Best European Hostels: 2002
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 2002:
Gullivers House in Rome
Gullivers House Hostel in Rome was excellent! Very homey, clean and great
central location. Simon and Sarah, the owners, were fantastic and truly
added to our Roman Holiday. Simon provided a helpfull map of Rome with recomended
sites. We stayed in the private room and felt as though we were in a top
rated hotel. Couldn't imagine going back to Rome without staying at GH.
Lee
Chicago, IL USA 12/20/02
Paris Hostel
I spent a week at the Aloha Hostel in Paris in early September. They have
helpful staff, and the baguette & capuccino breakfast was quite good. On
the negative side, the mattresses were flimsy, and I noticed that some roommates
didn't use linens at all, even on the pillows. It was noisy from the in-house
bar until 2 AM, which is great for the under-30 crowd. The showers were
quite dirty after many morning bathers, and I learned to shower at 5 PM
when the hostel re-opened. It was a five minute walk from the Metro. It
was very difficult to find this hostel when I first arrived.
rondo <email>
Cleveland, OH USA 12/14/02
Avoid Casa Olmata in Rome
My stay at Casa Olmata (from Oct 18 ~ Oct. 22) turned out to be a nightmare.
Despite 96 Euro per night that I paid with 3 of my friends, we were provided
with shaky bunk beds and filthy mattress with poor support, which causes
back pain and neck pain on a few of us. The condition in the bathroom was
unacceptable, with poor drainage system, water was accumulated on the floor,
which made the bathroom dangerously slippery. What's more was that there
was no hot water supply on the night of Oct.20, 2002. Me and my friend called
the office several times to complain about this on that night but the issue
was not fixed until the next day. We ended up not able to shower for 1 night.
The shuttle service from the hostel to the airport was another terrible
experience. He reserved and paid in advance for the shuttle service. The
shuttle was supposed to pick him up at 5:00 am but didn't show up at all.
He ended up getting a taxi to the airport and had to shell out another 100
Euro to switch to another flight for being late to the airport. We also
hired the shuttle service to the airport, however, even we paid 35 Euro,
instead of having a real shuttle taking us to the airport, the hostel owner
used her extremely old and flimsy car to take us to the airport. The car
was very small, which could only barely fit our luggage, we had to cram
in back seat with 2 hand carry luggage throughout the 40 mins ride to the
airport.
Eddie <email>
San Mateo, CA USA 11/21/02
Kerouac Hostel/B&B in Rome
We recently stayed at the Kerouac "B&B" in Rome. This is basically a hostel
with private rooms, not a B&B. They ask on their website, "Where else can
you find such a good combination of Italian hospitality and Dutch efficiency?"
Unfortunately, we only saw the efficient, Dutch side of it. It's the little
things that make a difference: why, with wonderful Italian bakeries all
over Rome, would a "B&B" serve a plastic-wrapped croissant, corn flakes,
and Tang? Not much personality in this place. If you are looking for a fairly
reasonably priced (though not cheap), centrally located, clean place to
sleep, stay here. If you want to stay somewhere with a friendly atmosphere,
some hospitality, and an Italian "experience," stay somewhere else. In short,
the place is sterile, you battle for the bathroom in the morning, and you
end up eating breakfast somewhere else anyway (on your own dime).
Gordon <email>
Jurbise, Belgium 11/04/02
England, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Czech
Republic
International Student House (London): Great
hostel, in a good location (near Regent's Park). No curfew or lockout.
They have a cafeteria, free movies, a gym, a bar (you get vouchers for
2 for 1 drinks) and a helpful reception. Be sure to call ahead, though.
Most people here are students in London, who rent rooms for their school
term.
La Maison Hostel (Paris): Ok hostel, good neighborhood. There's a supermarket across the street and a fruit stand near the Metro that can add to their free, but uninspiring roll and cocoa breakfast. The 2:00 curfew was annoying, but people (guests and staff) were friendly, which is always good in Paris.
HI Mare Du Montserrat (Barcelona): As others have pointed out, this one is really nice. It's in a beautiful old mansion, with Moorish designs. There's not really a curfew, as they open the gates every half hour all night long. However, do know that you will still have to get up early for lockout and you will have to walk up a mountain from the Metro to get there. As an old Catalan man told us, as we struggled to find the place, there are two directions in Barcelona: "Way Mountain and Way Sea." This place is definitely "Way Mountain." The view from the gardens is nice, though.
HI Mont Alban (Nice): The view out the window of my room in Nice was even nicer than in Barcelona. This hostel is on a hill overlooking the city and the sunset over the water was beautiful. While I could see where hostels closer to the beach would be more convenient (you have to take the bus to the HI), the atmosphere here is friendly and laid back. There's good breakfast (muesli and yogurt) and they'll wash you clothes for a small fee. The showers, though, may be the grittiest in Europe.
Roberto Fazioli (Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre): This isn't a hostel, but the name of a man who rents out rooms in houses. We shared a house with six other travelers, and while it was a little cozy (two of the beds were in the kitchen and two were in the dining room), we had a great time. The window in the room looked right out over the ocean. Something about Cinque Terre inspires backpackers to cook excellent Italian meals that rival the ones in the restaurants, to go on long hikes together, and to drink yummy wine late into the night.
HI Villa Camerata (Florence): Others have said that they liked this hostel. It's a beautiful old villa (though the layout reminded my friend of a mental institution). With an early curfew and the frequent bus strikes in Florence, it can be pretty inconvenient. The rolls there are the hardest in Europe and the spaghetti supper tastes like Chef Boyardee. If you do stay there, a better place to eat is the Trattoria near the bus stop (excellent and reasonably priced porcini pasta). Also, it's in a little forested area, so go prepared as you would for camp (i.e. take bug spray, LOTS).
HI Venice (Venice): This place is OK, though it was probably my least favorite hostel we stayed in. It's on Guidecca (ie. not the main island). San Marco is close by boat, but it probably would be better just to stay on the main island. Men and women are separated and there are lots of noisy school kids. The rooms have about 16 beds, with sliding doors in between every 4-6 beds. The lights go off on their own at curfew. Seemed rather patronizing. Yucky bathrooms with water and grit everywhere.
HI Wolishoffen (Zurich): Good hostel, only a short tram ride from downtown. The rooms are clean and neat, and breakfast is great. There's orange juice, muesli, three kinds of yogurt, cereal, bread, cheese, etc. No lockout, no curfew. Friendly staff.
Arpacay Hostel (Prague): Nice hostel with free internet access and good breakfast. Hardly any of the Prague hostels have a curfew or lockout, same thing here. The furniture is brand new (which made our room feel like a guest room in someone's house) and there's an outside porch overlooking the city. We actually felt like we had the place to ourselves, as there were not many rooms. The staff spoke English and were super helpful. The only drawback is the location. It's ok, but it seems like it would be easier to be in the old city, like many of the hostels are.
U Maleho Vitka (Cesky Krumlov): This was the best hostel I've been to in Europe. The rooms are large comfortable and cheap, with private bathrooms. It's in a good location, right near the river, and there is a cafe downstairs. All of the rooms are named after characters in a Czech folktale, which seems dorky, but was actually sort of neat. They also work with people who rent bikes and rafts, so they can help you set up your outdoor adventures.
Imperial Hostel (Prague): We actually didn't stay
here because STA travel screwed up our reservation. It looked really stylish
and fun, though. And the desk clerk was a lifesaver. She made a quick
phone call in Czech and had us reservations two blocks from the town square.
Then she invited us to a concert and got us front row seats for student
prices! Hope this helps!
CAW
Columbus, OH USA 10/20/02
Italian Hostels
I recently returned from a three week vacation in Italy, stayed in four
different hostels.
Rome: Hostel Alessandro Palace. This is only a few minutes' walk from the Termini train station. The common bathrooms are co-ed, and the dormrooms may or may not be sex-distinct. The "Palace" designation is a mystery to me, but overall I found this hostel satisfactory. The showers had hot water, although the toilets could have been better cleaned. Breakfast (two rolls, jam, juice) is included. A laundromat is just around the corner. Over eight nights, I was only awoken once by noise.
Venice: The HI hostel on Guidecca was very good. The dormrooms and bathrooms are sex-distinct, and in fact men and women are entirely separated from each other. While two girls complained to me about cold water in the women's showers, I must say that the men's showers were fine. Breakfast (roll with capuccino) is included. The dormrooms are large but can be divided by interior doors. I ate supper there almost every night: a two course meal, plus alcohol, cost about ten euros. It was completely satisfactory. The hostel is non-smoking (much appreciated).
Florence: Hostel Santa Monica. This is about a fifteen minute walk from the train station. The dormrooms and bathrooms are separated according to sex. Overall, very satisfactory.
Sorrento: Hostel Le Sirene. A few minutes' walk
from the train station. The dormrooms are co-ed, and the residents of
the room share one bathroom. I was in a room of eight people, and it was
rather cramped, but we were all polite to one another, and patiently waited
for the bathroom to become available. The shower would quickly flood the
bathroom floor, so you had to run the water in bursts. One bad thing was
that while the room could be locked, there were no individual lockers
for the residents.
DAG <email>
USA 10/20/02
Irish Hostels
Kinlay House hostels in Ireland. Although the staff is nice and helpful
regarding touring sites the rooms are filthy. Absolutely disgusting. The
Belfast International Hostel is clean and the staff are superior but be
forewarned that the 'troubles' come right to your doorstep and they are
LOUD not to mention disturbing. The Globetrotter's in Dublin is the best
but be very sure that you have reservations as they are always full. It's
the best breakfast as well. Please remember when traveling in Ireland sometimes
small B&B' are just a little more than a hostel and can be hundred times
more pleasant.
Cai <email>
Vermillion, SD USA 10/20/02
The best ever Dublin hostel.
After my 6 week long trip i have to say that my fav hostel was in Dublin.
It is called Globetrotters and is at 46 Gardiner Street. I just sort of
stumbled onto it. It seems to be recently renovated, very tasteful and upscale
feeling. the bunks are a dream to sleep in and each bed has a well designed
individual light that doesn't disturb anyone while still being bright enough
to read with. They also have lockable storage drawers below the bunks as
well as coat hangers and well placed shelving. Breakfast is a huge buffet
event with eggs, toast, sausage, beans, fruit, cereals, whatever you want.
The dining room is super nice as well. Bonus: the public bus that goes to
the airport stops right in front. Amazing service: When I had to leave by
6 am to fly out, the staff members had some breakfast ready for me.
Adriana <email>
Vancouver, BC CANADA 10/15/02
Best European Hostels
In a recent self-guided September tour of Scandinavia, I stayed in IYHA/HI
hostels.
In Copenhagen, the Bellahoj was crowded and noisy, the Amager was better. I rented a bike from Hoved (Central Train Station) and rode to Amager, which, though one of the biggest, is isolated and not so easy to reach by bus.
The hostel in Helsingor, Denmark is delightful and has its own beach (it was formerly called the Moltke Villa).
Of several HI hostels in Gothenberg, Sweden, I liked the Stigbergsliden best. It was cosy & historic, although the Slottsskogen ( near a huge park and botanical gardens) was very clean and does a superb breakfast. — they even provided soft-boiled eggs, which are not easy to get.
The Tangen hostel in Kristiansand, Norway was also very nice and close to a sandy beach in town.
I did not make any reservations and only the Masthuggsterrassen in Gothenberg was full when I arrived (midday).
My overall impression of all the hostels I visited
was very good. All were clean, efficient, with good breakfasts, and I
got a good night's sleep in all except Bellahoj.
Graham Cooper <email>
Chesterfield, Derbyshire UK 10/06/02
Hostels Rome, Florence & Verona
I stayed at the Starlight Hostel in Rome. Very close to train station. Small & clean (cleaned everyday). You can use the kitchen, and the room I stayed
in had it's own fridge. They tried to move me to a different place after
my first nite, but I insisted that since I booked this 2 months in advance,
I was not moving. Grocery store at train station is handy.
In Florence I stayed at the 7 Santi Hostel. This again is very clean, and a somewhat easy bus ride from train station. It's in a good neighborhood about 30 minutes walk from tourist sites. The staff are very helpful. I suggest braving the bus again and save your feet (just ask my feet!)
In Verona I stayed at the Casa Della Giovane, which
is a convent/hostel just for women. It was cheap, but the worst place
I stayed in. I was not happy with these accommodations. It was partly
due to who I was rooming with, but the bed sagged a bit and was not very
comfortable. I was booked to stay 3 nights but only stayed 2.
Kelly <email>
Winnipeg, MB Canada 10/05/02
Amsterdam/ Prague/Berlin
Stay away from the Hostel Elf in Prague, the name pretty much says it all,
but it is dirty, smoky, and mattress are actually old plaid couch cushions.
Not as close to the train station as they claim.
In Amsterdam, Euphemia Budget Hotel is exactly that, kind of dark, steep stairs and somewhat dirty.
Pension Knesebeck in Berlin in awesome! Pretty
close to the Zoo train station, great people, great breakfast, big rooms,
and very clean. Not expensive either.
Maritn
Portland, USA 09/30/02
I spent the summer traveling europe with a friend, and we had the greatest luck with hostels. Some of them were so comfy, we didn't want to leave!!!
Chalet Martin in Gryon, Switzerland was cosy, the beds were FANTASTIC. You're in the Alps in a Swiss chalet....what more do you need??? 20 Euros is worth it and it's very safe.
Fattorio Bassetto in Certaldo, Italy was in a great location in the hills of Tuscany. Great staff; 1 hr from Florence, and a great place to come back to at the end of a long day. Hammocks and a POOL in the summer. Huge kitchen area to cook and meet people.
The Pink Palace in Corfu, Greece was fun. the food isnt the greatest, but for the price you pay for B class rooms, which are right on the beach, it more than makes up for the food. the bar is fun, always people around, and the scenery is BEAUTIFUL!!!!
In Bruges (Brugge), you can find bed and breakfasts that charge the same as most hostels and you get a private room and a good breakfast. Awesome!
The only negative comment: the White Tulip in Amsterdam. It's a new hostel over a bar, in the red light district. WAY overpriced for a 10 person dorm. Book ahead for Amsterdam and don't stay at the White Tulip. (The showers are ghastly!)
Papa Germano in Rome isn't that bad a place. It's
more like a hotel, in a decent location near the train station. Someone
said they didn't have a kitchen and the owner yelled at him when he complained,
but their flier doesnt say they have a kitchen! it's a hotel/hostel. I
found the owner very pleasant and helpful as we both arrived sick. There
is a very cheap, very good chinese food place right across the street.
JENN
mississauga, canada 09/16/02
Valley Hostel — Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
My husband and I had a pleasant stay at the Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen,
Switzerland. Super clean, caring staff, and a diverse crowd — we bunked
with an American, an Australian, an Argentinian, and an Austrian. Lots of
Korean travellers were staying here, too. Where else can you be lulled to
sleep by the thundering of 72 waterfalls in the distance?
Monique <email>
Boston, MA USA 09/10/02
Great Hostels in the UK
My son (19) and I just spent 2 weeks in the UK. In order to save some money
we tried some hostels — a first for me. Since we were over there for hiking
and backpacking it was a natural. Our advice:
Wales-Pen Y Pass Hostel (HI) in Snowdonia was superb! Immaculately clean located on a mountain pass at the trail head for various routes up Snowdon. Food was delicious (among the best we had on the entire trip).
England Lake District — The HI hostel in Ambleside has a million dollar location on a lake on the south edge of town. Highly recommended.
Glastonbury-the Backpacker's Hostel was the cheapest
place we stayed the entire trip (10 quid a head). Glastonbury is the new
age and "hippie" capital of Britain. A raucous pub is on the first floor.
Not HI standards but very interesting, probably not for the "prissy". If
you have lots of piercing you will fit in. We had no problems, recommmended
for the adventurous.
Jeff <email>
Lock Haven, PA USA 09/09/02
Hosteling with teens
I took my boys 13 and 15 hosteling in Europe this summer. I went exclusively
for family rooms since I felt they were too young to be thrown into men's
dorms. The series of hostel books by Paul Karr and Martha Coombs proved
to be terrific in their ratings and descriptions. In most cases, we were
able to get family rooms with private baths — a nice bonus! And total prices
ranged from $35/night to a high of $75 in Geneva. My guys made friends with
everyone from a clown from Winnepeg to a professional rugby player from
Australia. A great experience. I'd recommend the following hostels without
reservation for anyone traveling with kids around the same ages:
Beaulieu sur Dordogne, France — Auberge de Jeunesse. Beautiful 14th century house directly on the Dordogne. Brand new bath in room, very clean and friendly. A fascinating town without tourists.
Jugendherberge Geneva GE — Geneva. Couple of blocks from the Lake, 10 minute walk from station. Large room with very clean bath. Internet (big hit with teens). Very large facility but friendly and competent.
Menaggio, Italy — Ostello La Primula. Probably our favorite. Right on Lake Como, fabulous views, very friendly staff. Good dinners, bar with patio overlooking lake (important for parents of teens).
Jugendherberge Lindau — Lindau, Germany. Great facility in a wonderful town. Everyone is very friendly in the whole town. Room was large. No private bath but very clean facilities. Lots of school kids — lots. Wonderful swimming center directly across street with water slide etc. in case of rain.
Rothenburg Ob der Tauber Hostel, Rothenberg, Germany. Amazing 500 year old mill turned hostel right in the walled city. Excellent room with bath. Best breakfast on trip.
Jugendherberge Stahleck, Bacharach, Germany. 12th century castle on a hill overlooking the Rhine with beautiful rooms and fine views. Good meals, good bar (tame, quiet place to retreat with book). They did screw up our reservation but helped us get another place when we had to leave a day early.
Mainz Guest House and Hotel, Mainz, Germany. Great
rooms (all with privatebath) and the only place where a chef brought our
dinner to our table — and it was really good. Lots of stuff (including
playroom) for small kids. Pleasant location but far from city center.
Located next to beautiful parks.
Deirdre Searles <email>
USA 09/08/02
Paris — Three Ducks Hostel
While in Paris by myself and feeling a bit rattled, as Air France had lost
my backpack (but found it 2 hours later), I was pleasantly surprised with
the hospitality I encountered at the Three Ducks Hostel. It is located about
10 minutes away from the Metro (cannot remember exact Metro stop, but is
on Hostels.com). This hostel's rooms are very old stables nicely redone.
The showers are located outside, but are about a 10 foot walk. The staff
is very friendly. The beer in their pub is the cheapest in the city, also!!
I was by myself, but met a girl from Australia who was also by herself,
and together, we climbed the Eiffel Tower, as well as visited other places
together. Three Ducks Hostel — HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! P.S. They do not accept
credit cards....traveler's checks come in handy here.
Erica <email>
Granite Bay, CA USA 09/03/02
Switzerland and Italy
I just got back from 3 weeks and Europe. My favorite hostel was the Mountain
Hostel in Gimmelwald. I had stayed there 8 years ago and was concerned that
Gimmelwald had become too popular. It was not crowded with tourists at all.
The hostel was great and the improvements that have been made, indoor showers
and a new kitchen, only made it better. I also met the best group of people
there. The other great hostel was Fattorio Bassetto in Certaldo, Italy.
It was a great setting and I also met a lot of nice people there.
Jeff <email>
Miami Beach, FL USA 08/27/02
Side trip from Copenhagen
If you're in Copenhagen, Denmark or Helsingborg, Sweden, you should take
the train or ferry, respectively, to Helsingor and stay at the Vanderhejm
Youth Hostel. It's literally on the beach, it's very clean and peaceful.
The town itself is tiny but genuine, and it provides a break from the hordes
of tourists in Copenhagen. Plus, Kronberg ("Hamlet's castle) is a sight
to be seen. You won't believe you're only paying 100 kroners (about $13
to $14 US) to stay here!
Wendy
San Diego, CA USA 08/23/02
Galway, Ireland
There is a fab hostel in Portumna, Galway, Ireland called The Old Schoolhouse.
It is situated on a lake and the bedrooms and recreation rooms are like
a country house. Check it out.
Ann Connolly <email>
Dublin, Ireland 08/16/02
sleep arrangements/Germany
Zimmer des Westens Berlin (on the Kudamm across the street from Kadewe and
about 3 floors up. Very nice lady runs it. German tourists only when we
were there. Cheap, clean, cool experience. No English/Cash only. I found
them on the Berlin home page of the Internet.
Rosemary <email>
Minneapoils, MN USA 08/15/02
Hostels
Good places — Ciarus in Strasbourg was the best hostel I have ever seen.
clean, with a very helpful and friendly hostess, Amelia and the beds had
nice little comforters. Ask for a private room, only 21 Euro each and worth
it.
The Sleep Well Hostel in Bruxelles was also quite nice, with cleaner showers and room, plus nice little comforters. You can get a student discount also and for a private room it is cheaper than most where you share a huge room.
OK — The Camden Hostel in London was fine but the breakfast stank. Stay away from smokers and apparently, it is in not such a nice part of town. It was Ģ24 a night, so a cheaper place may be found.
Bad — The Aloha hostel is Paris was rude and had inept hosts. Do not make a reservation online through hostel world.com because they each like to blame each other for extra charges. It had a decent kitchen and breakfast but I didn't like the place at all and we were over-charged.
In Brugges, do not stay at Snuffel Sleep-in. They charge extra for the lamest breakfast, have a rickety, scary old staircase and rooms that interconnect for what has got to be a fire hazard. Plus only one bathroom and it was nasty.
The worst was Ostella Santa
Monaca in Florence — they kick you out by 9:30 a.m. and one lady is absolutely
the rudest I have ever encountered, barking out orders to get out when
you still have twenty minutes. They make you get up so early but don't
turn off the lights until past 12:30 and I didn't sleep well at all there.
Very noisy and not that clean or great. No reason to stay there.
Deborah Frazee <email>
Tumwater, WA USA 08/15/02
Hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland
Most defineately GO to Balmer's Herberge in Interlaken! They offer adventure
tours right at the front so you can sign up for skydiving, canyoning, ice
climbing, paragliding...you name it, they've got it!! The staff is great
and the place is like summer camp. Loads of great people and the bar/club
beneath the hostel is good times as well. Make sure you go to Interlaken,
the place is mind blowing!!
E
San Diego, CA USA 08/10/02
Cinque Terre Hostel
I just got back from a month in Europe. The Ostello Cinque Terre Hostel
in Manarola, Italy is awesome! Clean. Some of the best food I ate on this
trip (and I did eat some good food) was had right there at the hostel.
Stephanie
Southern California, USA 08/05/02
Switzerland Hostel
Go to the Bern Backpacker Hostel in Bern, Switzerland. Very nice staff,
clean, very clean. Easy access, right near all the shopping and great restaurants,
but a bit pricey: $30 SwissFrancs. That's still not bad in Euros (maybe
about $24). Loved it. Felt at home. Even has a real cappucino machine, one
working computer for internet, elevator, big lounge area, reading room (well-equipped),
well-equipped kitchen. Good view. Nice place to relax and rejuvenate for
more sightseeing in your next city.
Andrea <email>
Boulder, CO USA 08/01/02
Italy Hostels
Italy Hostels: Stayed at Yellow Hostel in Rome. Not bad. Not as dirty as
someone below said. It can be a party place, but only in the lounge area.
It was quiet enough for even a light sleeper. Internet worked, but keyboards
a bit sticky. Some staff members were nice, The owner, Marco, not so nice.
In Florence, Ostello Santa Monaco was o.k. The staff could have been a bit
more helpful, but they weren't rude. No actual kitchen, big lounge area,
cheap vending machines with good bottled H2O ($.40) and espresso/cappucino
($.40).
WARNING: Stay away from Papa Germano Hostel near train station in Rome.
I reserved 3 nights there, discovered no kitchen, stairs only and I was
on 5th floor, and worst of all, when I decided to check out I ended up
getting yelled at by the owner because I told him the place was not what
I was expecting. I didn't want to say any more than that and he kept pressuring
me and seemed like he cared, then BAM, he just lays into me. Don't believe
the web site (Hostelworld.com has been informed) Save your money and frustration
and go to Yellow Hostel, or Bee Hive, or Gulliver's House.
Andrea <email>
Boulder, CO USA 08/01/02
Great places to stay in Amsterdam
A great place to stay while in Amsterdam is the Anna Youth hostel. It's
inexpensive, central, and the staff is very friendly. If you speak any Polish
you are in for a treat because the two ladies that work there are Polish.
After carrying on a small conversation with them, they told us about a private
apartment. There were three of us, and we stayed in a private apartment
for $85 a day! Great place to stay!
Chris <email>
Dallas, TX USA 07/27/02
City of London Hostel
I recently stayed 11 nights in the City of London hostel. It's located a
few strides away from St. Paul's cathedral. Overall, I found the hostel
very satisfactory: relatively clean, completely safe, quiet at night. Most
mornings the shower had hot water, although there were a couple mornings
when the water was cold. The included breakfast was typical English: heavy
on the calories and cholesterol, with a fascist lady refusing people to
have the fruit with the yogurt — it had to be one or the other. Aside from
the breakfast nazi, I found the staff very friendly and helpful. I bought
a key lock for my locker and a towel, which was way overpriced. The hostel
is located in the City, which is completely dead during weekends. It was
really nice to walk back to the hostel each night and see St. Paul's brilliantly
lit facade greeting me. The hostel has a non-smoking common room with a
tv with almost no reception and two computers with web access. At 24 GBP
it was a tad expensive for a Canadian budget traveller, but overall I give
the hostel high marks for a satisfying stay.
David A. Gaspar <email>
Toronto, ON CAN 07/27/02
Worth the trek in Innsbruck
If you're headed to Innsbruck,Austria, head a few kilometers out of town
to the sleepy town of Mutters to stay at the Haus Wolf. You have to take
a tram up Mutters (the STB), but the breathtaking views, hiking trails,
and warm hospitality (and bread) of Kathe Wolf are well worth it. It's only
$13.50 a night for a private room in her 4-story home, there's no curfew,
and she makes fresh bread with liverwurst and Austrian cheeses in the morning.
The Innsbruck tourist info wants to keep tourism within Innsbruck itself,
so they might suggest an in-town hostel to you instead, but trust me....
take the road less traveled!
Wendy
Encinitas, CA USA 07/24/02
Friends Hostel... a level of hell
i just want to reiterate the warning to STAY AWAY FROM THE FRIENDS HOSTEL
IN PARIS! i don't know what friends they are referring to, but after some
harrowing experiences there, they're certainly no friends of mine.
i can deal with a little grit, but come on! my friend got her purse snipped
by that nasty metro station. and every icky, lecherous man in Paris seems
to be standing right outside the hostel at all times to leer at young
female travelers. and yes, there is a bar inside the hostel. and yes,
i blame this bar for the explosive vomiting that happened in the middle
of the night in my room by an already horribly reeking male room-mate.
"friends" hostel is possibly one of the levels of hell. but then, Montemartre
is very close, and that's pretty cool. no. i still have to give it a rating
of "nearly unredeemable."
laurel <email>
baltimore, MD USA 07/04/02
Best Hostel
The best hostel we stayed at throughout Europe was the amazing Gulliver's
House in Rome. The place feels like home and the owner is the nicest, most
helpful man. We had an amazing experience at Gulliver's House. Their website
is gullivershouse.com and their e-mail address is reservations@gullivershouse.com
Stacie Dennard <email>
Dallas, TX USA 07/04/02
Avoid Casa Olmata in Rome
Do not stay at Casa Olmata when in Rome! The staff is absolutely horrible
and will yell at you for no apparent reason. Actually, when we first checked
in, the people running the place were not there and they left the cleaners
in charge, who mind you didn't speak a word of English! They took our passports
and gave us the key to our room without saying a single word! Our room was
on the 3rd floor which didn't even have a shower, only a small "closet" with a toilet in it. There were only 2 showers on the 4th floor and one
on the 1st floor in the entire hostel, which were absolutely disgusting.
Don't be fooled by the website advertising a great roof-top terrace with
outstanding views of the Coloseum. You can barely walk on the roof due to
several aluminum sheets laid loosely on the floor, and all you can see of
the Coloseum is the absolute very top if you're lucky. Free movie night?
Not when I was there. Free use of internet? Sure, if it only worked. They
also advertised free transportation to an all-you-can-eat pizza restaurant
but when the time came to meet in the lobby for the ride, there wasn't one!
Please avoid this hostel, there are plently more in Rome that far surpass
Casa Olmata in all aspects.
Tina Geraci <email>
Toronto, USA 06/23/02
Avoid YELLOW HOSTEL in ROME
This hostel was in an inconvenient location, the staff wasn't very friendly,
the bathrooms were dirty and at the time we were there (October '01) several
people, including one of us, got bed bugs. It also seemed to be quite a
party place. Also, you had to pay for all your nights up front. We tried
for Beehive and Colors but there were no rooms available.
Catherine <email>
Portland, OR USA 06/18/02
Great Hostel in London
After staying there for 6 nights we highly recommend the Hampstead Heath
Hostel, in London. It is located in a quiet neighborhood, a 15 minute walk
from the Golders Green Tube Station. A "family room" cost 47 Pounds, and
included breakfast. It was clean and usually quiet, although one night there
was an invasion of French teenagers — about 90 of them, and it was a late
night for all of us. Two Internet accessible computers, a cafeteria that
was open all day (including a 5 pound dinner every night), self serve kitchen
and a laundry were included onsite. Very helpful desk staff and no lock-out
made this our favorite hostel in England.
Kate T <email>
Eureka, CA USA 06/10/02
hostel in Paris, Brugges
I give a big thumbs up to Aloha Hostel in Paris. Easy to get to the Metro;
friendly, safe, clean. I'd go back in a minute. In Brugges, Belgium we stayed
at Bauhaus. We had a triple, and the in-room bathroom had a broken seat.
Plus, you couldn't really close the door without hitting your knees, it
was so small. However, it was quiet, clean (although musty-smelling) and
we got two good nights' sleep.
Fred Berger <email>
Remington, IN USA 06/05/02
Good & Bad Places to Stay Antwerp, London, and Lauterbrunnen
Stay far, far away from the New International Youth Hostel in Antwerp. It
is an absolute dump in a sketchy neighborhood. A great place to stay in
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland is the Valley Hostel (www.valleyhostel.ch). It
is very nice and clean, great kitchen and rooms. Great London Hotel: Luna
Simone Hotel (www.lunasimone.com) close to Vic Station — super staff, clean
and quiet.
Amy <email>
Memphis, TN USA 05/31/02
Sevilla Hostal and
Paris Hostel
I just spent 10 nights at the Hostal Guadalquivir in Sevilla, Spain, and
now I think I may be spoiled for hostels. We had a double for 28 ¬,
which split between two people, is cheaper than most dorm-style hostels.
The place was super clean, with a maid that actually makes your bed every
day. They provided cleans towels and sheets.
Also, I agree 100% with the
comments on the Friends hostel in Paris. It is in the most horrible area
I have seen in Paris. From 8am until night, there are hundreds of men
just standing around, trying to sell you things, like gold chains and
phonecards, etc. Every woman in the area is subjected to catcalls, creeeepy
stares, ect. Then there is the hostel itself. If you aren't lucky enough
to get a bunkbed, you are put on a cot. That's not the bad part. If you
are on a cot, they wake you up at 8:30am and take your cot away!!! I cannot
even fathom why they do this. It wasn't just a one-time thing either.
I was there for 9 days and it happened every single day to whatever sap
got stuck on a cot. Stay clear of the Friend's hostel in Paris, and if
you are a woman, stay clear of the Barbes-Rochechouart Metro stop...
el Jefe <email>
Milwaukee, WI USA 05/28/02
Italian Hostels
Venice, HI Hostel on Giudecca Island: rooms crowded and
loud; showers cold; friendly & helpful staff; have to take vaporetto to
get there but the ride is very scenic at any time of day or night, and the
vaporettos come often.
Florence, HI Hostel: gorgeous building; have to take bus to get there but bus is convenient, runs frequently, and is easy to catch from downtown area; long walk up driveway from bus stop; beautiful grounds.
Pompeii, HI Hostel: brand new buildings with very nice, comfortable beds that didn't squeak when you turned over; can walk from train station if you like or take the #4 bus (walk can be long with luggage); worst "breakfast" of any hostel I stayed in (no butter or jam to go with the roll).
Salerno, HI hostel: worst hostel I have ever seen — dirty; long walk from bus stop through neighborhood that was scary after dark; people had a party in the hall until 3 a.m. with full volume talking, laughing, music etc. and nothing was done to stop it — do NOT be dumb like me and stay here!
Agropoli (Paestum), HI hostel: 7 km from Paestum site; very quiet and relaxing; owner helpful and friendly; short walk from beach; have to flag down bus to get there or they will not stop even if you're standing at a marked stop; not much to do in Agropoli but very good if you just want to relax.
Rome, Gulliver's House: Great! Owners very helpful and friendly (gave me a great map of Rome and highlighted walking routes, places to see, etc.); very cute & friendly Maltese dogs; great location (10-minute walk from everything); bad points: no breakfast, no Internet, bathrooms a little cramped, still I would stay there again in a second.
Rome, Casa Olmata Hostel: lots of stairs in very old building (my room
was 6 flights up); good location; only 4 beds in my room; incredible view
from rooftop terrace; advertised Internet access but it wasn't working
when I was there; had a free spaghetti dinner and packed me a breakfast
to go when I left early in the morning (best hostel breakfast I had —
jelly roll PLUS a nectarine, luxury!)
Christie <email>
NY USA 05/13/02
Top Hostels in Itlay
I just returned from 2 months in Europe (1 month in Italy). My main criteria
for hostels was that they had to be in a convenient location (e.g. near
the main train station) and they had to be clean. In addition to the above,
what made these stand out was their friendly and helpful staff and they
tended to be smaller. Here are my top four favorites.
The Beehive (in Rome) was hands-down the best hostel! Clean rooms and extremely helpful staff. Steve and Linda (owners) proved a simple guidebook of recommendations in Rome that was more helpful than my thick official guidebook. It definitely made Rome more manageable. http://www.the-beehive.com/info.htm
Villa Olmo Youth Hostel (Lake Como/near Milan) Cozy lakeside hostelhttp://www.hostels-aig.org/shop-uk/como.htm
Ulisse Youth Hostel (in Taormina, Sicily) http://www.hostels-aig.org/shop-uk/ taormina.htm
Casa Gerotto (in Venice) http://www.casagerotto.com/index2casa.html
I would recommend booking these hostels as early as possible.
phine28 <email>
CA USA 05/03/02
Berlin Hostel
I really like the Odyssey Hostel in Berlin. The rooms are new, modern and
clean, there is no lock out and they serve a breakfast buffet until 1pm!
They also have an affordable restaurant and bar where you can meet other
travelers. The hostel is located near Warshauer Str. just off the main east/west
S-bahn line, so getting around is never a problem.
Nickyboy <email>
USA 04/30/02
Rome Hostel
Hostel Casanova www.hostelcasanova.com Great litte place. Only 3 big rooms,
2 bathrooms, kitchen, MTV (and other tv channels), internet, and breakfast.
Nicest staff and lots of help finding other hostels in Italy and Europe.
Near Vatican.
Stephanie <email>
USA 04/26/02
Interlaken Winter Delight
My husband, three children ages 5-12, and I have stayed at the Backpackers
Villa Sonnenhof. Interlaken, Switzerland for our second time now. We are
headed back on another sledging trip over Christmas break and have made
our reservations again with the ever-so-cordial staff. We do all reservations
by email/on their website (in English) and they are very quick to respond
to a question via email. Why is it so wonderful? The rooms are impeccably
clean. The staff is friendly, accommodating, kid-friendly and they all speak
beautiful English. The hostel is centrally located in a good neighborhood,
and ample parking on site was always available. The atmosphere is serene
inside, very conducive to families who have kids with 8 PM bedtimes...no
thumping floor from the nightclub downstairs...there IS no night club here!
:-) The staff was quick to help advise us on the cheapest train tickets
for sledging as well as good not-so-expensive places to eat. They offer
Internet access as well as a hearty breakfast that even my kids would eat.
We haven't stayed in any other hostels in Interlaken...and if all remains
the same, we never will. If it ain't broke...
Mia Checkley <email>
Spangdahlem, RP Germany 04/19/02
Stay Away from the Friends hostel in Paris!
When in Paris, stay away from the Friends Hostel! They have a nice, well
spoken gentleman that watches at the Gare Du Nord for backpackers that come
out of the Chunnel and he talks up this place, advertising that the Friends
hostel has beds for 16 euros and shows you a brochure showing a bunch of
lovely and clean looking rooms with bunk beds. Then you get to the dirty
little hostel and the amount for beds is actually 18.50. And they will tell
you straight out that they lie on the brochure to attract people.
The bathroom with the shower has no door. So you get to go inside the TINY little shower, pull the curtain and awkwardly get undressed inside the cramped little space, drape your clothing over the bar (which will then promptly get all wet )and shower with just a little curtain and about six feet worth of space separating you from the people walking back and forth down the hallway. Then you get to dry off inside the shower with your wet towel, and put your wet clothes back on so you can walk back to your room. (unless for some reason you brought a big enough towel to walk around in. and if you arent backpacking then you wouldnt be staying in this crappy place anyway.)
On top of this, The
Friends is located in the crappiest, seediest part of Paris and has within
it a bar which stays going loud and strong all night long. (i felt like
i was back in college with in the dorm with a bunch of obnoxious boys) Plus
the hallways are all uncarpeted and echo-y so the noise from the bar echoes
down the hall and is unignorable even with earplugs. This place sucks.
Crystal <email>
Seattle, WA USA 04/16/02
Cinque Terre Hostel
Just returned from Italy. The Ostello 5 Hostel in Manarola(cinqueterre.net/ostello/)
is great. It was clean, friendly, well managed and organized. They provide
good meals at a low price. My family liked the pasta better than the expensive
Marina Piccolo restaurant on the waterfront. The only caveat, as with a
lot of the Cinque Terre, is the hike to the top of the town where the Hostel
is. It is very steep and not for the out of shape. It also gets crowded
so reserve in advance.
Brian <email>
Pompano Beach, FL USA 04/14/02
BAD London Hostel Experience
Do not stay at the Astor Hyde Park Hostel! My room (private) had rat poison
all over the floor, rat traps in the corner, dirty (b.o. and feet smelling)
blankets and dirty showers. They have a nightclub downstairs that stays
open until 4:00 a.m. every day. It's great, unless you want to go to sleep
before 4:00 a.m.! The floor, bed and window vibrate because the music is
so loud. They have doors in the hallways (and in my case in front of the
room) that slam all night long. The staff was nice, but not very helpful
or clean.
Audrey <email>
San Francisco, ca USA 04/12/02
Hostel in Amsterdam
The Bulldog budget hotel in Amsterdam was great. My friend and I stayed
in a private room which was very clean and quiet at night. The showers and
bathroom were cleaned daily and breakfast was a selection of breads, cereals,
meats and juices with coffee and milk. The staff was friendly and very helpful.
Book early as they tend to fill up fast.
Audrey <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 04/12/02
hostels in europe
The hostel in Rome, Alessandro Palace, was excellent. Very clean facilities
and extremely helpful and friendly staff. Balmers in Interlaken was the
same, very homey atmosphere and cool people. Ca'Venezia in Venice was not
good. There was no lock on the door and the shower flooded plus there was
no heat! Young and Happy in Paris was awful! Extremely rude staff, dirty
showers and bathrooms and scary looking blankets. They were so rude, cancelled
my reservation and all. La Maison is a much better choice.
Breezy <email>
seattle, wa USA 04/12/02
paris hostel
I would not recommend the Young and Happy Hostel in Paris to anyone. Their
staff is incredibly rude, their breakfast is skimpy and the bathrooms are
very dirty and so are the blankets. They cancelled my reservation and sent
me out alone at 11pm at night to trek across the city. Not a good place
at all!
Breezy
seattle, USA 04/12/02
Rome Hostel
While in Rome I stayed at the Yellow Hostel, which is only a few blocks
from Termini. The neighborhood was nice, with a grocery store and the subway
very close by. The staff was incredibly helpful and fun. We were actually
scheduled to leave on September 12th, but with everything that happened
they were very understanding and let us stay longer. There's free internet,
a kitchen, lockers, and everything is very clean. They also have discounts
for walking tours and they can sign you up. The atmosphere is homey and
friendly.
Jen <email>
Boston, MA USA 03/27/02
Best Hostels
Last summer I took my two teenagers on a 3.5 week trip to Europe. We stayed
at small b&b's, two and three star hotels and several hostels. One of our
most memorable stays was at the La Primula Hostel in Menaggio, Italy. It
was the atmosphere, the food, and the fun things to do in the area that
really "made" this stay for all 3 of us. This is a fairly small hostel and
there was a good mix of young people/single middle age people and families...Beautiful
area.....make sure you rent a bike and explore the area.....if we could
have stayed longer, we would have rented the kayaks to explore the lake.
In second place, I would rate the hostel in Manarola, Italy.......nice clean
rooms.....luckily we were able to get a "family" room......otherwise, my
son would have been split from his sister and I (single sex rooms). The
hostel lockout (at most hostels) is somewhat of a bummer. I wish they had
outdoor lockers or ??? some other way to get back to your pack if you have
forgotten something. That seems to be the only drawback to hostels. Otherwise
they are a great bargain......as long as they are clean!!!!!
nancy <email>
Tucson, AZ USA 03/21/02
Hostels Good and Bad
I spent three months in Western Europe (August-October 2001), and stayed
in a lot of hostels, good and bad. In general, I avoided the HI hostels,
although they were usually clean and efficiently run. Here are my thoughts:
London — International Students House — A large, centrally-located, and very cheap (10 pounds/night) hostel, but the rooms are of varying quality. If you're lucky, you'll get a room with a shower and four or five other people, but you could also get stuck in a large and crowded dorm. Also, there's no common room.
Winchester — HI — A fantastic hostel in an often overlooked city. The hostel is actually a renovated 18th-century mill straddling the river. Incredible atmosphere.
Edinburgh — Belford Hostel — A co-ed hostel in a renovated church. It can get noisy, as the "rooms" are really little more than partitioned cubicles. Still, the staff is friendly and helpful, and there is a fun pub downstairs.
Bruges — Passage — A slightly grungy hostel located above a popular restaurant. Friendly, helpful staff.
Berlin — Clubhouse Hostel — Probably the most centrally-located hostel in Berlin. It can be a bit noisy on weekends, as it is located above a popular nightclub, but the clean, co-ed bedrooms and friendly, sociable atmosphere make it one of my favorites.
Vienna — Wombat's — Clean, modern hostel near the Westbahnhof. Small bar on the main floor.
Rome — Gulliver's House — An excellent, homey place that feels more like an apartment than a hostel. The owners are exceptionally friendly and helpful, as are their small dogs. Clean and small.
Carcasonne — HI — Unbeatable location inside the old city. Clean and spacious.
Paris — Centre International BVJ Paris-Quartier
Latin — Fairly clean, with a great location near Notre Dame Cathedral,
but dull and institutional.
Chris Weber <email>
Edmonton, AB Canada 03/21/02
Hostel Recommendations
Here's a List of the Hostels I stayed in: (rating system 1 to 5 stars...I
traveled alone with first 2 places w/ reservations)
PARIS: Le Auburge International.*** Located in the Marais District.. Good, Cheap, Good location, friendly staff, Breakfast is very basic. Quite young clientele (I'm 33).
AMSTERDAM: Flying Pig Downtown ***** Great place..awesome location, great staff...no need to out out to nightclub/bars cause you've got one in lobby! Breakfast is decent. MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLY.
MURREN (switzerland) Chalet Fontana ***** I got the small single bed on side of house. Denise (house hostess)is a very friendly, laid back british woman, super nice. $20/night, very quiet and cozy. Highly recommended.
VENICE Youth Hostel near Saint Peitro Statue? *** you need to look this one up on internet for directions, got the last boys bed. Its ok. Didnt stop for thier breakfast. Location is better than the official IYHA.
FLORENCE; IYHA ** across the river from downtown...farthest of the 2. Had no choice in the matter if I wanted to sleep. Strange space-ship like pods in a very large room. You do not want to hang out in these things. Like a walk in closet. Look for something better.
Siena: Official IYHA *** on outskirts of town. Again, pretty basic. Very far from city center, have to ride the bus for 15 minutes (make sure you pay attention where the bus drops you off, or you'll have to loop all over again).
ROME: 1. Beehive ***** Steve & Crew are great!!! Super helpful and nice. Good all around hostel.
Gullivers Travels **** Very cute & small place, but very nice Italian couple running it. Homey & comfortable.
VERNAZZA: Stayed with an Italian family in their spare bedroom $20. I got into town after dark and asked the waitress at the Castle restaurant if she knew of anything. She called the family, and the mom met me in front of their home. It was an interesting experience..Not alot of dialog cause they didn't speak english. Good overall ****.
Milan Official IYHA ** Very institutional..only there 1 night...very far
from city center but close to subway.
Bartolino <email>
Portland, OR USA 03/13/02
Leipzig, Budapest, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Germany in general
My absolute favorites:
LEIPZIG: Hostel Sleepy Lion. In a great historic building, friendly staff, lots of info, very clean, nice lounge, internet, good location.
BUDAPEST: Packpackers' Hostel. Lots of character, very comfy, friendly people, hundreds of movies (in English), cheap beer, nice kitchen, extremely low prices. It's a little ways a way, but it's easy to get there and totally worth it.
My honorable mention list:
BERLIN: Lette'm Sleep. Clean, friendly, good lounge, cool neighborhood.
HAMBURG: Instant Sleep. Big rooms (no bunkbeds!), nice porch, cool neighborhood, internet, good kitchen. This place only lost points with me because it wasn't in a cool old building.
COPENHAGEN: Sleep in Green. One of the best lounges I've seen, internet, decent location. Rooms are a bit crowded and one of them is rather large, tho.
GERMANY IN GENERAL:
check out http://www.backpackernetwork.de/ for great independent hostels.
No curfews, unlike most of the HI hostels in Germany.
Erica <email>
madison, wi USA 03/03/02
More European Hostels
I concur about the Bacharach hostel. We both agreed it was
neat to sleep in a castle even with the long, steep walk.
I would like to add the Backpacker Guesthouse in Budapest-laundry, internet,
pizza delivery, inhouse beverages, tv with cable and over 100 movies,
and if you are lucky homemade Hungarian goulash.
Carcassonne HI hostel-right in the heart of the walled city.
Corfu Greece: the Pink Palace-laundry, internet, dinner and breakfast
are included, local tours, water sports, overlooking the beach, in house
bar and parties.
Paris: the Aloha Hostel, close to Eiffle Tower, friendly staff, laundry
is close, internet.
Istanbul: the Orient Hostel-near Blue Mosque, breakfast, friendly staff,
internet, in house bar.
And one addition that is not a hostel but if there are two of you traveling
together it is cheaper than a hostel — camping at Mont Saint Michele.
Private bungalos that were nicer than most hotels with private shower,
internet, big beds and tv. A wonderful surprise.
Rik <email>
Pueblo West, CO USA 02/13/02
Hostels of Europe
I spent three months traveling throughout Europe and stayed in hostels the
entire time. So here's my little (okay long) run down on some of them:
Bath, England: the HI hostel was beautiful, the staff incredibly friendly and helpful. One suggestion — take the bus from the train station as is suggested or you'll get to walk up a very long and very steep hill. Has kitchen/cooking facilities, TV/Game room, internet.
Stratford-Upon-Avon: the HI hostel was so far out of town it wasn't worth it.
Oxford: HI hostel very modern and comfortable and right next to the train station.
Carbisdale Castle: Great atmosphere but make sure to book a reservation.
Oban: this HI hostel was one of my favorites simply because of the town. It is gorgeous and the people are very helpful and friendly. Internet/Kitchen.
Edinburgh: The Belford Hostel is in an old church sanctuary so be sure to bring earplugs. The staff are awesome, mostly travelers themselves, they have a kitchen, TV/Game room, bar, dining area, and was a blast to stay at. Kind of a ways from Waverley Station but worth it. Coed.
York: HI hostel is nice but I will never stay there again due to the rudeness of the staff and incredibly strict rules that are a bit ridiculous.
Dover HI Hostel: Was here was Sept. 11 happened and the staff was amazingly supportive. Kitchen/Internet/Dining Area/Living Room.
Chamonix: Vagabond Hostel, great owners, really fun atmosphere, only bummer is you have to pay to use the stove in the kitchen. Coed.
Levanto: beautiful new hostel, very comfortable rooms with bathrooms and a view in all of them. Good location. Internet/Coed.
Rome: The Beehive has a really good staff working for them, the rooms are comfortable (little bit stuffy but great beds), Steve and Linda are both very helpful.
Interlaken: Balmer's Youth Hostel is one of the best places I stayed. Awesome staff, kitchen/internet/laundry/small grocery store/restaurant. Although don't let the bed bugs bite (and I am being completely serious about this).
Bacharach HI hostel: You have
to climb a huge hill but it is worth it just for the view. Fun atmosphere
(it's a castle), and comfortable beds. Coed.
Aislinn <email>
Cottage Grove, OR USA 02/05/02
Valley Hostel-Lauterbrunnen
Valley Hostel (www.valleyhostel.ch) in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland,was
great. Clean, quiet, rustic but modern, great hosts, kitchen sharing, parking,
family rooms, very convenient to all mountain towns; Gimmelwald, Murren,
Wengen etc., lifts and trains, and to the waterfall attractions. If you
are looking for a party, stay in Interlaken. Otherwise this is a great choice.
I prefer the Valley to staying on the mountains. More options of what to
do and you can have a car.
Brian Dunne <email>
Pompano Beach, FL USA 01/24/02
Berlin
Circus II in Berlin is amazing, everything is new and a very friendly staff.
They do not accept credit cards and breakfest isnīt that great, but the
place is worth it!
Christine <email>
Holland, PA USA 01/24/02
Bulldog Low Budget Hotel in Amsterdam
Just stayed for a week at the Bulldog Low Budget Hotel in Amsterdam. Cost
was 19.5 Euros a night for an 8 person dorm (With a nice canal view). The
service was fantastic and the location was PERFECT (right in the red light
district, 1 block away from Dam Square). I highly recommend this hostel
to any backpackers heading to Amsterdam.
Rich Verde <email>
North Caldwell, NJ USA 01/10/02
Hostel in Rome
Hi, if you go to Rome i would recommend Fawlty Towers hostel. The accommodation
is cheap, basic but nice enough, what really sold me was the atmosphere,
from the staff to other travellers you cant avoid meeting in the Tv lounge
or on the terrace. I contacted them through info@fawltytowers.org email.
Mandy Weissbaum <email>
Houston, TX USA 01/07/02
Beehive Hostel, Rome
My boyfriend and I spent 4 days at the Beehive and their staff was helpful
and friendly, the hostel was kept very clean and warm, which we appreciated
on those very cold nights that we weren't expecting. Their recommendations
guide was a hit with us and we spent 2 of our 4 nights going to a couple
of the restaurants they recommended with some of the other Beehive guests
and having a great time and wonderful, inexpensive meals.
We met the owners, Linda and Steve, and even though it was their day
off and they were busy with their baby daughter, they took the time to help
us sort out our Italian itinerary. Everything is spelled out in black
and white at the Beehive — from the reservation policy on their website
to the confirmation letter to the rules that they have you read when you
check-in. We're going back to explore northern Italy, but if we make it
back down to Rome we will definitely be staying at the Beehive again.
Jennifer
Olympia, WA USA 01/05/02