Best European Hostels: 2000
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?
Here's what you thought in 2000:
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.) The "official" youth hostel in Venice 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Perth, West Australia 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 in Stockholm 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.
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
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
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
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
St. Louis, MO USA 06/18/00
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
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.
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 V.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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;
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Joe Johannson
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
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
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
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
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
West Hartford, CT/Hayward, CA, USA 01/10/00