Best (and Worst) European Hostels: 2008
Europe's cheapest beds are in hostels! There are more than 2,000 hostels all over Europe and many are destinations in themselves. You can sleep in a castle (Britain or Germany), on a cutter ship (Stockholm), or in an Alpine chalet (Switzerland). Except in Germany's Bavaria region, most hostels welcome travelers of all ages. English is widely spoken by staff and guests and it can be a great way to meet people from around the world.
Which are your favorite European hostels and why? And which were not so great and why?
- Please don't post questions here. Use our Travelers Helpline.
Favorite/Least Favorite Hostels
I have two favorite youth hostels in Europe, both in Germany. First, the Euro Youth Hotel in Munich is an excellent place, with private rooms available, a very lively bar, internet access, and great breakfast. Although it is pricey but youth hostel standards (Euro 50-60), the extra money is well spent. The second is the hostel in the fortress Ehrenbreitstein in Koblenz. One and only time I spent the night in a fortress. This place has incredible views of das deutsche Eck, where the Rhein meets the Mosel. As for my least favorite hostel, that would be Levir in Prague. It is run by a very odd German named Ludwig, who is alternatively blissfully happy or diabolically insane. The accomodations are terrible and the neighborhood questionable. Avoid this place at all costs.
Rob Staub
Wayne, PA USA Thu 12/18/2008
ROOM IN BARCELONA
HOTEL RESIDENCIA NEUTRAL in Barcelo is endorsed in the book on traveling in Spain but is likely the most grimy of your choices. I changed the TV channel in the lobby late at night in order to catch a few moments of the Olympics ( your room TV is more sympolic than functional, the picture is very poor) only to be scolded by the night receptionist for changing the channel on "his" television. Save this place as a last resort.
DANNY
HOUSTON, TX USA Sun 12/14/2008
GDANSK HOTEL DOM NAUCZYCEILA
GDANSK HOTEL "DOM NAUCZYCIELA" IS CLOSE TO TH3 STREETCAR THAT GETS YOU DOWN TOWN BUT IS SHABBY AND OVERPRICED. I WAS PROVIDED SHEETS BUT HAD TO MAKE MY OWN BED AND THERE IS NO CURTAIN ON THE SHOWER WINDOW THAT LOOKS DOWN ON A CROWDED PARKING LOT. ON MY FINAL DAY I CHECKED OUT BUT LEFT MY LUGGABE IN THE BACK ROOM SO AS TO SEE THE CITY WITH MY HANDS FREE ONLY TO FIND THEY WANTED $5 FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF CHECKING MY BAGS! THIS IS CLEARLY A 1/2 STAR OPERATION.
DANNY
HOUSTON, TEXAS USA Sun 12/14/2008
Barcelona Hostel
The best hostel I stayed in while in Spain was the Itaca Hostel in Barcelona. Clean, funky art on the walls, personal lockers with a key in the room. The lockers were really big too. Staff was friendly and the vibe was mellow. Would recommend to anyone.
Kim
Brooklyn, NY USA Fri 12/12/2008
The best hostel in Europe
Awesome is all I really have to say about Litus Roma. You could fault it for the location however, in that it takes about 40 mins by train/metro to get to the colosseum area. But when you find out how sweet it is to stay right on the beach and have a bottle of wine on a pier while watching the sunset and go skinny-dipping at night, I bet you'll change your mind.
Scott G.
Phoenix, USA Wed 12/03/2008
Old Prague Hostel
Taking Rick's advice from his Eastern Europe guidebook, I booked 3 nights at the Old Prague Hostel in Prague.
I was disappointed from the outset. Upon arriving at the hostel, I was checked in by a kid who was arrogant and sarcastic. I did my best to brush that off, but over the next three days I was given rude stares and made to feel like I didn't belong. Other travelers staying here aren't overly friendly.
The breakfast is terrible. It's a European version of cornflakes with milk and watered down OJ...something similar to TANG, but less sweet. There is nothing else. I found that I'd rather stop somewhere while I was out then eat here.
The beds were perhaps the worst part. The mattress is paper thin and I could feel the wooden slats under me. It made for a really uncomfortable night's sleep.
I don't have high expectations when I stay at a hostel, but I don't know how RS could recommend this place. In the future, I'll stay elsewhere. Perhaps Miss Sophie's. I've heard very good things from fellow travelers.
Tim
Pottstown, PA USA Wed 12/03/2008
Munich Hostel
the best hostel i have stayed in on my travels so far throughout europe was the Euro Youth Hostel in Munich. It has a really great feel to it; we made a lot of friends, the place was clean, the staff was friendly and helpful and the buffet was the best/biggest i've had so far. hope this helps.
oh and the worst hostel so far is the ashfield house in dublin.
nicole
NY USA Wed 11/12/2008
Florence Hostel
Ostella Archi Rossi in Via Faenza was terrific. Excellent location. Clean, spacious rooms, usually quiet 11 pm - 7 am and never was rowdy. Travellers of all ages. Free internet - smaller rooms have computers! Good, cheap dinners available, fridge and microwave, American (large) coin-op washers & dryers. The staff were all friendly and helpful and fluent in English.
Pitzikat
Tel Aviv, Sat 10/25/2008
Bad News in Vernazza!
Beware of "Elisabetta's Rooms" in Vernazza! I had to report her to Hostelworld because when I cancelled one of my two nights with a nine-day notice, she said I had to give her a ten-day notice (it's 24 hrs notification policy!). Then she said I would have to pay another deposit for the one night left, because Hostelworld gets the deposit (not true!). Finally got tired of her trying to shake me down, so I said fuggetaboutit, cancelled the one night remaining and got a better deal in Riomaggiore with Mar-Mar and a hotel real close to the train station in La Spezia. I would never, ever even think of renting from Elisabetta again.
Kathleen Gotto
Colorado Springs, CO USA Mon 10/13/2008
Pension Suzanne-Great hotel
I spent my last holidays in Vienna in Pension Suzanne, a small but great hotel. It is perfectly located next to State Opera building in the city centre. The staff was extremely helpful and I felt at home immediately. Breakfast is included, it's in buffet-style and there is a lot of choice. Furthermore, the room was clean and nice. I had a hard time to leave Vienna and Pension Suzanne.
Francois Guilbeault
Trois-Rievières, Québec CAN Wed 10/08/2008
Youth hostel in northern Spain
we just returned from northern Spain, and REALLY enjoyed a youth hostel at El Pueyo de Jaca (near Jaca) - great staff, good walks nearby. We did have a problem finding the hostels in Spain - the maps often didn't correspond to the realities. We are members of Hostelling International.
Cathy
Secondcreek, WV USA Fri 10/03/2008
valley hostel lauterbrunnen
best hostel was Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen. we had a double room with lots of space, super clean room and bathrooms. you can also cook your own meals, the kitchen is well organized. the staff was very helpful and they also have wi-fi, laundry (5chf) and internet station all that for a good price. lauterbrunnen was a great location.
martine
ottawa, ont canada Tue 09/30/2008
Ljubljana Hostel
Took Rick's recommendation and stayed at Alibi Hostel. Terrible! Bathrooms were never cleaned and smelled. Soap dispensers empty, trash overflowing. Overall hostel very dirty and poorly run. Noisy too as it is located on the main cafe street. There are lots of other good hostel options in Ljubljana.
Katie Rothgery
Chicago, IL USA Sat 09/20/2008
Marco Polo in Budapest
We just got back from Budapest where we stayed at the Marco Polo Hostel. We had a double room, which though spartan, was clean and comfortable. Our reservation did say that breakfast was included but it wasn't. The cost was nominal however and there is an elevator!
Jody Ellis
Portland, OR USA Sat 09/20/2008
Unhappiness in Barcelona hostal
Taking a cue from Rick, we booked a room at Hostal Opera in Barcelona. The room was reasonably cheap for its location and very convenient as a home base. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a less-than-enthusiastic desk clerk who explained, in perfect English, the basics of the hostal, surrounding area attractions, etc. We had asked for directions to a nearby shop that sold stamps and he was able to elaborate where to go.
Over the course of the 5 nights we stayed here, my travel mate developed small, red, itchy bug bites that formed circle and line patterns, indicating a live-in group of bed bugs. When we tried to explain the situation to the very same desk clerk, he played the "I don't know much English" card. He was very rude and blamed everything but the rooms on her outbreak, including the "allergies to the dust that comes after a rain in Spain" and "the cuisine." Considering we had been through much rain and food in the last month of travel in Spain, it was highly unlikely. This particular clerk was very unaccommodating, as were several others we tried to speak to about the situation. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Since they did not take our complaint seriously, I'm sure the bed is still infested.
Plus, there's ants everywhere.
Very unhappy stay.
Kasey
Bothell, WA USA Thu 09/18/2008
Most friendly hostel in Amsterdam
Really friendly hostel. Best welcome I've had from a hostel
The guys working there especially (Yazine) was great and made us feel really welcome. yazine was knowledgable and informative. I'd definately stay here again.
Pierre
Milano, Italia Wed 09/17/2008
Most friendly hostel in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Hostel Cosmos is a Really friendly hostel. Best welcome I've had from a hostel
The guys working at Amsterdam Hostel cosmos especially (Yazine) was great and made us feel really welcome. yazine was knowledgable and informative. I'd definately stay here again.
Friendly regards
Pierre
Pierre
Milano, Italia Wed 09/17/2008
Hostels
Great hostels: Prague - Miss Sophies, Krakow - Mama'a Hostel, Lauterbrunnen - Valley Hostel, Vienna - Wombats, London - Globetrotter, Berlin - , Circus, Edinburgh - Budget Backpackers, Rome - Beehive.
All the above are excellent all very clean, many ammenitites, and friendly staff. Would stay in any of these again and again!
Good Hostels: Athens - Athens's Backpackers, Madrid - Los Amigos
The above are ok, not the greatest but would stay again.
Bad - Amsterdam - Flying Pig (near train station)
Bad will never stay again!
Cora
Vancouver, Canada Tue 09/02/2008
Comment on Nathan's Villa Hostel in Krakow
I recently made a booking at Nathan's Villa Hostel in Krakow due to rave reviews in Rick Steve's and Lonely Planet. In my experience the reviews were misleading and I was disappointed with the hostel. It may suit a young traveller but I found the location and interior presentation of the hostel sub-standard. When I arrived I tried to cancel my booking but this depended on whether the staff could re-let the room which was fair enough. Eventually after a day of waiting and looking for other accommodation in case, with my gear left at the hostel, the room was re-let and I got my money back which was great. The management deserve credit for this. However, when I went to collect my bags, I was criticised for leaving my gear there and for using a shower - which had been offerred to me when I initially arrived and was waiting 2 hrs for the room. I offered to pay for the shower but this wasn't required which was good. When I went to collect my large bag alone, I left my daypack at reception and one member of staff was jearing at me. I came back and the bag had been kicked around and trodden on and a clothe items out of a plastic bag kicked across the room. I was shocked and left very quickly. At my next hotel I found every bottle and tube in the toiletry bag and other make up completely broken including a solid bottle of deodorant which can be very difficult to break. This has been very inconvenient and costly for the rest of my trip. I was shocked to have my things treated so badly by a very juvenile member of staff.
I do acknowledge that when I was waiting for the room for the first 2 hours of arriving the morning staff were very informative and helpful to guests' queries but I would not recommend this hostel to anyone over 20-25 who expects professional standards.
However, I would very highly recommend Mama's Hostel, Krakow Hostel on the square and particularly Globetrotters Guesthouse - particularly if you can negotiate a good rate.
Robyn Floyd
Ponsonby, Akl USA Thu 08/28/2008
hostel recommendations
I traveled for three weeks this summer staying exclusively in hostels and can recommend these: St. Goar very nice,, Bacharach a castle!, Cochem beautiful facility, Baden Baden not crowded, Rothenberg charming medieval bldg., Salzburg lively, lots of services, Montreux beautiful modern place, Nice, cheerful spot, and Amboise really cheap, located on an island.
Beware: Gimmelwald Mountain Hostel if you want to share a bathroom with 50 people and Brive, France, weird unhelpful clerk at the desk.
Gail
Santa Monica, CA USA Wed 08/27/2008
Hostel Elf, Prague
Hello,
After buying a Eurail pass with a friend during a semester abroad we traveled from Munich to Prague and lots of places in between, it was fabulous!! I would recommend it to anyone. All of the hostels we stayed at were wonderful until we arrived at our second hostel in the city of Prague, Hostel Elf. We thought the hostel would be OK since it came recommended in Rick Steves' most recent guide to Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It was however, the worst hostel we stayed in! It was not clean, very noisy, the lockers provided for belongings were not secure and the staff spent their shifts getting high on the veranda outside. DO NOT STAY AT HOSTEL ELF IN PRAGUE!!! By far the better hostel in Prague and probably the best of out of the 10 or so hostels we stayed in during our trip was Sir Toby's hostel. It is slightly out of the city center but near to some very good restaurants, secure, has friendly staff, comfortable, clean and safe rooms and beds and one of the best breakfasts for $5 that you will find anywhere with organic coffee, homemade pancakes, fresh fruit, sweet tea, and other delicious items!
I am a big fan of Rick Steves' guides and have used them on all of my travels....but Hostel Elf does NOT belong in them!!
Mona
St. Paul, WI USA Wed 08/20/2008
Ferme de Tayac is a MUST
B&B Ferme de Tayac is an absolute MUST for everyone visiting the Dordogne in the South West France.
We spent 6 nights here and would highly recommend it.
Ferme de Tayac is not just your average B&B, it is by far the best accommodation we have ever stayed.
Large rooms, former monks quarters with walls 3 feet thick, huge comfortable beds, excellent breakfast,lovely settings with large pool, and lots more, but the most important, are the hosts Suzanne and Mike, who make you feel at home, and make Ferme de Tayac a very special place.
Their website is www.fermedetayac.com
Brian and Fiona Hermes
Vancouver, BC Canada Sat 08/09/2008
Prague Hostel
Miss Sohpie's in Prague is very nice. The beds are so comfy and everyone gets their own new, clean bathroom. There are big drawers to put all of your stuff in and lock away while you are out and they roll under your bed which is good for keeping your room tidy. The price is right, too. Right across from the hostel there is a fun Mexican Restaurant if you are too tired to walk a long distance on your first night in. They have a website: www.miss-sophies.com
Laura
Edmonds, WA USA Thu 08/07/2008
Worst - Hostel Celica, Ljubjana
WORST - Hostel Celica in Ljubljana was TERRIBLY NOISY with drunk partiers all night long. I slept 2 hours and woke up at 5:30am to vomit in two sinks and a man passed out on the hallway floor. Quiet hours were not enforced even after numerous complaints.
Ellen Taylor
Lowell, AR USA Tue 08/05/2008
Greenhead
The hostel in Greenhead England. Situated in a lovely area near Hadrian's Wall.
Steve
Big Eagle, KY USA Fri 08/01/2008
MIJE hostel - Paris
We stayed in a great hostel in Paris in the Marais District very close to the St. Paul metro station stop. It was recommended to us by many RS travelers so thanks to all of you. The hostel was very clean and we had a private room with 4 bunks and 2 showers and 2 sinks for 29 euro per person. Toilet down the hall but, again, very clean. A French breakfast was included (BREAD, coffee and juice). It is not a party hostel and is used by school groups for school trips. Therefore, nice and quiet by 10:00 PM but the children gather in the courtyard by 8:00 AM and are a little noisy. Beware: check in isn't until 3:00 PM and the hostel is closed from 12:00 - 3:00 PM AND there is a curfew which we missed but were finally allowed in by the security guard. Our fault, though. We missed the rule that you can sign a sign out sheet if you are going to return later than 1:00 AM. Loved the hostel and the area-very convenient! Also, you can't book until 45 days before your arrival. Highly recommend it!!
Laurie
Minneapolis, MN USA Wed 07/30/2008
Hostels in Edinburgh and London
I loved Castle Rock Hostel in Edinburgh Scotland. While it may not be spotless (the longer term backpackers pitch in with cleaning and spotlessness seems to translate differently in other languages), the cleanliness does fit hostel standards. The staff are very helpful and there are many perks, such as discounted tickets to events and a free tour of the city included in the stay. Also the location (next to the Castle on the Royal mile) cannot be beat.
Also, Pickwick Hall in London is also a great hostel. The owner Patrick goes beyond the bounds of common courtesy to make sure that your stay is as wonderful as possible. The location is also perfect: it is in the heart of London on Bedford Place, but is just off the main street in a residential neighborhood so it is very quiet. Russell square is one street over as well is the tube.
TC
Portland, OR USA Tue 07/29/2008
Hostal Gonzalo , Madrid
Thank you, Rick, for your recommendation of the Hostal Gonzalo in Madrid. It was very clean, well run and extremely well located for my purposes. I was in Madrid to see art. I'm over 60 and could easily walk to the museum triangle (El Prado, the Thyssen, the Reina Sofia). I was by myself and always felt safe and secure in the hostal and the surrounding neighborhood. Antonio was very helpful and accomadating. My stay at the Hostal Gonzalo was crucial to the success of my stay in Madrid. I recommend it highly to others.
Linda
Aptos, Ca. USA Sat 07/19/2008
Restaurant Bahnhoff - Kleine Scheidegg Switzerland
Was great! Friendly staff, very clean and we felt very safe there. The dinner was wonderful, although the breakfast lacked a bit and was served in the sun room (where there were LOTS of flies). We pretty much had the entire 3rd floor to ourselves. Would definitely go back+
Elizabeth
Raleigh, USANC Tue 07/15/2008
Hotel Roseraie
I cannot say enough about how wonderful of an experience we had at the Hotel Roseraei in Chenonceaux, France.
We stayed in the flat which had three beds in one room and a queen size bed in the other room, which was ideal for our family of four. The flat also had a large family/living room and a large bath. The flat was beautifully decorated as well as being comfortable. The grounds of the hotel are absolutely beautiful with flowers and fauna throughout the gardens. There is also a good size pool which was terrific for our two children ages 10 and 8.
The elegance of the hotel is only exceeded by the gracious owners Sophie and Laurent. They made the stay for us. Friendly, attentive, courteous, warm, and a sense of humor! They also provided the meals which were fantastic. Tremendous croissants and bread for breakfast. The dinners were fabulous as well. Breakfast and dinner are not included in the price of the room and each is worth every penny.
The Hotel Roseraie is the best hotel experience we've had anywhere and it receives our highest recommendation!!!
Richard Kobylka
Kirkland, WA USA Thu 07/10/2008
Hotel Nerva
We got the name of the Hotel Nerva from Rick Steves Italy guidebook. It is a wonderful little hotel in a great location (next to Trajan's market) and very close to the Colosseum and Forum. It is an easy walk to the Pantheon, Victor Emmanuel monument, etc. The room was clean, comfortable, and quiet. We had excellent (included) breakfasts in the AM and the staff (owner, daughter, son and son-in-law were extremely friendly and helpful - spoke fluent English.
We would highly recommend this hotel.
JNGGY
Indianapolis, Usa USA Mon 07/07/2008
Nimes hostel (HI)
I highly recommend checking out the hostel in Nimes (southern france.) personally i didnt want to go till some australians really recommended it to me. take the I (i) bus from the station and get off at the bottom of the mountain, the driver will know where to stop if you ask (ou e le ober june esse.) you have to walk up hill, but when you get there you will be greeted by really friendly staff and some free water. ask andy about his pet pig!
Dave
Toronto, CAN Sat 07/05/2008
my best and worst list (so far)
Ive just reached austria and am staying witha friend (best hostel yet!)
but ive had a fair share of ups and downs.
lets start with the worst so you can cancel if you need to: Barcelona - the seaview hostel- rude staff are the worst thing here, paranoid, mean, and innatentive. the hostel may be beside on of the beaches, but its the bbarceloneta beach, one composed of what appears to be vacuum cleaner dust. the hostels open door policy at night (no security whatsoever) and regimented security at night (to the point i couldnt get it, even with my hostel card because i looked sketchy...yes i was sober..and clean shaven)
that was worse, only by a fraction of an inch to the s. monica hostel in Florence. DO NOT STAY HERE! the staff is nice enough considering there is no locks on the doors, the lockers only fit locks that one can be broken easily, and two if you turn them, the locker opens regardless. the room i stayed in had not only no a\c, but no windows save a foot by foot hole facing a wall ten feet up. no air in a ten person room, with no security. great. you do get free internet, and there is a watermelon lemon drink i got out of a dispenser there that was very tasty, but thats about it.
the best ones ive stayed in were : Nimes (HI) - mountain top hostel Paris - the young and happy hostel (great rooms, relaxed helpful staff and chill location) Cinque terra - cinque terra holidays - more like an apartment rental, as the city has yet to fully conform to the tourist influx. but very nice.
San Sebastien has the best hostel i have stayed in so far in "the urban house hostel". great relaxed aussie staff have fun events planned, and are real hardened travellers thamselves. more of a community feeling with goos siyed rooms nice amount of space. i loved the city so much more because of this place. absolutely wonderful!
Puck
New York, NY USA Sat 07/05/2008
Florence, great service at Gallo !
Following a good friend tip we arrived at Gallo d'Oro Hostel in Florence, cheap, clean and great people running this little hostel. Max & Silvia have a smile for you everytime you need. If you need a little bit of "Family style" during your trip stay there, you will enjoy much more the city ! Thanks guys
ryan
Seattle, WA USA Tue 07/01/2008
Bacharach and Saltzberg
My friend and I had a great time at the hostel in Bacharach, Germany. Its built into an old castle above the town and overlooks the Rhine river. You can find the listing in Rick Steve's guidebooks and on an episode of his show.
Another great place was the International Youth Hotel in Saltzberg. We met a lot of great people there, the facilities were very nice, the bar stays open late into the night, they organize a lot of tours there and have information on anything you'd wanna see or do around Saltzberg. Again you can find the listing in Rick's Germany/Austria guidebook.
Austin Franke
Chandler, AZ USA Wed 06/25/2008
Madrid
The Hostal Marasca in Madrid is excellent. Highly recommended.
J. Sinclair
Vallejo, CA USA Thu 06/19/2008
INEXPENSIVE PRAGUE APARTMENT IN OLD TOWN
Great place to stay in,great last min prices,free wifi connection, free brekkie, close to the
airport shuttle, shopping, historical centre, trams/metro,
restaurants...Perfect.
www.platantour.cz
Cristina
Cristina
Zurich, Switzerland Wed 06/18/2008
AFFITACAMERE GHEGA, Trieste, Italy
I can't recommend this place enough. (located at Via Ghega, 3-34132 Trieste, Tel 340/7042896)at $26 Euro a night(as of october 07)clean,and centrally located, it's a great deal. But best of all was the owner, Sergio Mauri. I was in town for a job, and had not been warned that my first weekend in town was the famous annual regatta. Every room and bed in town was booked at double the normal rates. My would-be employer (I didn't take the job, don't know why) refused to help me find a couch or a floor. When I mentioned this to Sergio, he let me keep the same room through the regatta weekend AT THE EVERYDAY PRICE! There were two or three beds in my room and he could have made a lot more money on it that weekend. A truly good man. We also had many excellent conversations about politics, music,(he is a huge jazz fan), and the general insanity of the human race. I would've been sleeping on the street if he hadn't helped me. Grazie mille Sergio.
Joe Pachinko
Oakland, CA USA Mon 06/16/2008
The St. Christopher's in Amsterdam!
I love the St. Christopher's at The Winston in Amsterdam. The rooms are weirdly spectactular and designed by local artists. It's bookable by most of the big hostel sites like http://www.hostelworld.com and http://www.europeanhostels.com
Henry Victor
Clyde, OH USA Wed 06/11/2008
Hostels: Madrid, Paris, Munich
In Madrid, my friend and I stayed in the Albergue Juvenil Madrid, near the Tribunal Metro Station. The staff was friendly, the free walking tour leaving from the hostel was excellent, and all the rooms were clean and relatively quiet.
In Paris, we stayed in St. Christopher's Paris. Although not as centrally located as I would have liked, it wasn't too far out, and the hostel itself was unbeatable. The room we stayed in had amazing riverside views, and although the rooms had ten people in each, the curtains and underneath-the-bed lockers made it feel private and secure. It's close to two Metro stations and a number of delis and bakeries. It's an excellent place to meet people, and I'd highly recommend it.
In Munich, we stayed in the Euro Youth Hostel. Centrally located, a minute's walk from the main Hauptbanhof station for connections to rail and the S-Bahn/airport, and with an excellent bar (serving good Bavarian beer), as well as a number of small, 3-4 bed rooms for an excellent price.
I booked all of these through Hostelworld.com; simply sorting the search results by rating gave us quite a good set of reservations.
Nick
Salt Lake City, UT USA Thu 05/29/2008
Ulisse Deluxe Hotel - Sorrento
Recommend Ulisse Deluxe Hotel in Sorrento, Italy to anyone. Rooms are great! Staff was friendly and helpful. Breakfast buffet was good. Location is just above Marina Grande and below the hospital. My wife and I recently stayed there for a week and found the place better than hotels costing me twice as much.
DBW
Columbia, MD USA Sun 05/18/2008
Hotel in Paris
Just want to let everyone know that we had a great stay at the Hotel Michelet Odeon when we were in Paris last week. The front desk guys were very helpful in finding out open hours of sites, and "steering" us away from bad cabbies. The rooms are clean and comfy and the location is great!
Beth
New Lisbon, WI USA Sun 05/11/2008
Oasis backpacker's Mansion
I absolutely have to second the praise of Oasis Backpaker's Mansion. I stayed at one in Sevilla and another in Lisbon, and both were absolutely wonderful. Clean without loosing character, great friendly atmosphere, and lots of tours/nightly activities going on. They even give you a sheet of top things to do/ where to eat at the one in Lisbon. And the 5 euro homemade dinners- with dessert- cannot be beat. Sadly this chain only exists in the iberian peninsula.
Sarah
Leonardtown, MD USA Wed 05/07/2008
Rome Hostel
Alessandro Palace Hostel, Rome Italy
We had read both good and bad reviews of this place, but I can tell you that we had a wonderful time and everything is walking distance! It is quite close to the train station as well! The staff is friendly and there was a wide range of ages staying there my travel buddy is 30 and I am 28 and we stayed is a six bed mixed dorm room and ended up hanging out with the people who were also staying in our room. Note, there is limited locker space and we had to just trust our roommates, but nothing was stolen and the hostel has a good security system that keeps most people honest.
Kristy
Tacoma, WA USA Wed 05/07/2008
Ring Hostel on Ischia, Italy.
Ring Hostel on Ischia is outstanding! I've met some of the greatest friends of my life here. Very relaxed atmosphere, but a party at the same time. One of my best Europe experiences to date. I booked three nights here originally and I've already been here for a week.
Ricky
Colorado Springs, CO USA Wed 04/30/2008
Intee's Inn
Intee's Inn Hostel (hostel.fw.hu) in Budapest was really cool experience for us to stay. They rent out private rooms and smaller apartments downtown Budapest. We stayed in a building we would call at home a palace. We had a spacious bedroom overlooking a square with some cafes and restaurants and all the sights of the city were really close to us. The team, who runs it is made up by a few young Hungarians, who were extremely friendly and they really made their best to make us happy.
Clerk
Calenter, AUS Mon 04/28/2008
Europa Hotel, Sliema, Malta - YUCK!
I stayed at the Europa Hotel in Malta. Talk about unprofessional...The rooms were dingy and poorly furnished and nothing like the pics on the website, the windows didn't close properly, and the staff just didn't seem to care. It's only redeeming feature was it's location, but then there are plenty of other - better! - options in Sliema.
http://www.europahotel-malta.com/
Victoria
Madison, WI USA Wed 04/23/2008
Florence Hostel
Kimberly:
I stayed in Hostel Veronique in Florence a few days ago (also in a 3-female group) and I can't sing enough praises! The owner was kind and accomodating, the price was excellent, and the location was unbeatable. The Mercato Nuovo was at the doorstep, and Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and the Uffizi Gallery were all only a few walking minutes away. Though I know the price changes depending on the day of the week, you should definitely check it out if you want a quiet and comfortable place to stay. We felt like we were in a hotel instead of a hostel!
Tanya
TX USA Tue 04/22/2008
Danyhouse B&B in Florence
Kimberly: I would highly recommend the DanyHouse B&B (Via Bolognese 8) for your stay in Florence. It's run by a family of very friendly Italians, one of whom occasionally gives piano concerts in the living room. It's affordable, very clean, and the rooms have three beds. It's about a 15-20 minute walk from the train station and 5-10 minutes from the Duomo and the center of Florence.
Nick
Salt Lake City, UT USA Thu 04/17/2008
London/Barcelona/Florence Hostel Recommendations?
Does anyone have any recommendations for hostels in London, Barcelona, or Florence?
We are a group of 3 young women looking for a clean place to stay. Thank you!
Kimberly
Boston, MA USA Mon 04/07/2008
Swiss and German Hostels
Last May my husband and I spent 10 days in Switzerland and Munich. We stayed in hostels the whole time.
Munich - Euro Youth Hostel, very nice, clean, extremely convenient, they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.
Lucerne - Hotel Alpha, this was the most beautiful hostel we stayed at, the room was beautifully made and we had a nice view out of the window. The staff was friendly and recommended a great restaurant. It is fairly close to the downtown area and very safe. We will definitely stay here again.
Interlaken - Happy Inn Lodge, this was also a very nice hostel right downtown in Interlaken. We had a big room with large windows and a nice view.
Bern - Youth Hostel Bern, this was the worst hostel we stayed at. There were all sorts of extra charges when we got there and they wanted a large deposit for the key or to hold on to our passports which was out of the question. The room was so tiny that the two of us could barely fit and there were small bunkbeds instead of a double bed like we expected. I don't know if there are any other hostels in Bern, but I would have definitely stayed in a hotel and spent more money if I did it again.
Tanya
Roanoke, VA USA Sat 04/05/2008
Cotswolds
May I have recommendations for inexpensive places to stay in the Cotswolds.
Charlene
Summersville, WV USA Sat 04/05/2008
alpenhof hostel switzerland
We spent a few days at the charming old Alpenhof in Stechelberg village, a very cozy friendly house away from the usual tourist circus.Super clean, with a great kitchen for guests,Diana & Mark were awesome,we forgot our towels in Florence but they gave us some of theirs,& also lent us sledges to use.
Super huge breakfast with great yoghurt.
Bron & Paul Terry
Austin, TX USA Sun 03/30/2008
Best hostel in Florence
After staying in various hostels in Rome, Venice and Siena, I was happy and excited to find this hostel. It is a friendly and vibrant place to call home while you stay in Florence and is located near the main train station as well as the main square and market. Cheap beds, homemade breakfast, free internet, free lockers and no curfew make it a convenient destination. Carla lives here and runs the hostel and loves to cook sumptuous Italian food. I would only suggest this place for young and adventurous crowds who are looking for a lively and fun place to stay. By far the best I have been to!
Via Faenza 56, Florence, 50123, Italy
Albergo Paola
Florence, USA Fri 03/14/2008
Ulisse Deluxe Hostel in Sorrento
Ulisse Deluxe Hostel in Sorrento is not a hostel it is a extremely nice hotel at hostel prices. Paid 46 euro total for a huge double with bathroom and tub in February. They have a huge lobby, wi-fi, and a Spa. Better than most European hotels I stayed at and was cheaper.
Kaiser
Macon, GA USA Sat 03/01/2008
Ruthensteiner (Vienna)
I second David's endorsement of Hostel Ruthensteiner in Vienna. The common space is comfortable and well-supplied with musical instruments (guitars, a ukulele, and a piano at last count). There is a kitchen with an eclectic mix of pots and dishes, as well as a nice little courtyard. The staff were extremely knowledgable and friendly. Its proximity to Westbahnhof is convenient if you need to catch the airport bus in the early morning when the trains aren't running.
Leila
Mon 02/25/2008
Hostel in Istanbul
The Cordial House in Istanbul is cheap , nice, and close to the tram and attractions. Also it is on a street with great Kebab houses.
Patrick Dennis
Tunis, TN Tunisia Fri 02/22/2008
Hostel Ruthensteiner
Great Hostel in Vienna
My wife and I stayed here in May 2006 and had a wonderful time. We were able to get a double room, small but clean. I returned in April 2007 by myself and got a bed in the dorm room. Clean, quiet and comfortable.They have a polite and helpful staff, lots of gathering space, a kitchen to use and laundry facilities.
David
Phoenixville, PA USA Mon 02/18/2008
Rome/Paris Hostels
Here are 2 places that I stayed in that I really enjoyed. Rome: the Beehive (the-beehive.com). They also have apts that I think may be on the shadier side of the block...but I loved this little place and felt quite safe. Stayed one night in the dorm room and the rest in the private room. That was the way to go.
In Paris, I completely lucked out and found the greatest cheap hotel. It was right by the Eiffel tower on a market street - just LOVED it: hotel-leveque.com. You will thank me!
Leslie
Dallas, Tx USA Tue 02/05/2008
Great Hostel in Paris
On our recent trip to Paris we stayed at Le Hotel Bearnais. It is located in Montmartre very near the Sacre Coeur. It was only euro55 a night and well worth it. Very friendly staff, small fridge in room, market next door, etc. Great place to practice your French as the staff does not speak much English, but certainly not a problem. By the way, Montmartre is known as a dangerous area, but I don't know why, my wife and I walked from the Metro station around midnight, and we did not feel in the least danger, and found many of the "thuggish" looking folks helpful and polite, unlike the fashonistas elsewhere who had no time for tourists. The guys selling bracelets at the Sacre Coeur can be pushy, though.
Matthew N
Bay View, WI USA Thu 01/31/2008
Youth and Family Guesthouse, Salzburg
Hard beds, old, dirty and under construction, the place feels like an institution. People running up and down the creaking floored hallways & paper thin walls keep you up at night. They nickle and dime you for every service (including towels even though I paid for an ensuite shower) and tell you to "stay at home next time" if you complain.
A masocist's fantasy camp.
Bill Moore
Washington, DC USA Thu 01/17/2008
Great hostels in Spain
When I was touring Spain, I found some great Hostels. The Melting Pot in Tarifa at the very southern tip of Spain was very colorful and lively. However, the very best hostel that I have ever stayed in was the Oasis Backpackers hostel. They had activities everyday and optional excursions that were so much fun. The atmosphere there was also extremely friendly.
Jaime Williams
Albertville, AL USA Thu 01/17/2008
Hotel Recommendation in Budapest
Another recommendation... it is a hotel (sorry!) We had a such a wonderful stay at Szonyi Hotel in Budapest that I have to recommend it. It is a *** hotel, but we got a great deal. Usually I avoid the restaurant in the hotel, but the restaurant at the Szony is fantastic - awesome service and great food. The only downside is that the hotel isn't right near downtown. You have to walk 10 minutes to the underground and then go downtown... not a big deal to us.
Ann
Bratislava, Slovakia Mon 01/14/2008
Hostel Recommendation in Bergamo, Italy
In Bergamo, Italy we stayed at a very nice hostel for euro 35/night. It is Nuovo Ostello di Bergamo. The breakfast was a bit thin - bread, jam, yogurt, juice and coffee/tea - but given the price was acceptable. The hostel was clean and quiet.
Ann Root
Bratislava, Slovakia Thu 01/10/2008
Best (and Worst) European Hostels
In the fall of 2005, my husband, adult daughter and myself stayed in the Prague Hostel Unitas (Art Prison). At the present time, I believe it is closed for renovation. It was interesting staying in a former prison. We slept in an actual prison cell. The rooms were clean, we had a quad to ourselves. The breakfast was very good. The bathrooms could have used a face lift, and were fairly clean. The people at the desk were very helpful, it was in a great location, and the price was reasonable. We were able to store our luggage both the day we arrived (7:00 AM) and again on the day we left before we took the overnight train to Munich.
Sue Pipping
Wyoming, MI USA Thu 01/03/2008