the kitchen.
T <email>
Santa Barbara, CA USA 02/08/01
Belfast, Paddy's Backpacker, Linen House Hostel: city center, small,
friendly, arranges tours, pubs and entertainment within walking distance...good
place.
rob <email>
Muncie, in USA 02/04/01
In Kalmar, Sweden we stayed at Kalmar Lagprishotell Svanen annex and it was great.
If you want to stay in a unique hostel in Stockholm try the Longholmen Prison! They are old prison cells that have been remodeled and are comfortable and very quiet when you close the door! Also this hostel is near the transit to town. The prices in both hostels are reasonable.
In Copenhagen we stayed at Christian IV hotel for 900 kronners, but
you got breakfast & supper with that. It is also an easy walk to town
and one block from Rosenborg Castle.
Bob Hoffmann <email>
Tallahassee, FL USA 01/08/01
You MUST go to Venice! And when you do, the best place to stay is CASA GEROTTO, described by "Let's Go" as a "backpacker's haven." It is a 2-min. walk from the Santa Lucia train station, which also makes it easy to find your way back to, once you are inevitably lost in the twists and turns of Venice. (On all the streets there are arrows and signs that point the way back to the Santa Lucia, and therefore, back to Casa Gerotto.)
Starting at 30,000 Lire it is the cheapest option. The "official" youth hostel is on the OTHER island and you have to pay for a ferry to take you back and forth every day.
Casa Gerotto has a 1:00AM curfew, which is OK considering that not much
happens in Venice after 1:00AM. The rooms are really nice and clean, with
great bathrooms, and great owners. Overall it was the nicest hostel we
stayed in, in all of western Europe. (Tel: 041-71-55-62, tel/fax: 041-71-53-61;
they take reservations)
<email>
12/28/00
My favorite youth hostel is the Balintaggart House just outside Dingle,
Ireland. This former hunting lodge of the Earl of Cork is now a cozy hostel
with a great fireplace in the common room. I didn't see the ghost of the
Earl's wife whom he poisoned in the 1850s, but enjoyed the surrounding
countryside by renting a horse at the hostel. The hostel is a few miles
from the town of Dingle, but there are daily courtesy buses and a breathtaking
view of the ocean because the hostel is highly elevated.
silvervelvet <email>
Detroit, MI USA 12/25/00
I highly recommend l'Ostello Villa Olmo in Como, Italy. It's very cheap (US$12 per night per person) and the bathrooms are the cleanest I've ever seen in a hostel. The rooms are dorm-style with shared bathroom facilities. The men and women are, of course, separated. The food was great, the staff was fabulous (one English speaker). It's a little hard to find, but the locals are more than happy to help you along your way.
The whole town of Como is absolutely breathtaking. If you're lucky enough to go to Lake Como, take the funiculare up the mountain and don't forget your camera!
In Paris I recommend Le Village hostel in Montmartre. It's not too expensive, easy to get to, and a great place to meet other travelers (tons of Americans).
I also suggest making reservations as far in advance as possible for
wherever you want to stay. Even in March, we had some problems finding
a room in Paris.
Sara Collins <email>
OH USA 12/19/00
I'll second the nominaton for the Sonnenhof Backpacker's Villa in Interlaken,
Switzerland. Very clean, large wooden lockers in-room, a nice kitchen
area below, and the beds were great. We stayed during October and were
given a 6-person room at a 2-person price. Highly recommended.
Cathy Clark <email>
Port Angeles, WA USA 11/19/00
Try to make reservations in the most touristic cities (like London, Paris, Rome) well ahead of your trip. I had to stay at a 4-star hotel in Firenze because all hostels and cheap hotels were full.
HI hostels are always cheaper, cleaner, safer than independent hostels. They are a safe place to stay even when they are not so well located (like in Rome).
My best hostels:
LONDON CITY - HI (near St. Paul): Great location, nice rooms — a little small (individual room is excellent), laundry, internet, nice breakfest. **** Very good
VONDELPARK AMSTERDAm - HI: Super location, excellent rooms (mixed), no laundry, internet, restaurant, nice breakfest, very safe at night. ***** Excellent
D'ARTAGNAN PARIS - HI: Most complete hostel I stayed in; is not central but is close to the metro and bus, great rooms, laudry, internet, restaurant, pub, cinema with free movie, nice breakfast, people of all ages. ***** Excellent
BACKPACKERS VILLA SONNEHOF - INTERLAKEN SWITZERLAND (Indep.) - The plus here is the quality of the bedrooms and bathroom, and the hostel is really spotless, very quiet, not far from the train station, the breakfast is OK. If you want a more "festive" place go to BALMERS or to the crazy FUNNY FARM - Americans around 20 y.o. would kill to stay at Funnyfarm. *** Good
OSTELLO CINQUE TERRE - MANAROLA: uphill Manarola, if you have a big backpack consider leaving it at La Spezia train station, rooms are great and views even better, laundry, internet, no breakfast, super clean, terrace, 5-minute tokens to the shower. **** Very good
GULLIVER'S HOUSE - ROME: Terrible! Crowded mixed rooms, no laundry, no internet, no public phone (!), no breakfest, only small lockers, a dog (with fleas).
FORO ITALICO ROME - HI: not well located, but clean, confortable, good rooms, laundry, breakfest, internet and CHEAP. *** Good
MERGELINA NAPLES - HI: just behind the train station, very good rooms, laundry, no internet, nice breakfest, very pleasant. **** Very good
TAORMINA, SICILY - HI: A house with 3 big dorms. The girls' has 8 beds, its own bathroom and the place is very pleasant. No breakfast, no internet, no laundry, yet it is the best budget option in the area - close to the main street but you have to walk all through it to get the bus or the lift. *** Good
MARE DU MONSERRAT, BARCELONA, SPAIN - HI: Amazing! Great rooms (try to stay at the new building) with great mosaics and stained glass. Nice bathrooms, laundry, internet, very good breakfast. Not central but the bus stops at its gate. ****** Super excellent
LAGOS, ALGARVE, PORTUGAL - HI: Be careful, if they are full they send you to small pensions (where you pay more). The hostel is clean, good rooms, well located, laundry, breakfast. *** Good
LISBON, PORTUGAL - HI: Stay at the central one. Very good rooms and bathrooms, internet, no laundry, 10 steps from the Metro, breakfast.**** Very good
CARCASSOnNE, FRANCE - HI: Inside the medieval city. Good rooms, breakfast,
guest kitchen, laundry, internet, restaurant, pub, very clean. ***** Excellent
Adriana Navogin <email>
Sao Paulo, sp Brazil 11/05/00
I think the best hostel I've found in Europe is Mama Rosa's in the Cinque
Terre. It's not for everyone certainly — it's the dumpiest place I've ever
been — but I'll never forget staying up sitting around the table talking
with other 20-year-olds from all corners of the world, sharing wine and
spaghetti. I think no other place encouraged this type of activity like
Mama Rosa's.
David Riesser <driesser@carolina.rr.com>
Charlotte, NC USA 11/05/00
I went to Rome for the second time a week ago and found this hostel, Freestyle.
It was very cheap for the season (L25,000), and when I decided I wanted
to stay in a better part of the city, I was told that this hostel was linked
to four others at locations throughout central Rome. I've stayed at 2 so
far and they are both pretty nice and have kitchens, for less than US$15
a day.
Ian Charboneau <iancharboneau@hotmail.com>
austin, tx USA 10/25/00
Hostels are great for families, though we found the cost often close to budget hotels when travelling with four. Our family of four including two teenagers stayed at three hostels we would recommend, rather off the beaten path.
Cazorla is a small town at the foot of Sierra de Cazorla, a National Park with great hiking, tho hot in summer. From the slope up to the first ridge you look out over 100 miles of olive groves. The youth hostel in Cazorla has a 15th-century facade but modern interior, and a swimming pool out back! First time I've ever seen one at a YH. But beware if a large school group arrives. Also beware of noise from the narrow cobbled street in front.
Sete, France is at the top of a viciously steep hill. Train station is somewhere at the bottom. We thought we would lose our car clutch on that one. View from the YH out over the city is great. Breakfast is on the terrace with the city at your feet. Rooms have four beds and two rooms share basic bathroom facilities. The city is a hardworking fishing port with canals all through town. Beach is great. Miles of sand and few people.
Killin, Scotland was also great. Comfortable, big kitchen to cook in
and bunk dorms provided to families. Pub just down the road. But that's
always true in England.
Miranda Menzies
Cincinnati, OH USA 10/22/00
Hands down, the BOATHOUSE Hostel in Prague is the best hostel in Europe. Actually, to call it a hostel would not quite do it justice. It´s more like an underpriced resort.
Not only were the rooms impecably clean and the staff unbelievably helpful, but the meals served in the hostel were some of the best home-cooked food I´ve ever tasted. Beer and wine ($0.75) are served with dinner ($1.15), and the hostel offers full-service wash-and-fold laundry ($2.50 per load).
Add to this its idyllic setting on the banks of the river just outside
of town (a 10-minute tram ride to the Charles bridge; trains run all night),
an incredibly friendly atmosphere, and a room rate of just under $6 per
night, and you get what turns out to be — without a doubt — the best hostel
in Europe.
Chris Folkman <folkman@stanford.edu>
Boulder, CO USA 10/18/00
Visiting Killarney, Ireland go to Sugan hostel (off of College Rd.; ask and the locals will tell you). It is quite small — about 20 beds, really cozy. The owner, Pa, is a true Irishman. It is £9 per night and right in the downtown area.
In Cork, don't stay at Sheila's hostel — instead stay at Isaac's which is just a block away. They are the same price, but lots different. Isaac's was much cleaner, quieter and still cheap about £10 a night.
In Stratford-Upon-Avon the Backpackers hostel is great; in Bath the YMCA is pretty good.
If you are going to any major touristy city on the weekend, BOOK AHEAD. And pick up hostel pamphlets as often as possible while traveling; you never know when you are going to need a few numbers. You don't want to be wandering the streets in an unknown city, in the dark without a place to sleep. In the U.S. there always seem to be hotels, but prepare yourself to be told 'there are no rooms available in town' by the tourist information office. It has happened to me and my friend twice in 4 weeks, and we were lucky enough to scrounge a place for a night.
One other piece of advice for backpackers: go to the grocery stores
and always have some snacks with you. The food on the trains is expensive
and really awful too. A lot of times on long-distance trips the trains
have only minutes between departures which is not enough time to grab
a meal.
Desiree Voss <desidog@hotmail.com>
Kennewick, , WA USA 09/30/00
The Landhaus in Bern, Switzerland is very nice - the perfect "hygiene stop" after time in southern Europe. Squeaky clean, modern rooms, great showers, and comfy beds. Also a good breakfast is included and the location is very scenic.
I would not, however, recommend La Maison in Paris to anyone. There
are a couple of staff people there who are very rude and who will try
any means necessary to separate you from your towel and sheet deposits,
using all kinds of "technicalities" as to why they can't give you back
your money when you return your sheets/towels in the very condition you
received them in. Not much money lost, it's true, but it's still annoying...especially
when the rooms are dim, the showers are small and lacking in water pressure
and consistent temperature, and the location of the hostel itself is not
the greatest.
Beda <beda@hsvcpa.com>
Atlanta, GA USA 09/29/00
Visiting Stratford-Upon-Avon, England to see Shakespeare sights, get a room early for the weekend. The Backpackers Hotel is clean and cheap (£11 a night). The hotel is right in town and very homey with an open kitchen to cook as you like. Don't do internet in Stratford — £2.50 for 30 min.
Bad place to stay in London: Millenium Hostel. It is in a bad part of town, run-down, not close to any of the sights.
Great place to stay in Edinburgh, Scotland: Castle Rock hostel. Right
by the Edinburgh Castle, close walking distance to the downtown, £11 a
night, lots of great decorations on the walls painted to look like a castle
itself. Look at places before paying!
Desiree Voss <desidog@hotmail.com>
Kennewick, WA USA 09/18/00
My wife and I just returned from 2 weeks in Sweden and 1 week in London. This was our first trip to Europe and our first time to use hostels. While in Sweden we stayed in 7 different hostels and found them all to be very clean and very inexpensive. They all went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable and it allowed us to meet many different Swedish people. The af Chapman in Stockhom was the most unique and apparently one of the most popular but we also enjoyed our stays in Bollnas, Falun, Leksand, Borlange, Vaxjo and Malmo.
Getting reservations prior to leaving the USA made it a very easy trip.
When we didn't have a reservation for Borlange our host at Falun called
and made the reservation for us.
Doug<Douglas@molalla.net>
Molalla, OR USA 09/18/00
Sammys Palace in Kusadasi, Turkey is one of the best (if not the best)
hostels I have stayed in in Europe. It has clean rooms with a great party
atmosphere in the bar. Also has great views of the harbor from the terrace
restaurant. You can check them out at www.hotelsammyspalace.com
Luke Koenitz <tauluke@hotmail.com>
Perth, WA AUS 09/17/00
I booked almost exclusively from the IYH website and e-mailed directly to the hostels. As with any reservations, I confirmed twice; one time about 3 weeks before we left. No problems. The hostel in Weisbaden, Germany was clean and served a big and good breakfast. A private room for 2 was $35. But the directions are to Weisbaden only and we had to have a taxi driver help us find the place.
The hostel in Leissigen, Switzerland (about $40 per night for a 2-person room) is a family hostel (lots of kids) but was very nice with a good breakfast and had a good dinner available for a decent price. Our cottage was a bit close to the train tracks, but trains quit from midnite to 6am - so we were okay. Lovely view of Lake Thun and the train station is about 2 blocks.
The hostel in Turin, Italy is a lovely old villa up on the hill with
a lot of breezes (2 person room about $28 per night). As always it is
good to confirm and double-confirm. The breakfast was sparse but the dinners
at an extra price were great. Turin is a great city to visit. Not too
overrun with tourists but a huge amount to see and do. We did not even
get to the Egyptian museum or the recreated medieval village.
Diane <badsland@quixnet.net>
Cleveland, TN USA 09/13/00
While I was in Europe the last 2 weeks I stayed at the Ostella de Italica
in Rome, 4UMunchen in Munich, and the Pensione Serena in Rome. I would
recommend all three - in the case of the Pension I had my own room; the
other two were dorms of 12.
Jeff
IA USA 09/12/00
Rick, we have been traveling for the past year and have just spent 6
weeks in Turkey, which I highly recommend. I must tell everyone about
a great, clean (and I do mean clean), hospitable, terrific new hostel
in Istanbul. It is right in the middle of everything in Sultanhamet. The
name is Hostel Amphora (e-mail amphoras@hotmail.com). The owner, Boby,
will be more than happy to answer any questions. He speaks great English.
Rochelle Wright <chixjohn@yahoo.com>
Bellevue, Wa USA 08/30/00
We love St Pancras Hostel, London. Here's why...
We took an express train from Gatwick airport to King's Cross station and walked only 3 blocks to the hostel. Our premium room with A/C (!), TV, private bathroom with plenty of hot water, twin beds, including breakfast was only US$60 per night, for 2. The breakfast was actually hot & decent, filling, with several main choices including vegetarian options. The cafeteria overlooks the British Library. Coffee, tea & hot chocolate were available free 24 hours. The front desk staff was friendly and helpful & they sold Tube passes, stamps, and tokens for the large, clean, coin-op laundry room. You can also access local, good-value tours at the desk, and book ahead for other hostels. There is a luggage storage room with video security available 24 hrs. Internet access is available in the lounge with a coin-op computer. People of all ages and nationalities were staying there.
A convenience store is 1/2 block away selling fresh fruit, magazines, bottled water, Cadburys of every description, etc. The neighborhood has been reviewed as "not the safest" but come on, we live in Houston! As an adult woman travelling with her 13-year-old son, we felt completely safe; just use common sense.
The British Library is across the street and has a great little coffee shop. The British Museum is a 15-minute walk, and you are 1-3 blocks from 3 major train/tube stations: St Pancras, Euston and Kings Cross. The hostel has an elevator which came in handy staying on the 6th floor (with a great view).
It's not fancy, but it's clean, friendly, convenient and comfortable,
and accessible all day. As it's about US$40 cheaper than the average "budget"
hotel chain, the price was right. If you don't have a YHA membership card,
you can pay the nightly surcharge instead. Larger rooms are available
for families. They are open every day of the year. Reserve for summer
and holidays months in advance.
patty allen <pallen0704@aol.com>
houston, tx USA 08/29/00
I recently returned from my 2nd trip to Europe.
The Hostel in Bacharach takes the cake for being a castle and run by good people. Be warned their buffet is not the best.
Balmer's in Interlaken was fantanstic for its availability and variety of services.
Bauhaus in Brugge is the cheapest place I've stayed in that I was not scared to sleep in. Great bar too.
Avalon House in Dublin was pretty good.
Angel Castellanos <ahngelv@hotmail.com>
CA USA 08/24/00
Centre International de Sejours de Cannes: Best hostel ever! Small,
cheap, safe, friendly, clean. About 15 minutes' walk from the centre of
Cannes. The only down side is it's not really safe for girls to walk home
alone to at night. About 80fr a night, 6 to a room, full kitchen facilities
on each floor.
C.S
EIRE 08/18/00
St. Christopher's Inn in London was super. Had a J. Belushi-type blues bar connected which had great music and the best "Sex on the Beach" drink I've ever had!
Aloha Hostel in Paris was great. There were 3 of us in a room that would
hold 4, and the fourth bed never got occupied so we had the room to ourselves.
hillary <spout@easyweb.dreamhost.com>
nashville, tn USA 08/18/00
Salzburg: IYH - kicks ass for parties and dancing on tables etc.
Brugge: Bauhaus rocks - cool decor, and great beer on tap.
Interlaken: Balmer's is the best.
Budapest: Backpacker's (on Buda side) was an adventure - try staying
in each "theme" room and check out Alex's caving tours. Stay away from
the guy down the street.
Kyle Watts <kylew@davidson.ca>
Vernon, BC Canada 08/10/00
Some hostels I would suggest staying in are YOHO hostel in Salzburg,
Bauhaus in Bruges, and the Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.
I would definitely suggest visiting Lauterbrunnen, it is a few Km. up
the road from Interlaken and much more beautiful.
Greg Sarles <gregsarles@hotmail.com>
Toms River, NJ USA 08/03/00
While in Europe this spring, my husband and I stayed in two outstanding hostels. The best was La Primula in Menaggio, Italy, right on Lake Como. This International Youth Hostel has breathtaking views of the lake and "pre-Alps," as well as a staff who go out of their way to welcome you. The best part of this cozy hostel was the atmosphere created over the delicious dinners. The hostel's owners are gourmet Italian chefs, and for a few extra lire will prepare you dinner at 7:30pm. All the guests eat together at large tables and share travel stories, wine, and a gorgeous view long after the meal is gone. Rick was right on when he recommended La Primula.
A close runner-up to La Primula would be the Backpackers' Villa in Interlaken,
Switzerland. In contrast to some other hostels in town, Backpackers' Villa
offers a quiet, friendly place to get a good night's sleep. The Villa,
also referred to as "Sonnenhof," is rather large. It is a traditional
Alpine chalet which used to be a hotel, and was only converted to a hostel
in 1998. The whole place is very clean, and all the furniture and fixtures
are still new. They have all amenities, including a pool table, computer
room with web cams, laundry service, large bathrooms, great breakfast,
helpful hosts, meditation room, and more. Did I neglect to mention the
view of the Alps, and that half the rooms come with private balconies
to enjoy it!
Kate <torreys@netzero.net>
NY USA 07/29/00
The Auberge de Jeunesse formerly located in Seguret, Vaucluse, in the Provence region of France, which used to be #1 in my personal hostel rankings, no longer exists. It has been turned into a 3-star hotel, featuring tables with pink tablecloths in the courtyard that used to be inhabited by hungry hostelers and a friendly Brittany spaniel. This means that there is no hostel anywhere near the Orange-Vaison la Romaine area of Provence, and no cheap place to stay near Seguret, which has long been #1 in my list of beautiful Provencal hill towns.
The hostel at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, your best bet for seeing the Luberon
region of Provence, is still there.
Mary from Oregon
USA 07/11/00
Now that I have warned everyone about avoiding the International Booking Network (or at least its American branch), here are two hostels which were the highlight of my 3-month trip. They are off the beaten path, in areas not covered by Rick's books, but are well worth traveling to.
Corsica: This gorgeous island has lovely beaches, warm clear water and picturesque countryside. It is a part of France but the inhabitants have had a fierce yearning for independence ever since they were an independent republic under Pascal Paoli (who influenced our founding fathers) in the 1760's. The one hostel on the island (and your only chance for accomodations less than $50/night; with most things having to be shipped in, Corsica is not cheap) is Auberge de Jeunesse l'Avillanella, 20230 Poggio Mezzana, phone 04.95.38.50.10. Host Alain speaks excellent English, but since not many English-speaking tourists visit Corsica, it's advisable to know at least a little bit of French.
The hostel is 40 km south of Bastia, 20 km south of the Bastia airport, or 20 km from the Casamozza railroad station (served by a little 2-car train that has to stop frequently to let pigs, goats and donkeys get off the tracks). Connections can be made — just relax and bring a good book. If a few laid-back days on the beach appeal to you, give them a call. Public transport can be arranged. Or you can rent a bike or (for several persons) a car. If you really want to see the picturesque hill towns and explore in the mountains, you really do need wheels of some sort.
The hostel has its own beach (!) and a beautiful park. It serves breakfast and usually dinner (50 fr.). Self-catering is not available unless you want to cook outside with your own camp stove. It also has a bar where guests and the wonderful managers, Alain and Karin, socialize in the evenings.
The ultimate adventure would be to hike the "Da Mare a Mare Nord" trail, which crosses the island from Cargese (north of Ajaccio) to Moriani-Plage (3 km by beach south of the hostel). This hike takes about 10 days. "Camping sauvage" (wild) is forbidden in Corsica due to the fire danger; instead you stay in gites d'etape along the way which give you a dorm bed, dinner and breakfast. Those who did this hike rave about it.
Norway: Get off the beaten track and leave behind the hordes of Japanese tourist buses. Travel to Stamsund in the beautiful Lofoten Islands, and stay at the super-friendly Justad Rorbuer & Vandrerhjem, p.b 110, 8378 Stamsund, Lofoten, Nordland, phone 76089334 (from outside Norway, country code 47).
There is a special atmosphere about this place; everyone becomes instant friends. The owner, Roar Justand, is a real character, and, if he is so inclined, will show you the Norwegian method of cooking fresh-caught fish (warning: you'll never want a supermarket fish again). At least during the midnight sun season (mid-May to mid-July), time does not exist — you will probably find yourself going out to fish at midnight even if you've never fished before, and frying up those fish for a communal feast at 2 a.m. If these hours horrify you, don't worry. You will soon adopt the laid-back attitude of the other guests who respect their roommates' desire to sleep at any convenient time. Rowboats, by the way, are free to hostel guests. Roar charges a 100 kr. deposit for fishing lines which is refundable when you bring it back. He will show you how to clean the fish (yes, the cleanup crew — gulls — are ready and waiting at midnight).
English is the common language here; during my 5 nights there we had guests from a dozen countries. If the world could be as friendly as the guests at this hostel, there would be no need for treaties or wars. I treasure every moment of my stay there.
Getting there? You might want to get a Scanrail pass (one of the great bargains of European travel, expecially for us senior citizens). Take the train from Oslo to Trondheim to Bodo — such marvelous scenery that you should do the journey in daytime, staying overnight at the Trondheim Hostel. You go over 3 mountain ranges, crossing the Arctic Circle on the third, hitting towns on the fjords in between, and if you're lucky (I was) you may glimpse wild reindeer.
Once at Bodo, go directly to Stamsund on the Hurtigrute (coastal steamer) which costs about 300 kroner, or you can go by ferry to Moskenes in the southern Lofotens (staying at the hostel in A, which I haven't been to but is well spoken of by those who've been there) and make your way north to Stamsund via bus, changing in Leknes.
To get out you can return to Bodo via the Hurtigrute (the Bodo hostel will wait up for you if you call ahead, even though the boat arrives in Bodo about midnight), or you can take a bus-ferry combo to Narvik (half-price with your Scanrail pass if you don't stop along the way). You can also take the bus to Svolvaer and then the hydrofoil (Hurtigbat) to Narvik, but this involves staying overnight at Svolvaer which has no place cheap to stay.
If you are biking, sleep in the daytime and then set off for Svolvaer during the night — the sun's up all night and there is less traffic.
From Narvik you can take the daily train to Stockholm that leaves about 3:30 pm. (book a couchette; by 8 p.m. you have left the scenery and are in flat forest the rest of the way). Or you can take the Nord-Norge express bus (again, 50% discount with that wonderful Scanrail Pass), to go on north, clear to the Nordkapp if you so desire, or back to Fauske to catch the train south. The Hurtigrute and Hurtigbat also work in reverse directions (and there is also a Hurtigbat between Bodo and Svolvaer).
Don't worry about ferry and bus arrangements until you get to Bodo. Nobody
in Norway south of Bodo knows anything about boats and buses in the north;
I wasted a lot of time trying to find out. At Bodo, go to the tourist
office which has everything and is extremely helpful. If you absolutely
have to know in advance, call the Bodo Tourist Information Office.
Mary from Oregon
USA 07/11/00
Just returned from a 3-month trip. Warning: the days of calling in the morning for a hostel bed that evening are gone forever. This is especially true of big city hostels as soon as European students are out of school in late June — ALL hostels in Stockholm were full for the June 30-July 1 weekend as of early May! If you want the Af Chapman in Stockholm, call at least 5 months in advance.
Try to avoid using Hostelling International's International Booking Network. I called them in March to reserve 2 beds (for me and my granddaughter) in Lisbon in April, one bed (for me only) in Oslo and at the Af Chapman for June. I stated at least 3 times on the phone that the reservations for Oslo and Stockholm were for me only. However, when the forms arrived, they had made the Oslo and Stockholm reservations for two persons and charged my credit card accordingly.
When I complained, instead of correcting the reservations, they canceled them altogether. By that time, no IYHF hostel in either Oslo or Stockholm had any beds available. In addition, it took them until mid-May to reverse the charges to my credit card.
For this so-called "service," I had to pay almost $20 for the original
call to the Washington DC office (10 minutes on hold) and another $10
to reimburse my German host for internet time (Deutsche Telekom charges
by the minute for phone calls including connection to one's internet provider).
It would have been cheaper to call the hostels directly from home (since
I have a Europe calling plan) and make the reservations myself.
Mary from Oregon
The Circus Hostel in Berlin was great. Very clean rooms and bathrooms. The walking tour offered was the best tour on our 3-week trip to Europe. Ask at the desk.
In Brussels the Sleep Well Hostel was just the opposite of its name.
We got no sleep for two nights. Drunken out-of-control teenagers, well
past 2 am.
Laura
Tucson, AZ USA 07/09/00
The Citadel hostel and hotel in Budapest was very pleasant in 1995 with
a great view. Note, it's a real *citadel* i.e. hilltop fortress and was
used by the Nazi SS for a while. There's an exhibit there about its history.
The bus to/from town is super cheap and the cafe within was good enough.
Not Alby Mangels <aedile@excite.com>
Elbonia, ca USA 07/05/00
Balmers is a backpacker's heaven in Interlaken, Switzerland. The hostel is the best I have ever seen. They have a desk to sign up for all the activities in the area easily; or if you want you can just lie in the sun all day in the backyard, play foosball, pingpong or chess on a giant board. They have a good resturant, and the club is great — for a hostel or not. They have a great store and water spout outside. Interlaken is one of the most pleasant towns I have ever visited. Go to Interlaken and stay at Balmers.
I loved the YOHO in Salzburg and the Bauhaus in Brugge almost as much.
Shawn Hawkins <shawn_haw@yahoo.com>
Vancouver, BC Can 06/30/00
The best hostel is the castle in Bacharach, Germany on the Rhine River.
We were there on a festival day so we got a free feast for dinner with
all the wine and beer you wanted all night long. For 4 persons it was
about $50 for a bed, dinner, and breakfast. My bed was under a dormer
with a window overlooking the Rhine and my own reading light. The bathrooms
are nice, but no towels. The climb up is a killer but there is a car park
so you can drive if you like. My two teenagers thought this was the coolest
place to stay.
Lori <theboydhouse@msn.com>
Dallas, TX USA 06/22/00
A wonderful hostel in Coma-Ruga, Spain, is Alberg Santa Maria del Mar,
a law school campus. I had no roommates, was a block from the beach, and
spent $14 per night. Friendly people, very helpful, and I hardly spoke
the language, but had some great conversations. Even heard a Spanish guy
sing Elvis songs in English to a hotel full of German tourists!
Jan Weeks <keweeks@marinmarket.net>
Mill Valley, ca USA 06/19/00
Grindelwald, Switzerland has a great hostel, magnificent view, great
breakfast on the deck overlooking the Eiger! Also kid-friendly, very clean
and nice staff.
Barbara <LangeLBCC@aol.com>
St. Louis, MO USA 06/18/00
The Globe Hostel in Amsterdam rocks!
bryn coriell <steinr49r@yahoo.com>
arcata, ca USA 06/16/00
I stayed at 2 Benelux hostels in May and both deserve a recommendation. Luxembourg City hostel is older & has dorm style rooms but is bright and airy with a plentiful breakfast. The showers are the only not-so-great item - just a row of open showers - no privacy. The location is easily accessible by bus from the train station and is in a nice area for wandering around (5 min. walk to casemates & 10 min. to Place d'Armes).
The hostel in Liege, Belgium is new with key-card entry, lending library
& is clean and bright. The location looks a bit dodgy at night and Liege
itself doesn't compare to Bruges or Ghent, but if you're in the area,
the hostel is definitely worth checking out. Both places were about 500BF
per night, incl. breakfast.
Re Carroll <jcarroll@rapidnet.net>
Abbotsford, BC Canada, 06/09/00
I've stayed at a number of hostels in my time and my latest stay was also one of the best, at the Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. The hosts are such kind, friendly people, the hostel is spotless and has wonderful facilities, and the setting can't be beat.
Thumbs down though to Charlie Rockets in Bruges. They didn't have a key
for our room, so we had to leave our stuff unsecured, and the showers
were pretty pathetic. Good location but not much else going for it.
<oubliette_x@hotmail.com>
USA 06/04/00
We stayed in the Odyssee hostel in former East Berlin. It is really
a nice place with a helpful staff. There are several pubs in the neighbourhood,
but the quarter isn't really discovered yet. The hostel is situated in
Friedrichshain, near Karl Marx Allee and Warschauerstrasse. You can find
them at: www.hostel-berlin.de
Rick <Rick_van_oosten@hotmail.com>
Amsterdam, Netherlands 06/03/00
Went to Loch Lomond, in Scotland. Had to be one of the best scenic places
we went to of all of Britain. Nice small town, we rented bikes to travel
between the hostel and around town and the loch. Best part: The hostel
is in a castle that's "haunted". Nice place though, good kitchens, has
a great hall, TV room, elegant stairs, broad yard. I really suggest the
Loch Lomond area...it's not touristy and is a wonderful place just to
enjoy the scenery
Kent Lee <kxl19@po.cwru.edu>
Cleveland, OH USA 05/26/00
Traveling between Prague & Berlin? The Naturfreundehaus Burg Hohnstein
near Dresden offers the opportunity to stay in a castle! The rooms are
FANTASTIC! The breakfasts are delicious and generous! All this for $15-$17
per person — a real bargain. For more information see www.nfh.de/burg/index.htm
and use Alta Vista's translation program.
Jan Bauer <bauerjan@yahoo.com>
Ames, IA USA 05/23/00
If you are in Amsterdam the Hans Brinker is fun, clean, cheap and located
in central Amsterdam near the Leidestraat, a block from Rembrantgrak I
believe.
Tom Gunn <gunntom5@AOL.Com>
Brooklyn, , NY USA 05/23/00
These are my opinionated ratings from 0 to 10:
4UMunchen in Munich = 6
Jugendgastehaus (HI) in Wurzburg = 6
Station in Koln = 7
Circus in Berlin = 10
Gasthaus Muhle Naturfreunde-Herberge in Hallstatt = 6
City Backpacker-Hotel Biber in Zurich = 7
Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof in Interlaken = 8
CIA-RUS in Strasbourg = 9
Deutcher Kaiser in Baden-Baden = 8.5
I know many of you loved the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, but I give
it only a 4 for the accommodations and not how friendly the other guests
were. I stayed in double rooms at most locations that had them available
and rated on the room I received.
Guy B <h8nxtc@hotmail.com>
So. Cal., CA USA 05/14/00
The best place we stayed was the youth hostel in Rothenberg, Germany. It looked brand new, it was immaculate, and I got a double room with shower for an amazing price — under $18 apiece. Breakfast was great too, very friendly staff, good location. Unfortunately it was the very first place we stayed — nothing else lived up to it.
A word of warning- we made reservations at the Clown and Bard in Prague, and when we arrived they told us they had no room, and at the last minte, said we could sleep on the floor in a 36-person room. It was absolutely horribly disgusting. It would have been ok if everyone was on the floor, but half the people were in bunk beds, so we were at their feet. DON'T SLEEP ON THE FLOOR unless you know what you are getting into. At least it was cheap.
The Wombat hostel in Vienna is great too, filled with Australians it
seems, but very clean, friendly, internet access for cheap, nice rooms
and showers, they give you a free drink at the bar, and you get to keep
the towels you rent (still wondering about that!). Very clean.
Kelly <eurokelly@yahoo.com>
Bay City, MI USA 05/04/00
I just came home after a 3-week stay in London. My friend and I stayed
with Gainsborough Studios in north London. We had a double room in a flat
with fridge, TV and telephone. There were 2 other rooms in the flat, both
occupied with other backpackers, and we shared kitchen and bathrooms with
them. The room was hotel standard with great, comfy beds, better then
the one I have at home. I would advise anyone who is going to London to
check out www.studios92.com You won't regret it!
Melissa <scheelegatan52@hotmail.com>
Stockholm, SWE 05/04/00
I just spent a week in Rome and stayed at this cool little place called
Freedom Traveller. The hostel was clean, the staff young & fun (and they
spoke English!), there was an Internet cafe, and tours, too. Their web
page is really funny. Check it out at www.freedom-traveller.it
Stacy Matthews
Dallas, TX USA 04/20/00
Venice (Italy) hostel is the best because of the view and it's very
close to everything.
Roberto Rosa da Silva <rrosa@cpunet.com.br>
Salvador / Brazil, BR 04/05/00
Hostel Marco Polo: best hostel in Hungary, Budapest. Great location,
friendly staff, good Hungarian restaurant. Cleanest hostel I have ever
stayed at. Found it on the web, do not miss it...
Andrew Haveland <ssenseless@yahoo.com>
L.A., CA USA 03/30/00
The nice hostel in Casteltownbere, Ireland, in the Beara peninsula is also a buddhist temple! The view of the bay is magnificient. People are friendly there.
But my three favorites are:
1. Sandrock Holiday Hostel in Malin Head, Inishowen Co. Donnegal. This place is wonderful. Absolutely clean, it seems more like you are at nice B&B than at a hostel. The owners are very helpful and have done much to make the experience an enjoyable one.
2. O'Briens Farmhouse Hostel in Cashel. It is very clean and quiet. The Hore Abbey is right across the street. Across the other is the Rock Of Cashel itself!
3. The Rainbow Hostel in Doolin. Doolin is well known as a great little
village for traditional music. Stay at this hostel and enjoy the town's
three pubs. Though it is not as nice as the previous two, the hostel has
great atmosphere in a great town. Ask the owner and he may give you a
nice slide show and short walking tour of the area. Great fun!
John Ryskamp <skamps@msn.com>
Milford, MI USA 03/28/00
In Dublin, the Globetrotter's Tourist Hostel on Lower Gardiner Street
was definitely the best hostel I stayed at in my whole two week trip.
The beds were very comfortable, the bathrooms were very clean, and there's
a huge full Irish breakfast included in the price. Also, each bed has
an individual reading light, and it's a five-minute walk to either O'Connell
Street or the bus station. I spent 4 nights in this hostel, and it was
always wonderful.
Mary
New York, NY USA 03/27/00
My daughter and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and flew out of Amsterdam. We stayed at a new place in Rome - Colors. It was my first experience with a hostel type abode and I was quit pleasantly surprised. Colors is close to St Peters and I found it by e-mailing enjoyrome.com. It is run by the same folks as Fawlty Towers, but is out of the pickpocket district of the train station. We had a double (which was actually a triple) with a private bath for L100,000. It was supposed to be L130k - 150k, but was new so we got the deal. It's only fault was that it was on the 3rd (US4th) Floor and of course, no lift. The room was very clean and spacious, as was our private bathroom. The staff were friendly, spoke english and were quite helpful. There is a small kitchen with refrig, stove and table, but no meals are served. I highly recommend it, but it did stay full for the 2 days that we were there, so you should make reservations. There is no lockout, you can get a key (with a refundable deposit) and take a nap during the day if you wish.
We stayed at Balmer's in Interlaken and just when I was about to be disturbed
with the lockout and them not taking us to the train station as their
booklet advertised, this kid named Shane (or Shawn) went out of his way
to help us. He found us the schedule for a night train to Koln - got us
some towels so we could shower before getting on the train, and most of
all, argued with the railway folks about returning my daughter's backpack
(which had gone to Bern on the train without us) to us at the station
instead of sending it home to the US.
Becky Cosby <bcos@evansville.net>
Evansville, IN USA 03/22/00
Spent 2 months in Europe last summer. Best Hostel: The Funny Farm in
Interlakken. Also check out the Smile hostel in Lisbon, opened last summer
and the owners are great, took us to a bull fight and really know how
to party.
Tuskadero
Seattle, WA USA 03/10/00
The hostel in Grindelwald, Switzerland is magnificent. The upstairs
balcony overlooks the swiss town and across the small valley to the glaciers.
You can stroll through town or go on one of many hikes. The food is great,
it's clean, and there seems to be a steady flow of interesting visitors.
One word of caution though, it's a steep climb from the train station.
Jason Holder <jholder@thelenreid.com>
Berkeley, CA USA 03/09/00
London — King's Cross (HI). Brand new place, a little pricey, even for London (22 pounds). Clean as a pin, and only a couple blocks from the train station and major tube stop. Staff was friendly and helpful. I met a bunch of people in the common room.
Killarney — The Sugan. Awesome place to spend a few days. *Very* small place, with a big fireplace and the single most memorable person I met on the entire trip, the proprietor Pa. After walking over from the train station (only 2 minutes away), he offered a pot of tea and introduced me around to the other guests. Very easy to stay way longer than you intended to, since everybody almost has to be social due to how small the place is. Killarney is a great town too.
Dingle — Ballintaggart Hostel (HI). Almost as cool as The Sugan. It's
an old castle, with a huge fireplace in the common room. After going to
the pubs one night, about 30 of the guests stayed up until 4:30 singing
songs and hanging out. The only downside is that it's about a 20-minute
walk into town, but on a pretty day, the view of the bay is breathtaking.
Another place where it's easy to stay longer than you intended.
Greg <gpropes@hotmail.com>
Houston, TX USA 02/17/00
My personal fave has to be Skye Backpackers in Kyleakin, Isle of Skye,
Scotland. Run by the same people as Castle Rock in Edinburgh, it's a small
hostel (around 40 people) with great breakfasts and the friendliest staff
I've encountered.
Lori
Toronto, Canada 02/08/00
In 4 backpack trips to Europe, I have seen some great hostels and some
terrible ones. The best: The Bauhaus in Brugge has location, clean rooms,
a great bar and great guests. The Clown and Bard in Praha was a blast,
as was the JGH Centraal in Berlin (good pub). If you're really into the
"Amsterdam life", Bob's Youth Hostel is fun, otherwise STAY AWAY!
Shawn Hawkins <woozle@axionet.com>
Vancouver, BC CAN 02/01/00
Steve's Backpackers, Derry, Northern Ireland is a trip! The hostel is
wee and just so welcoming, I have never felt more at home. Scottish Steve
has a contagious enthusiasm for the place and will happily tell you Derry's
facinating history. The pubs in Derry are exceptional craic, and Steve
will give you the personal tour and tips on how to go about getting a
'Derry Snog'! Derry itself is the friendliest, most under-rated city I
have yet visited.
Kylie Barsdell <kyliebarsdell@hotmail.com>
Wellington, NZ 01/31/00
When in Amsterdam, check out the Bicycle Hotel/Hostel. Very clean, quiet
and cheap 4-story flat with a nifty hardwood floored breakfast area; breakfast
is included.
MJ Moore <moooooore@yahoo.com>
Boulder, CO USA 01/25/00
Amsterdam cheap, good, clean hostel: Bed & Coffee, 427 Rustenburgerstr.
[Tel. (00-31)-(0)6-55194911, bedcoffee@compuserve.com] Nice couple is
running it. They speak English, German, Russian and French...and something
that sounded like Dutch :). Approx.$14 per night. Near the center and
Heineken brewery. Tell them you got this tip from Joe, they'll know.
Joe Johannson <joe_j@mail.com>
Stockholm, Sweden 01/21/00
I really liked City Backpacker in Zurich, and Backpackers Lucerne. Both are really clean and have lots of facilities and cool places to socialize. The staff are really courteous. The prices were a bit high, but this is Switzerland.
The best hostels in Italy were the HI hostels in Florence and Verona. Both very charming and historical, and have a lot to offer. (They could work on the food though! I'd go for the local mom 'n' pop restaurants instead.)
The Clown and Bard in Prague and The Flying Pig (both locations) in
Amsterdam also deserve mention (although I wasn't lucky enough to actually
stay at either b/c they were both full...but I hung out there). And I
can't forget The Three Ducks Hostel in Paris.
Moo <mootopia@yahoo.com>
Davis, CA USA 01/20/00
In Salzburg, Austria, the Jugendhergerge H.I. hostel was fantastic.
Been there several times, always friendly service. My wife and I had our
own private room with toilet and shower, breakfast included with rolls,
jam, butter, cold cuts and cheese, lots of coffee. Other meals are available
at reasonable prices. The hostel was quiet when were there, in the dead
of winter. I don't know what it's like in the summer.
Allen Aubert <aaubert1@compuserve.com>
Lafayette, LA USA 01/17/00
My 5-year-old son and I stayed at the Village hostel in Paris last October.
We were able to share a room despite the fact that Paris is full of people
around Halloween (who would have known?). It was very clean and has a
wonderful view of Sacre Coeur from the cozy balcony. The free breakfast
consisted of bread & jam with all the coffee or chocolat you can drink.
I'd go back in a second.
Lisa <Cybelle_010@yahoo.com>
North Chicago, IL USA 01/15/00
In Stockholm, the hostel Af Chapman is exciting — it's on an actual boat! The staff was very friendly and helpful. They do however have an 11 PM curfew, and a lockout between 10-3. On the weekends they close the boat and put you in the house just across from the boat.
In Munich I enjoyed the 4-U Youth Hostel, centrally located just a short
walk to Marienplatz and the Haufbrauhaus. When you walk into the place
you may not feel too comfortable; however once you get inside it's unbelivable.
In each room they give you a cabinet to lock your stuff up in — although
you don't need to; it's very safe. (They also do this at Af Chapman.)
Mike <Mmorr1976@aol.com>
Boston, MA USA 01/11/00
The hostel "Vrachos" or Sunrock on Corfu, Greece is absolutely wonderful.
Much better than the Pink Palace. The staff is wonderful and can throw
a great party. And the place is family-owned and -run. Every night for
dinner is a huge three-course meal. Breakfast every morning is either
eggs (any way you want them), pancakes or french toast! oth meals are
included in the price. Look for Spiros when you get off the boat on Corfu.
He's about 5'9", black hair with a full beard. Just tell him that I sent
you.
Samantha Sheldon <samantha_sheldon@excite.com>
West Hartford, CT/Hayward, CA, USA 01/10/00
I was in Germany for 3 weeks in October and stayed in only one hostel, but was it a gem! In Bacharach we climbed that steep path up to Burg Stahleck. The climb was terrible with my pack on my back, but it was worth it to sleep in a castle. We were traveling in shoulder season and found that there were large groups of school kids on field trips. It was interesting to meet the teachers. They were pleased to meet Americans because the English teacher is going to teach about America next year. After 7:00 every thing got quieter and we went down to the cafeteria which was turned into a wine bar. They had an extensive wine list.
Be sure to call a couple of days in advance — even in October it was
booked up. The address and number are in Rick's book.
Susan Mason <mom@main-net.com>
Urbana, OH USA 12/30/99
Last summer my friend and I traveled around Europe and stayed at a lot of wonderful hostels. Most of the ones we got from Rick Steves were great, especially La Primula in Menaggio. Good food, cheap beds, lots of fun and friendly people to talk to, plus a breathtaking view of Lake Como.
Another that was particularly great was Gulliver's House in Rome. It
wasn't in any of the guidebooks we were using. We were so glad we stumbled
across it, though. Simon and Sarah who run the hostel were super friendly
and helpful. Simon even picked us up from the train station and led us
to the hostel when we didn't know how to get there. He's also a great
tour guide: he recommended the best places to see, when the best time
to go there was (to avoid crowds), great places to eat, and even marked
up a map for us telling us how to get to sightseeing spots and which areas
of Rome to avoid. And so much more! Though the hostel is small, with only
a few rooms crowded with many beds, it's very clean and nicely decorated.
And all the people there were great! We made many friends. Plus they have
an adorable dog named Lily who added to the fun of staying there. We loved
Rome and we loved Gulliver's House!
Becky Scallet <Rebek2000@aol.com>
Little Rock, AR USA 12/19/99
I want to warn everyone about the Peace and Love hostel in Paris. My
boyfriend and I called and there from Madrid, and told the receptionist
that we would be arriving the next day at 3pm. The receptionist told us
it was fine, we didn't need leave a credit card number. He said our reservation
was taken care of and he would see us tomorrow. After a long and dirty
overnight from Madrid we arrived in Paris about 2pm and took the Metro
across town to the hostel. We were excited to be there, and be in Paris.
The excitement didn't last long. When we went to check in the man at the
front desk said they didn't have any beds left. I informed him of the
reservation I had made the previous day and he told me they didn't take
reservations, and even if they did we arrived too late. I was furious!
They have no business sense or loyalty to their customers. After frantically
calling other hostels we finally found a place to stay at Aloha hostel.
Aloha ended up being great! It is a 10-minute walk to the Eiffel Tower
and in a fantastic neighborhood with a real Parisian feel. The staff is
friendly and the rooms are decent (no pillows though).
Kate
USA 12/18/99
I traveled Europe September through October. My favorite hostels were:
- La Primula, Menaggio, Italy. Small, great atmosphere. Excellent food
and cheap. Good place to meet other travelers and talk about experiences!
- Mountain Valley Youth Hostel, Lauterbunnen, Switz. This hostel is located
just up the valley from Interlaken, about a 15-minute train ride away.
It is an excellent place to base for day hikes in the Jungfrau region.
The hosts, Marta and Alfred, are very attentive and courteous and keep
a very clean hostel. Lauterbrunnen is a very relaxing small town surrounded
by beautiful scenery.
- Manarola, Italy. Not sure of the name of the hostel in Manarola, but
it was one of the cleanest, best-kept hostels on my trip. The Cinque Terre
is a must-do for anyone on an extended trip in Europe.
Dave <dj_brav@yahoo.com>
Denver, CO USA 12/14/99
On of my two favorite hostels was the Passage in Brugge. VERY friendly
staff, centrally located (how can you not be in Brugge) and GREAT food
and bar. I also had a good time in the Aloha hostel in Paris. It was crowded,
being high season when I stayed there, but the people there were great,
very friendly staff. Kitchen was very usable and the bedrooms were adequate.
Free showers that didn't run out of water were a nice touch.
Greg <xtrosity@yahoo.com>
Winston-salem, nc USA 12/05/99
In response to the person who said the Woodstock hostel in Paris was
great, I disagree. I had the worst night of my trip at this hostel. It
was dirty, loud, the beds were horribly uncomfortable and people were
puking in the bathroom all night. But the staff was helpful and friendly.
Alexa Carlson <baygirl9@aol.com>
Santa Rosa, CA USA 11/19/99
While in Berlin last week, I intended to stay at Circus, which I had done
last year, but they were full. They recommended, as I now do, The Clubhouse.
Located just a short 10 minute walk from the Friedrichstrasse Station,
Clubhouse is only 6 months old, very clean, and offers a variety of accomodations.
There is luggage storage, internet access, and inexpensive beer! Located
in Mitte, it is a stone's throw from a number of famous sights, as well
as numerous bars and clubs. The staff is international, so there is no
language barrier.
Kevin <k_doerksen@hotmail.com>
Chicago, IL USA 11/01/99
Awesome hostel in Vienna! A family run hostel in Vienna called Hostel
Ruthensteiner is clean, friendly, comfortable, and cheap - it had the
best beds in any hostels we stayed in Europe hand has clean sheets and
towels for you as well! Check them out at www.hostelruthensteiner.com
E
USA 11/01/99
On my second trip to Interlaken, I decided to avoid the "other" hostel
there and stayed at the Backpacker's Villa. It was an excellent choice.
How about a second floor balcony room that looks out to the mountains!
The reception is friendly and organized. The showers are hot & free. The
breakfast is great. The pay-as-you-go internet access if great if you
have to look up train connections. Most importantly, they had the BEST
kitchen I ever saw in Europe. Simply immaculate.
Kris Pfeiffer <kpfeif@execpc.com>
Milwaukee, WI USA 10/21/99
The Pension Ottaviano in Rome has four or five large rooms, with about
ten people in each room (L30,000/person). There isn't a curfew — they
just give you a key so you may come in and out as you wish. It is just
down the street from St. Peter's cathedral. Being a private hostel, it
is filled more with college-aged student rather than younger kids. It
is just down the street from the last stop on the subway, thus making
it convenient to get anywhere in the city. It is very quaint and has
great ceilings, a neat stairwell and elevator and whimsical paintings
on the walls. They also give you lockers to store your stuff in (you
do need your own lock) and I don't think they have a lockout — I seem to
remember sleeping in till ten.
Kris <hainswka@hotmail.com>
USA 10/18/99
The Woodstock hostel in Paris is nice. Small enough to be cosy, it's located near the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est. Reasonably-priced. There's even a small but friendly hostel bar at the reception. I love the hostel cat!
Snuffels in Bruges, Belgium is great! Really cool staff with a good bar and music, friendly atmosphere, good prices, and another cute cat. Good location. Really enjoyed my stay there.
CHAB-Van Gogh hostel in Brussels is awesome! Clean and friendly. Excellent kitchen facilities.
In general, private hostels are more fun and less restrictive, especially
when it comes to curfew and stuff. Happy traveling!
Christina
Singapore, Singapore 10/17/99
For anyone traveling to Ireland:
- Near Dublin (Don Loaghaire): The Old Schoolhouse Hostel is no longer
a hostel; it's being used now to house refugees. However, in nearby Monkstown,
(and right nextdoor to the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann that Rick mentions
in his book) is Belgrave Hall. It's £12 per night (including breakfast),
£5 to do laundry, and £5 for 30 minutes on the internet. You can get there
taking the DART.
- Portrush: MacCool's was pretty cool.
- Dingle: The Rainbow Hostel is located near the harbor and main street,
and was £8 for the all-girls room. (Note: The TI is not on main street;
it's down near the harbor.)
USA 10/09/99
In hostels, be prepared for large student groups. Noisy and wild, they often get first priority. Reserve ahead using IBN. My favorites:
- London: Earl's Court, west side. Abundant breakfast, but who would
want to eat it? Greasy and tasteless. Nice neighborhood, though, and very
helpful staff, made the first day much easier.
- Salisbury: Nice, close to the center of town.
- Paris: No mixed rooms 'til we got to France. Oh la la! Shared a mixed
room with another couple. In La Villette, a very North African part of
town, not far from the Gare de Nord. Hint: Change your money in the Gare
first! - Strasbourg: No kitchen, no laundry, but new building, and they
let a mixed couple get a private room with a king-sized bed! - Amsterdam:
Vondelpark. Also got a private room, after waiting patiently.
Douglas Sunlin <dsunlin@hotmail.com>
Mountain View, CA USA 10/08/99
I travelled for two months this summer, and the best hostels, by far,
were Backpacker's Villa in Interlaken, Switzerland, and Ballybeag (sp?)
outside of Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland.
Craig Murphy <jcm02@comp.uark.edu>
Fayetteville, AR USA 10/08/99
In three months in Europe this summer, my favorite hostel was the Circus
Hostel in Berlin, Germany. The rooms were EXTREMELY clean and there were
no bunk beds! The staff was so nice and very helpful. The staff will reserve
train tickets and make reservations for you in other hostels. If you travel
during the summer, make sure you have a reservation, otherwise you won't
get in.
Robert <RG4B66361@aol.com>
San Dimas, CA USA 10/05/99
I like clean hostels (esp. showers) with easygoing, helpful staff and good locations. Don't we all? Here are a few of my favorites from this summer:
CLIFFVIEW HOSTEL, Donegal, Ireland
RAILWAY HOSTEL, Killarney, Ireland
SCHULL BACKPACKERS HOSTEL, Schull, West Cork, Ireland (one of the only
wooden buildings I've seen over there - AMAZING place!)
LLANGOLLEN YHA, Llangollen, North Wales (lovely Tudor mansion)
AMBLESIDE YHA, Lake District, England (remodeled hotel — very busy but
by far the best location)
Kate <KATERL28@hotmail.com>
Seattle, WA USA 09/28/99
In England it's probably best to stay at Hostelling International hostels.
The organisation has changed its name from 'Youth' hostel and many of
the city hostels are new or recently renovated. Liverpool YHA is especially
nice with Beatles murals & albums on the hallway walls. All of the YHAs
I've stayed in around England have had TV rooms, evening meals and are
able to book a bed at your next stop. There are a lot of shady hostels,
especially in London, so it's best to stick with a legit company. I've
had to change rooms in the middle of one-week stays because a shifty place
forgot I was there and gave my bed to someone else, and friends stayed
in a place that was a highrise but the elevator door would open between
floors! Nice. The best buy I ever made was one of the backpack locks that
is retractable like a tape measure. A lot of hostels don't let you in
your room until early evening so you're left leaving your pack on a shelf
in a room with 100 others. I just whip out the lock and attach my pack
to one of the shelf poles. Nobody's getting my bag unless they want the
entire shelf too!
Kristen <kclarkin@hotmail.com>
London, UK 09/13/99
I don't care what the guidebooks say, go to Bilbao, Spain in Pais Basco.
It is a nice city, industrial, but nice. I stayed in the youth hostel
there (there is only one) called Albergue Bilbao Aterpetxea. There are
8 floors of comfort and cleanliness. They have a laundry facility and
even a computer where you can pay to get on the internet (expensive, though).
It is a fairly new facility. I cannot say enough about how nice it was.
The furniture was nice, the sheets and pillows (provided) were nice, the
floors were clean, the lockers were big (bring your own lock), the bathrooms
were super clean. The whole building itself was a pleasant place to be.
Rb <rbhoffman1@juno.com>
Atlanta, GA USA 09/11/99
Just got back from staying at LaPrimula in Mennagio, Italy. It's a nice
hostel. The food was worth the noisy teenagers (only until 11:30pm). $10
for a bed, 1000 Lire for sheets, $10 for a wonderful 3-course meal. Rick
is right about this place.
USA 09/11/99
The Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Switzerland was a wonderful place
for the varied guests I found there — an American family of four, 2 English
university students on holiday, a single Swiss grandma on a hiking holiday,
a French geologist researching the Alps — we had a great time on rainy
days shooting pool, playing ping pong, sharing meals and "best hike" ideas!
And waking up to a view of the fabled Eiger looming practically over our
heads was awesome. It was easy to access trips throughout the area, Brienz,
Thun, Interlaken, Wengen, the Jungfraujoch, Mannlichen — a friendly place
to hang a hat for even a week or more. If you pay a bit extra, you can
even get a single room. I highly recommend it!
Deb <deb75@prodigy.net>
Marlton, NJ USA 09/08/99
Just back from 2 weeks with my son in Denmark/Norway via Frankfurt. We stayed mostly in hostels and some private homes and all but one was wonderful. Travelling 18 August thru 1 Sept., was a good time because school had just started, tourists are down, weather is great, and no problem getting rooms. As I have found in over 25 trips to Europe, Rick's guide and video are perfect resources for my preferences in travel when they cover the area of interest. For this trip, the Rough Guides to Scandinavia and Germany were also very useful.
NORWAY: excellent web site: www.vandrerhjem.no (online booking, good descriptions and directions, some useful links, nice personalized email responses to inquiries). The following are covered by Rick:
In Oslo, Haraldsheim has small rooms, crowded facilities, overworked staff, but great views (NOK460 double). In Bergen, Montana has wonderful private rooms, great view, great public areas and buffet (NOK470). Boverdalen has a nice mountain setting, backs to river, cabins and camping also, very nice buffet breakfast and good dinner, and pleasant rustic rooms (NOK 230 double). Sjusjoen is about 20km from Lillehammer in the mountains on a resort lake. Need a car. Nice rustic rooms, great setting, excellent breakfast and superb dinner buffet (only NOK 270 double). The folk museum, Maihaugen, in Lillehammer was outstanding.
DENMARK: superb web site: www.danhostel.dk (online booking, great descriptions and directions, and excellent links to other tourist sites). Based on my experience, the Denmark hostels are superb, somewhat nicer than Norway's and serve somewhat better quality food. Not covered by Rick:
Ribe: a wonderful "back door" town, and probably the best hostel on the trip. We had to share a nice dorm room at DKr 75 but great doubles are about DKr 275. Excellent buffet breakfast and dinner, nice sports hall including a rock climbing wall. After we went on the free "night watchman's walk" through the old town, we came back to watch some TV in the lounge. My son was surprised to find a group of high-school girls from Switzerland watching with casual interest a very sexually explicit program on a German commercial TV station — the first of many interesting comparisons between U.S. and European lifestyles.
Aalborg: nice town on the way to the Danish/Norway ferry crossing. Great hostel on the outskirts of town. Nice doubles at DKr 370. Great breakfast buffet.
GERMANY: OK web site: www.djh.de (prices, descriptions and directions. Only in German but easy to understand). German hostels seem to have the most school-age groups of any country.
Bacharach's "Burg Stahleck" was well described in Rick's guide and by
many others here. About 1 hour from Frankfurt airport; great for a first
or last night or for a whole trip. Our private double room with toilet
and shower was DM60. You climb up through an old stone passageway and
finally reach your room. Open the door to a modern, sparkling room with
views of the vineyards, Rhine, and town below that would put the best
hotel to shame. Good breakfast (included) and dinner. Sure there are also
lots of kids, but they're having a great time and fun to watch.
Ron Wickham <wickhamr@ix.netcom.com>
Foster City, CA USA 09/03/99
In our 5-week tour of Europe our family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers stayed at 3 hostels that I would recommend to anyone. The hostels in Cinque Terre (Manarola)****, Carcassone ***, and La Primula in Menaggio **** were wonderful. The two that I have given four stars to were exceptionally clean, had family accomodation bunkbeds for 4, laundry facilities and e-mail. The meals were optional but excellent, especially those prepared by the cooks in Manarola.
It became very apparent however that the need for reservations at youth
hostels was very important especially during the peak months of July and
August. This takes away a little of the spontaneity of the wandering traveller — but
well worth the effort. Our whole family picked Cinque Terre as a favourite
place to return to. It is truly exceptional
B.Salt <salt@dccnet.com>
Vancouver,BC, USA 08/29/99
I just returned from Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The best hostel in which we stayed at was the the Vondelpark hostel in Amsterdam. It is quite modern, very clean and the staff is quite friendly and helpful. Getting in may be a bit difficult. We didn't have reservations and made it in off the standby list. Later in the afternoon they were turning people away so plan ahead. The breakfast is of typical hostel nature...corn flakes, breads, meats, juices and coffee.
In Belgium we stayed in Brugge at the Bauhaus IYH (050/34-10-93)located just outside the old part of town on Longestraat, not far from the train station. It is quite nice with clean, well kept rooms. They have a nice bar located downstairs which serves as a nice area to meet other travelers over a beer. Regardless of whether you stay here or not, Brugge is a must see. It's like stepping back in time to the middle ages.
Lastly we stayed in Dusseldorf at the hostel on Dusseldorfer Str. It
was very clean, quiet and had a very helpful staff. The front door policy
after 1am is a bit different though....opening it for 5 minutes only each
hour after 1am. Again breakfast was the typical bread, meats and cornflakes
variety. The hostel was located close to train stops and the bridge over
the rhine to the city area.
Brian <b_wheatman@hotmail.com>
Redondo Beach, CA USA 08/21/99
The Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Switzerland is the picture-perfect hostel — it's quiet, cozy, and there are always friendly people around. The views that greet you when you look outside are the most beautiful in the world.
YoHo's in Salzburg was nice and clean. Most of all, it was cheap. It
can get noisy there, and you will mostly meet Americans or Australians,
but it's a pretty good place.
Andadero
Madison, WI USA 08/18/99
the hostel in bunnik near utrecht is very good, with nice people, clean
and good food
francine <deauvillefrancine@hotmail.com>
ain, fr 08/17/99
Found a great a hostel in Interlaken, Switzerlaken - The Funny Farm. Run
by a bunch of Aussies from Byron Bay. Check it out, don't miss it.
Katie and Dave <katiedomont@yahoo.com>
Chapel Hill, NC USA 08/12/99
TOTO HOSTEL is located in the heart of Sultanahmet's relaxed and charming streets, where backpackers abound. Cheerfully decorated rooms and friendly, young, enthusiastic staff will give you your first taste of hospitality Turkish-style in this Oriental metropolis of Europe. On the roof of Toto Hostel you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Marmara Sea with fellow travellers.
TOTO HOSTEL
KASAP OSMAN SK: NO; 23
KUCUK AYASOFYA - SULTANAHMET
Tel 0090 212 517 29 18
fax 0090 212 517 29 12
E-mail: totohostel@istanbulguide.net
Web: http://www.istanbulguide.net/corhot.htm
Nurdogan <nurdogan@lesartsturcs.com>
Istanbul, USA 08/06/99
Avalon House in the heart of Dublin is absolutely brilliant. It's close
to everywhere you want to go. SYH in Stirling, Scotland was also a great
experience. Both are clean, the staffs are incredibly friendly and they
make an effort to know you and what you'd like to do in Ireland and Scotland.
Some of my best travel tips came from these staffs.
Julie <jlbarri@hotmail.com>
Denver, CO USA 08/03/99
Eurohostel, Helsinki: Incredibly efficient, clean, convenient. A pleasant find upon my arrival on the continent. The cafe is so-so but breakfast buffet is great. Very affordable and wonderful staff.
Af Chapman, Stockholm: A treat! I was on the boat for 3 nights and loved it all. Great facilities and staff. Clean, no better location in town. Extremely great views of the city, especially at sunset on the deck. Breakfast was cheap and good. I want to go back!!
I suggest staying in private homes in many towns. They are often as
cheap as hostels in Scandinavia and have much more character and many
times are more convenient. Many hostels in the cities above were way out
of town, although these all were in central locations.
Chuck <chtravlr@aol.com>
Conyers, GA USA 07/25/99
My favorite hostel was the Family Home hostel in Bayeaux, France. Since the place also has budget single rooms, as well as hostel accomodations, I was happy to find the crowd to be more diverse than usual. Instead of hundreds of other 20-something travelers (like me), there was an older American couple, a pair of Welsh ladies in their 60's biking through France, and a bespectacled, talkative man who came to be known to us as "the professor." The windows were shuttered and when you opened them you were greeted by a window box of flowers.
The meals were fresh and delicious. Continental breakfast included REAL
coffee and homemade jam. At dinner, the dishes kept coming and coming:
fresh ham, a cheese course, anchovy and rice salad, turnovers with gruyere,
homemade ice cream and Calvados. Wine flowed freely (both liberally and
free of an additional charge) and was from the vineyard of the propreitress'
brother. These meals were all served family-style and encouraged lingering
conversation. I got to hear a middle-aged German couple talk about what
it was like for them to visit the Normandy Beaches. I got a history lesson
on William the Conquerer from "The Professor." It was wonderful to come
into the dining room at night and compare notes around this long log table
with some people who, as opposed to 24-year-old me, had found themselves
on other trips to France, and Spain, and China, and had come back again
to feast on crusty bread, hot soup, and the conversation of their fellow
travelers. It was one of the most accidentally authentic experiences I
had in Europe and filled me with the warm, homey family experience their
name promises.
Amy <amyboyce@hotmail.com>
NY USA 07/21/99
The Herberg Ridderhofstad Rhijnauwen Hostel (phone: 306561277) in Bunnik,
the Netherlands was GRRRRREAT. It has the greatest little pub outside
the hostel where travellers and locals hang out. It has a wonderful atmosphere,
lots of beautiful woods, and a huge field perfect for playing frisbee.
(And they had the best food I tasted in my 1-1/2 months in Europe!)
Sarah R. Bronson <bronson8@pilot.msu.edu>
East Lansing, MI USA 07/12/99
I must say a word of praise for the Old Schoolhouse Hostel in Dun Laoghaire
(outside Dublin). They were full at the time, but the young lady at the
counter got on the phone and started calling the local B&Bs. Everybody
full. Finally, she found one and then she set about calling Hertz for
us to find out where we should return our rental car and even arranged
for a fax of the final bill to be sent there for us to pick up later.
Such service, and we weren't even staying there!
Lynne <terrlynn@hctc.com>
Union, WA USA 07/11/99
alternative to youth hostel: B&B UTRECHT (egelantierstraat 25, utrecht,
phone 31 650434884, fax 31 302448764, email: amitie@xs4all.nl). is one
of the best of utrecht and the cheapest (fl.25/night). breakfast is free,
internet facilities free, lockers free, cooking possibilities, good atmosphere.
10-minute walk to the center. the local board of tourism doesn't give
you this place because they are not members.
mario sopono <sopono12@hotmail>
milano, it 07/08/99
We think the hostel in Siena deserves a better mention in Rick's Italy
1999 guidebook. We give it a big "thumbs-up," despite its distance from
"downtown" Siena. We got into town late - they had plenty of clean rooms
available for less than half the hotel and pensions were charging. We
paid about 23,000 Lira/nite (cheap!) and the taxi ride was less than 20,000
Lira — still less than we would have paid for a private room. We luuuuuv
Siena, by the way!
Karen McKay <kmckay@elgin.com>
Seattle, WA USA 07/06/99
When I was travelling through the Netherlands I visited Utrecht, a charming
old town with loads of historic sights. The tourist information office
(VVV) pointed me towards a budget hostel called Strowis (see posting below
by kala on 2/03/99). I found it too "alternative" for my taste, with weirdos
hanging around. And prices started at about $40 US — a bit expensive for
my taste, especially since I was going to stay longer. Instead of staying
there I found B&B Utrecht, located at Egelantierstraat 25 in Utrecht,
a 10-minute walk from the central train station. There I found a friendly
atmosphere and, most importantly, low prices. I had a room for two weeks
for approx. $20 US per night, including an all-you-can-eat breakfast.
Good organization, fresh linens and quality food. They even have a small
cybercafe located in the reception area.
Gunther <gmaur@hotmail.com>
Hamburg, D 07/05/99
Last summer I stayed a total of 12 nights in Hostal Riesco in Madrid.
It is fantastic — a true find. Tel. 91.532.57.38
Susan Spackman <rspackman@aol.com>
Irvine, CA USA 07/03/99
The YHA Hostel in Salisbury, England was friendly, clean, and pretty
quiet if you were upstairs. Campers outside had to deal with more noise.
Maria
Danville, CA USA 07/01/99
I just returned from 3 weeks of hosteling through Europe. The best hostel I encountered was the new HYI in Manarola, Italy. It's only a year old, small enough that there are no school groups (i.e. kids), the staff are friendly and helpful, the rooms are clean and uncrowded (6/dorm room) and the 2 cooks are amazing. With a cafeteria like theirs you don't need to rely on restaurants (and it's a lot cheaper). Internet access, an elevator, a rooftop patio and a cooler filled with your favorite refreshment (including bottles of wine, all at reasonable prices) make it a great pick. Reservations a few days in advance are a must as word is getting out.
My 2nd pick was the castletop Rhine view in Bacharach, Germany. This hostel is in an old castle perched atop the hill above the town of Bacharach. It fills up quickly, the castle gates close fairly early (around 8:30 p.m. I believe), and there are school groups, but they did go to bed at a decent hour. The hike up with a pack is a killer but for the lazy a taxi is available in the town for a ride up (from the building next to the train station; 10DM — share with other exhausted travelers). The hostel offers a 9.50DM all-you-can-eat buffet dinner that was very satisfying. The views are spectacular of the entire Rhine gorge, rooms are clean, modern and not too crowded. The cafeteria surprisingly turns into a fun and lively wine bar after dinner. They sell their stock by the glass or bottle and if you wish can buy an extra bottle or 2 for the next day's picnic. I actually brought 1 bottle home and after 15 days in my pack and the effort of lugging it around it tasted just brilliant!
My 3rd pick is Vondelpark Hostel in Amsterdam. Yes, it's big and full
of school groups, but...it's clean, airy, bright and located far enough
from downtown to feel relaxing, yet close enough that you're not missing
the action. Plus Vondelpark is right next door and makes for a great location
to enjoy a picnic dinner. The trendy Leidesplein area is a couple of minutes'
walk with tons of interesting people-watching in the outdoor cafes and
lots of great restaurants nearby.
KKelly <kkelly@city.niagarafalls.on.ca>
Niagara Falls, Ont Cda 06/24/99
The best place to stay is the Tree House in Gruenau, Austria. It has
been by far the best place we have stayed. The staff is very friendly
and helpful. It is located in the mountains so there are many things to
do. The rooms are clean and the meals are great. And it is not very expensive.
Adam <adosocho@aol.com>
Ft. Worth, TX USA 06/22/99
The Castle Rock in Edinburgh, Scotland is incredible. Not only do you wake up every morning to a stunning view of the famous Edinburgh Castle, but it's only a block away from some of the funkiest cheap pubs in Europe. Most importantly though, these pubs have no "attitude." As a mater of fact, several of them offer "backpacker" specials. Just show your hostel receipt or ISIC and you're enjoying lunch for half off!
The hostel is immaculate, with computers, a pool room, giant kitchen, private shower booths, comfy beds, spacious rooms, a reading room, a smoking room, and a slightly nutty and bohemian staff. Get over the fact that there are a lot of 18-21-year-olds there calling daddy for more money to keep them going, and you'll have a most pleasant and memorable time using that place as home base.
Note: Best bargain for your hostel dollar is to use your credit card
for a reservation. The prices are usually L12.30 per night (about US$24.60,
if you change your money there). But with the favorable exchange rate
I received with my credit card, I got a room for $19.60 a night. And that's
during high season, with the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe Festival exploding
all around you...
Jim Marquez <forZelda@hotmail.com>
los angeles, ca USA 06/21/99
I have to agree, the Clown and Bard in Prague is AWESOME. It has a very clubhouse-ish feel (but you will get some exercise on the stairs!). Everyone socializes in the pub downstairs, which was far enough away from the bed rooms to not be a bother. No lockout either!
I LOVE the The Three Ducks in Paris too. Much for the same reasons. They have a bar and cour yard where you can chill out and chat. Plus it's close to everything.
In Venice I'd advise not staying with the nuns. Although they are sweet, you have to be in by ten, so heaven forbid you catch a boat going the wrong way.
International Student House in Lndon was lovely, but they are unorganized and it's hard to meet people.
Pention Ottaviano in Rome is great, with a wonderful staff and location just down the street from St. Peter's.
In Budapest, Museum House was nice. Closed-off alcoves create a semi-private
room.
Kirsten <hainswka@hotmail.com>
Cincinnati, OH USA 06/18/99
Stay at the Jugendgastehauf Graben (Tel 62644, Fax 65904) in Reutte, Austria.
Frau Reyman, the proprietor, speaks English, and I would highly recommend
the dinner which is low cost and great. Breakfast is included with your
room. Exceptionally clean and if you call ahead early enough you may be
able to get a private double with a private shower. Down the street is
a grocer. Buy your sodas and fruit before going to the castles because
the prices for snacks at the castles are a ripoff. My wife and I enjoyed
Jugendgastehauf Graben so much that we extended our stay from 3 days to
5 days, and our way back to Munich stayed in Ruette again.
Paul Krasa <p.w.krasa@larc.nasa.gov>
Seaford, VA USA 06/15/99
I'm surprised that I don't see anything here about the Clown and Bard
in Prague. In the off-season it is one of the best I've seen. The bar
in front can get noisy, but the rooms are quiet, clean and the washrooms/showers
are positively stylish. That said, I wouldn't go near the place in August
when, I imagine, it's probably more like an Animal House reunion.
Glen Herbert
Toronto, ON Canada 06/10/99
My absolute favorite hostel is The Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Switzerland. The people are so friendly. One gentlman shared his dinner and wine with my friend and I when we got in late one evening. The owners treat you like their children and even had us clean the kitchen, just like home. The atmosphere is relaxing with great conversation with other travelers.
I don't recommend going to Balmer's in Interlaken, Switzerland. I felt
like I was at a frat house. My friend and I could barely spend one night
there and got out ASAP! If you like to hang out with rowdy druken Americans,
Balmer's is the place, but I didn't come to Europe to meet Americans!
Kristin <kvanslou@smumn.edu>
Omaha, NE USA 06/09/99
I second the nomination of the youth hostel in Carcassonne, France as one of the best in Europe. It has one of the best locations I have found for a hostel: in a period building inside the medieval fortified city. Though the town is full of tourists during the day, you can escape them while sunning yourself in the hostel's private courtyard. Then since you are staying within the town walls themselves, you can easily tour the town in the early morning or at the end of the day.
I was taking the train from Toulouse but a train strike caused a major
slowown on the tracks. We rode the train halfway, then continued by bus
to Carcassonne. It was already dark by the time we arrived, and a small
group of us backpackers walked to the hostel together. The walled town
was all lit, perched on the hill. We made our way through the winding
streets to the hostel itself. It was about 10:00 PM, and we must have
looked very tired. I asked, "Avez-vous quatre lits pour ce soir?". We
were very disappointed when the man responded in english, "I'm sorry,
we are completely full." He then waited, and started laughing, "Just kidding!!!"
Graham Nott <gnott@uvic.ca>
Victoria, BC CA 06/03/99
The International Auberge de Jeunesse in Fontaine de Vaucluse is an hour by bus from Avignon in picturesque rural Northern Provence. It's members only and rules are strict: everyone to bed by 11PM and out of the main building from 12-5PM. But the rules are minor compared to the serenity and generosity you'll feel during your experience here. Most guests are European, over 25, and parties here are more of the gathering-around-the-fire-with-wine type. It's only 46F a night with use of a communal kitchen that can also be accessed during the day when the rest of the hostel is closed. This, my favorite, hostel is graciously run and quaintly and quietly situated a ten-minute walk from downtown at Chemin de la Vignasse, 84800 Fontaine de Vaucluse, FRANCE. Tel: 04 90 20 31 65, Fax: 04 90 20 26 20. Web: http://www.fuaj.org/aj/fontaine.
Fontaine itself is touristville from 11-6 every day, but early and late you'll find a typical village. The surrounding area — best navigated by car, but bike (hills!), foot, or hitchhiking all work as well (I used all these during my two-week stay) — is one picturesque hill town after another. Gordes (the most touristy) is about 12K and Isle sur la Sorgue with a wonderful Sunday market, places to rent bicycles, a supermarket, and numerous antique shops is even closer.
If Fontaine isn't far enough off the beaten track, or skiing is more your style, try the Swiss Alps Retreat (also called or "Chateau Martin" ) in Gryon, Switzerland. Getting there is a bit tricky, but when you awake with the Alps out your window and the sound of cow bells in the distance, you'll hope you forget how to get home.
From Geneva/Lausanne take a train bound for Brig and get off at Bex. Transfer to the red cog railway (to take you up those Alps) departing every 1/2 hour; free for Eurail-holders. Get off at Gryon and follow the "Backpacker Hostel" signs to the newly remodeled hostel-style Swiss Chalet. It is best to call to make sure they have room before you make the trip up the mountain, Phone: 024 498 33 21. Cost is 18SF in Winter and 15 in Summer (starting June 1 when they turn off the heat). There are two multi-bedded rooms and three or four double rooms.
The Chalet is owned by Robyn & Bertrant Kohn, a Swiss/Australian couple,
so English is spoken. The Chalet is clean, ecologically friendly, includes
a video libary, and a friendly atmosphere is inevitable in the kitchen
which is shared by owners and guests alike.
<addiekugler@hotmail.com>
CA USA 05/31/99
My top three: 1) Mountain Hostel - Gimmelwald, Switzerland
2) Hiking Sheep Guesthouse - Leysin, Switzerland
3) Stamsund Rorbuer - Stamsund, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Steve <sbstrip@hotmail.com>
Ca USA 05/29/99
3 Ducks Hostel in Paris was a blast...a lot of people to meet and party
with, but still get some rest once the outdoor area closes at around 10.
Americans, Australians and Brits, mostly, but it was a really fun crowd
to meet and go out with, without the constant sales pitch of some other
hostels - Balmer's comes to mind. Definitely recommended.
Mike <hapyhlpr4@hotmail.com>
Pasadena, CA USA 05/28/99
The shiny new hostel, "Brikette," in Positano, Italy (see comment below)
has a beautiful veranda with tables and chairs where you can sit, eat
and enjoy the beautiful cliffside view. Also, a bar for capuccinos and
beers, etc. Anna and Anna are gracious hosts. http://www.starnet.it/brikette/
Johanna Harman <cowardlylion@earthlink.net>
Sausalito, CA USA 05/12/99
I think that the Wicklow Bay Hostel, in Wicklow Town, Ireland is THE best.
www.angelfire.com/on/wicklowbayhostel
Karen <e-karen@angelfire.com>
05/02/99
Frederik's Hostel in Berlin: great staff who know the city and have
been travellers themselves. Kitchen, GREAT showers, nice rooms (everything
from a big dorm to a double luxury room), good location in the city center.
http://www.frederiks.de
Sjoerd Arlman <pantahan@hotmail.com>
The Hague, NL 04/27/99
Our favorite hostel was Balmer's in Interlaken, Switzerland. It is open
all night with lots to do, including cooking food, drinking, movies, internet
access and lots of nice people. It is a great place for young travelers
who want to hang out with mostly Americans. I highly recommend it if that
all sounds good.
Stephanie Krause <stephk@falcon.cc.ukans.edu>
Chicago, IL USA 04/24/99
The Penzance (England) Backpackers is one of the best hostels that I have
come across in my travels. It is very tidy, has a relaxed and friendly
atmosphere and the staff are great. The hostel makes an ideal base to
explore the wonders of the lower Cornwall region as it is cheap and closer
to the sights than most of the other hostels in the area.
Jason Watson <jpw007@hotmail.com>
New Plymouth, NZ 04/18/99
It's been a while since I've been there, but the HI hostel in Florence
is quite beautiful - a converted villa with marble friezes in the main
hall and across several doorways. It is situated on the outskirts of the
city, atop a small hill, which provides beautiful views of the city at
night, and of the adjacent vineyard.
K <kaudette@tiac.net>
Boston, MA USA 04/16/99
My favorite hostel had to be YoHo in Salzburg, Austria. Yes, it's packed
with Australians and Americans, but the place is inexpensive, serves good
& cheap meals, the beer's cheap, it's clean, and the staff are great!
Kris Pfeiffer <kpfeif@execpc.com>
Milwaukee, WI USA 04/15/99
There is only one hostel in Positano and it's new, beautiful, and very
affordable. http://www.starnet.it/brikette/
Cristiana <crimarzano@hotmail.com>
New York, NY USA 04/13/99
Hostels are great in Garmisch, Germany; Insbruck, Austria; Paris (all 3); Berlin; Munich; Nurenburg; and Wurzburg. The one in Prague could use some work.
The only hostels I have had trouble getting into are the ones in America.
They all seem to be full and have reservations for weeks or months...makes
spontaneous travel sort of difficult.
Gabriel <gabriel_army_boy@hotmail.com>
From Tucson, Based in Kentucky, ky USA 04/11/99
In Dusseldorf, Germany I stayed at a nice, clean hostel located at Dusseldorfer
Str. 1 (Tel: 211-557310), right near a bridge which crosses into the city.
One night cost about $22, which included breakfast and great hot showers.
People were friendly in the hostel and in the city itself.
Eugene Markow <ejmarkow@hotmail.com>
Staten Island, NY USA 04/03/99
The nicest hostel I stayed at in all of Europe was Villa Francescatti in Verona, Italy. It is an Italian villa left to the state by its musician/artist owners. Just so wonderful, and nice people. The workers are conscientious objecters from the Italian army!
I was stranded there on New Year's Eve in a snowstorm with people from
everywhere in the world. The hostel threw us all a party with free food
and champagne! As about 40 of us sat around a large table, we each took
a turn to tell our wishes for the new year. I realized that night, we
weren't just foreigners to each other, everyone has the same hopes and
dreams no matter what their race, creed and color. We WERE the World all
in one room together, and happy to be there. I'll never forget that part
of my trip.
Kathie Smith <krosssmith@webtv.net>
Key West, Fl USA 03/17/99
if you are looking for an affordable place to stay in Kusadasi try Hotel
Sammy's Palace. They have affordable rooms and showers ensuite. Take a
look at their website http://abone.superonline.com/~hotelsammyspalace
$4-$12US per person.
USA 03/14/99
A good hostel in Berlin was the Circus hostel. Its right near the Friedricstrasse
S-bahn station, in old East Berlin on Am Zirkus. The staff was friendly
and they spoke good English, the building was new and everthing was very
clean. There was even a computer available for internet and e-mail.
Ndebrita <ndebrita1@aol.com>
new york, ny USA 03/10/99
My brother and I spent many nights in hostels this summer. One of the
best was in Koblenz, Germany, in an old fortress up on the hill with a
gorgeous view of the rivers. It is also an open air museum. They don't
have any English tours but they do have a movie in English that was actually
very interesting. The best part of the stay was the wonderful sunset we
saw over the rivers.
Lindsay
NJ USA 03/04/99
I liked the 3 ducks hostel in Paris. It had a lot of English speakers,
especially Kiwi's and Aussies. Some partying, but they were respectful
late at night. It was in a nice section of Paris, a couple blocks from
the subway, and it was reasonable too.
Roger Rammer <rjrammer@iname.com>
Covington, WA USA 02/25/99
"Burg Stahleck" in Bacharach on the Rhine River in Germany is amazing.
It is a castle that has been turned into a youth hostel. The staff is
super friendly. The breakfast is awesome. The rooms get a little hot in
the summer, not a lot of windows. It is high up on a hill so that you
can sit outside and take in the spectacular view. I got there on the Rhine
River Cruise, which is free with your eurail pass. :)
<mckinley@rohan.sdsu.edu>
San Diego, ca USA 02/23/99
I agree with the two comments so far recommending La Primula Hostel
on Lake Como in Mennagio, Italy, but would like to add that we, a senior
couple, arrived in the midafternoon without a reservation. They went out
of their way to accommodate us. We liked it so well we stayed a second
night and really felt like family by then.
Dorothy <dpv@webtv.net>
Grass Valley, ca USA 02/19/99
The HI hostel in Augsburg, Germany has a number of drawbacks, including
crowded bathrooms and overly exuberant school kids, but breakfast lovers
may be able to ignore the downsides here. Each morning, a bountiful buffet
table is spread with all the fixings — rolls, butter, jam, cheese, wurst,
Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut spread), fruit, muesli, cereal, cream cheese,
espresso coffee, orange juice, and hot chocolate. Whether you're a breakfast
fan or just trying to carbo-load your way cheaply, this hostel puts the
often carefully rationed breakfasts at many German hostels to serious
shame.
Russ Staub <sac48224@saclink.csus.edu>
Galt, CA USA 02/17/99
I have to agree with Maria who commented on London's Holland House.
Very noisy, rooms are huge and you face the inherent threat of pigeons
flocking into the room as soon as you crack a window. Which, by the by,
someone inevitably did, even though there were several LARGE signs stating
that would occur.
CT USA 02/16/99
The hostels in Zermatt and Grindelwald were nice. Watch out for Lucerne,
though! Although that was one of my favorite cities in Switzerland, it
is almost impossible to find the hostel! The Italian city, Lugano has
a beautiful hostel — especially if you are with more than one person and
get a family room! It had its own little kitchenette.
Katy Baur <n9848153@wwu.cc.edu>
Bellingham, wa USA 02/11/99
Strowis is a new, fairly small, & exceptionally good hostel in Utrecht
(an underrated city!). Extremely friendly, welcoming staff; no curfew;
very nice beds and linens; full, all-you-can-eat breakfast spread; and
very reasonable prices (which vary depending on number of beds in your
room and other factors). I felt welcomed, safe, and happy the entire time
I stayed at Strowis; it's by far my favorite. Ask at the VVV office in
the train station and they'll point you toward Strowis (a short walk from
the station).
kala <mondebord@hotmail.com>
NY USA 02/03/99
Avalon House in Dublin is a great way to go — it's a high-end hostel
at a cheap price. Bathrooms and all rooms — singles, doubles, dorms — were
clean. I stayed in a single for about $19US a night. The staff tried to
be friendly, although it was a week before St. Pat's and it was getting
a bit busy. They have the usual cont. breakfast as well as a cafe, reasonably
priced for Dublin. They were putting in an elevator for diabled access
last time I was there. Only complaint was a pack of noisy 20-somethings — but
noisy people can ruin any good hostel. Oh, and it's right in the middle
of Dublin.
Chris <noble@hotmail.com>
St. Louis, MO USA 02/02/99
We have also stayed 3 times at LaPrimula Hostel on Lake Como in Mennagio,
Italy (see below). They serve wonderful meals on the patio with a beautiful
view of the Lago. In the summer they offer a week-long cooking course
that my husband took one year. Or you can buy their cookbook with some
fantastic recipes. Can't wait to go back....
Jean <JeanRDH@aol.com>
St. Paul, MN USA 01/30/99
Spent three weeks in Britain in October and spent more on the air fare than we did on the rest of the trip because we stayed in youth hostels.
By far the best hostel was St. Briavel's Castle near Chepstow. Bit tricky getting there (bus lets you off 2 miles away) but well worth the trip. Spend the money on a taxi if there are several of you. The drivers are very friendly and with three of us travelling from Chepstow the fare was about the same as the bus and we were dropped off at the castle gate. No school kids while we were there and it's a real castle used by King John. The dinners there were excellent. And Chester was FABULOUS! Both places had the best crew — helpful and patient with first-timers. And all for about US$15 per night!
Also liked Stirling (except for the German high school students who
set off the fire alarm at 1 a.m.!) and Salisbury (except the evening meal
which was yucky).
maria <travelmtm@aol.com>
st. louis, mo USA 01/28/99
I stayed in hostels all over Western Europe last fall. I had the best experiences at the independent backpackers' hostels in England. They were a nice change from the institutional dormitory feel of others - especially HI hostels. Hostels in England that were especially clean, comfortable and friendly were the York Backpackers, Stratford-upon-Avon Backpackers, Penzance Backpackers, and the Lake District Backpackers in Windermere.
Highlights from the rest of Europe include the Centro Internationale per la Gioventu in Perugia, Italy (it's the only hostel there, I think, frescoes on the ceiling and a breathtaking view!) and the Jugendhotel Marienherberge in Munich (yes, it's run by nuns and only for women under 26, but it's so clean, spacious and they give you huge pillows and comforters!). I happened to love Balmer's in Interlaken, Switz. Yes, it may be like an American summer camp/frat party, but it was a fun, invigorating change for me, a solo traveler. And I'm not really the party type! Besides, you can go paragliding anywhere, but doing it in the Swiss Alps was one of the highlights of my entire trip! Even if you don't stay at Balmer's, don't miss the Jungfrau region!
In general, I did not like the HI hostels, especially the ones in Germany.
They were all filled with elementary school groups that did nothing but
run down the halls screaming 24 hours a day. But, for the price of most
hostels, they are worth the occasional annoyances!
Sarah Ward <sward@quantumweb.com>
Minneapolis, MN USA 01/24/99
I found the best hostel in Europe to be Frederik's in Berlin. It is
located in the East, and is clean, comfortable, and has great showers!
The staff is really helpful and they really know Berlin. Of course, they
all speak German and English. They will even help you book a bed in the
next city you go to if they knwo of a good place to stay! Frederik's is
located near the Ostbahnhof stop on the S-Bahn on the Str. der Pariser
Kommune. Or you can take the U-Bahn to Weberwiesse. The cost is 22DM for
a dorm bed, and they also have doubles, triples, and quads. I really loved
staying there — it is a new hostel and not listed in any guidebooks.
If you stay there, tell them Meryl sent you! (I stayed for a really long
time!)
Meryl Ibis <mibis73@hotmail.com>
Chicago, IL USA 01/19/99
If there are kinder, more patient human beings on the planet than the
people who work at the Holland Park youth hostel in London, I haven't
met them. Nice hostel, too, in a great park, with a good breakfast. After
five days, leaving felt like leaving home.
Chris <chrisbray@earthlink.net>
Santa Monica, Ca. USA 01/06/99
When you need to relax in Italy, head to Menaggio, on Lake Como, and the
La Primula youth hostel (closed in the winter). It's a family run hostel
with amazing lake views where you can hang out and meet new people. They
have many activities available, or just head to the small public beach
near the hostel. The only people we saw at the beach were from the hostel,
so it was kind of our own private beach. It's a great break for the weary
traveller. You don't find a lot of information on Lake Como in most guidebooks,
so it's not too tourist crazy here.
Sue <scarab8@yahoo.com>
Crystal Lake, IL USA 12/31/98
When visiting Besancon, France, stay at the Centre International de
Sejour. It is a large, low-priced, clean, modern, well-run hostel. it
is very popular, so reservations are helpful, but not required. meals
are available (not cheap), and there is a meeting room with large screen
tv, plus a pub-like lunch/gameroom. The hostel is conveniently located
between Centreville and a suburban piscine, and directly on several bus
lines, as well as across from intermarche, a large, cheap grocery. For
late night munchie attacks, there is a tabac/bakery nearby also. A great
location for that area of France or going into Switzerland or Germany.
carol
ca USA 12/23/98
Some of the places I stayed on my last trip included:
Carcassonne, France: Located in the center of the old Castle Cite. Includes bar, laundry, and breakfast. Some noise for those staying directly above the bar at night, but not too bad.
Nice, France: The IYH here is located on a hill overlooking the town.
If you don't have a car, take the bus, but note that the last one leaves
around 8pm. After that you'll need a taxi. That's okay, because the dining
room stays open until midnight, and there is a beer vending machine for
drinks, or byob. Great view and a good place to meet people. Paris, France: BVJ Foyer Louvre is a nice place that I have stayed at
before. But now they seem a lot more stricter with the rules. No more
drinking in the hostel, amongst others. Still an ideal location a few
blocks from the Paris Metro stop on Rue J.J. Rosseau, between the Louvre
and Les Halles.
Barcelona, Spain: The IYH Montserrat was a great place that looked like
a little Alhambra inside with its moorish tileworks and architectural
features. Very hard to find, because three streets in the area have almost
the exact same name. Exit the Metro Vallcarca on the Avenue Rep. Argentina.
Take the Viaduct Vallcarca over Av. Hospital Militar and follow the road
mostly straight taking the left branch when you come to a Y. At night
they shut the gate and let people buzz in only on the half hour (or later
every hour). Has everything, laundry, vending machines, dining room, etc.
Sintra, Portugul (Near Lisbon): This IYH hostel is very out of the way.
I managed to walk there at night from the train station, but I'd very
much suggest taking a taxi (at least the first time). This place lacks
vending machines and there is nothing nearby, so be sure to pack in any
refreshments/meals you might need. Quiet at night. Has its own entrance
to Pena Park which has a lot of great nature trails and the Pena Palace.
This summer I spent three fantastic nights at the Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald:
comparing hiking adventures, having group singalongs, and sharing fresh
blueberries. A great atmosphere, and full of Rick Steves readers.
Also loved the hostel in Bacharach, on the Rhine. If you've got a Eurailpass,
the Rhine cruise is free, and this is a great stop. The hostel is in a
renovated thirteenth (?) century castle, up on a hill above the town.
It has its own bar, so you can grab beer or local wine and sit out on
the terrace overlooking the river, before retiring to the tower rooms
for the night. Raves for the hostel in Carcassone, France. Built among the four-star
hotels up in the old Cite, it has clean rooms, a decent breakfast and
a small cafe. Nothing like sleeping inside an 800-year-old fortress for
a feeling of security.
I stayed in hostels during almost all of my travels in the UK and continental
Europe. Naturally, the quality depends on the staff and the hostel itself,
but also on the group of guests staying there. The Passage in Brugge was
awesome, and the bar/restaurant downstairs was wonderful. The Aloha Hostel
in Paris was great: very clean, nice bedrooms, though the kitchen is the
size of a postage stamp. In Seville, Hostel Buen Dormir has a wide range
of room sizes, but was fabulously clean, and had a great foyer filled
with birds and plants, as well as a roof patio. One more thing: whether you are religious or not, those Christian hostels
are always a good bet. They are ALWAYS clean, quiet, and very safe. They
usually have curfews, though. The hostels in England are great. Took a trip to the Lake District from
London. We stayed in an abbey that was a hostel, an old mill in a very
pretty residential section near a babbling creek. Edinburgh, Scotland
has 2 decent hostels right in town. Venice has a nice hostel that requires
a ferry ride. It's fun to go from hostel to hostel as the reason for a
trip. I loved Glasgow's independent hostel because I felt safe, everyone was
young and excited to share stories, and the staff was very friendly and
helpful. And they do your laundry (for a small fee)! All of the official Hosteling International hostels I've stayed in have
been excellent values, with plenty of private/semiprivate rooms, and often
in-room showers (but not toilets). Rates are around US $20 per night.
Nicest were the Jacques Brel in Brussels, the Draecke in Ghent and the
Felicien Rops in Namur. Liege has a nice hostel too, but the town is,
well, a bit 'hostel.' The Jugendherberge in Zermatt, Switzerland has views of the Matterhorn,
a helpful staff, a great breakfast buffet, and Swiss specialties like
cheese fondue and raclette at dinner.
The youth hostel in Bacharach along Germany's Rhine is in an actual
castle! Hop on a Rhine cruise to get to Bacharach, then it's a scenic
15-minute climb up 500 stairs to the hostel.
The Passage in Brugge, Belgium has a wonderful staff. The best hostel we stayed at last summer was on the Isle of Skye in Scotland — one
of the cleanest we found, with a wonderful view of the sound. The Arena hostel/budget hotel in Amsterdam is a nice place to stay, convenient
for trams and the metro, with a decent restaurant downstairs. They offer
occasional concerts and cultural events. The only downside is there isn't
much to do in the immediate area at night. The hostel in Zurich, Switzerland (about a mile from the center of town)
was the nicest, cleanest one we've ever stayed in. It's very modern and
the staff was friendly and spoke English. We had a private family room
with our own private bath, storage bins and a table. They served wonderful
food, but there is no guests' kitchen — the only drawback. My vote for best hostel goes to Bru hostel on Inisheer, one of Ireland's
Aran Islands. The family that runs the hostel, B&B and cafe were always
cheerful and helpful, regardless of how busy they were. The rooms are
basic, clean, and comfortable, with excellent showers down the hall. The
hostel and B&B guests blended like family and we all shared huge, delicious
and inexpensive meals in the cafe, not to mention marathon singing sessions
in the nearby pubs. About half the guests were Irish, and they generously
shared information about their country and made all the "foreigners" welcome
as we all fell in love with Inisheer together.
Rick Rohan <rohan@NOSPAM.ghg.net>
Houston, TX USA 12/20/98
Chicago, IL USA 06/02/98
Ann <annbow@cio.net>
Bow, WA USA 06/02/98
Deb Carroll <dcarroll@dlj.com>
Boston, MA USA 06/02/98
Edith Warren
USA 06/02/98
<ddesca01@fiu.edu>
Miami, FL USA 05/26/98
Mike Klein <ssiklein@aol.com>
London, UK 05/24/98
<Monali444@aol.com>
USA - 04/15/98
<CARD3938@aol.com>
USA - 04/15/98
S. Walker <Jhtarheel@aol.com>
USA - 04/15/98
Ron Prater <ThePraters@aol.com>
Nashville, TN USA - 04/15/98
Karen Hutson <Kaphut@aol.com>
USA - 04/15/98