Best European Hostels: 2003
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 2003:
Europe Hostels
I stayed at all types of places: hostels, B&B, guest houses, hotels, with
family, etc. I'm not a big fan of hostels. But they have perks: cheap
and community living. However you can often find rooms at cheap (nice)
hotels for not much more money. All of these hostels can be found in Rick's
Best of Europe book..
London-City of London Hostel by St. Pauls. Great location, felt safe by myself, clean rooms with sheets, stayed in a 3 bed room and only one other person showed up, they packed a to go breakfast for me since I had to leave at 3:30 a.m for a crazy 6:40 Ryanair flight from Stansted... pricey for hostels, but hey it's London!
Salzburg, Austria- Institute St. Sebastian. Great location though the church next door has bells that ring (though I never heard them in the middle of the night, but I'm told they did ring), not a typical hostel (a hotel/hostel combo), they have fridges and kitchens on each floor, provide a small breakfast, free locking lockers in your room, great price and value.
Reutte, Austria-Jugendgastehaus Graben (south of Neuschwanstein Castle). The best and worst... lovely facilities and delicious dinner, but don't go if you are alone or don't have a car. The bus schedule is minimal (5/d and not when you want them). They mostly had German and Austrian high school age groups, I was the only lone traveler. I felt like I was in the way to the staff... I showed up (calling the day before to confirm my reservation) and they didn't know if they had a bed for me because a group was coming. I waited for over an hour until they determined to put me in an expensive room (for the cheap price) since they ran out of hostel rooms (that was nice, but felt awkward). I paid 9 euros for a 'full service' load of laundry that ended up half damp and wrinkled. The place is beautiful, but I left early with some negative feelings.
Haarlem, Holland-Stay Okay Hostel. A good place, 10 min bus ride to Haarlem train station/downtown then 15 min. train ride to Amsterdam. A nice change from the craziness of Amsterdam. Located at the edge of a park, with a grocery store in walking distance. Helpful staff, good price, nice breakfast, clean and comfortable... I enjoyed it!
Dublin, Ireland-Four Courts
Hostel. Large and efficient, but avoid 16 bed rooms if you want any decent
sleep, showers overpopulated and thus a bit dirty, free breakfast a bit
pathetic (white bread and corn flakes-carb overload), this is a typical
hostel, but I wouldn't go back! Good luck!
Nicole
CA USA 12/19/03
Radio Inn, Amsterdam
I stayed with 9 friends at Radio Inn (www.radioinn.nl), which was a smallish
hostel. The rooms were quite clean and well-furnished, with sinks in each
room. The bathrooms were tiny and smelled a bit like piss, but it was tolerable.
The owners were VERY nice and helpful: they sent someone out to pick us
up at the tram stop when we couldn't find the place, and they lent us umbrellas
since we forgot ours. They also let us leave our backpacks in their back
room for about 5 hours after we checked out, so we could sightsee more before
our train left without having to lug around heavy bags. The hostel was a
short tram ride away from Dam Square or Centraal Station, and within walking
distance of the Van Gogh and Rijiks museums. It could also be good for last-minute
booking: we booked that week, and while everywhere else in Amsterdam was
mostly full, they had room for all 10 of us! Altogether quite a good value
for its cheap cost.
Erin
Heidelberg, Germany 12/06/03
My hostel experiences
Two friends and I spent two weeks in various European cities this September,
and here are my thoughts about the hostels we stayed in:
Amsterdam: We stayed at the Flying Pig Downtown, and this was a pretty cool place on the whole. The rooms, although crowded, were pretty clean (the bathrooms were a little cruddy at times, though), the staff was reasonably friendly and all spoke excellent English, and the atmosphere was tops. Most of the guests here are definitely into the partying aspect of Amsterdam, which is kind of nice because it means your dorm is almost always unoccupied during the night and it gives you a bit of "alone time" at the end of the day to unwind before going to bed.
Paris: Woodstock Hostel in Montmarte was fairly nice. Other than clean rooms, there's nothing particularly special about it, but it does have a small central courtyard which makes it easy to mingle with the other guests.
Rome: The Alessandro Downtown was probably the best hostel we stayed in. The dorms and bathrooms are quite clean and spacious, and the Australian staffers were friendly, helpful, and very knowledgable on what to do and see, and where the best places to eat were. I'd definitely go there again.
Interlaken: Balmer's Herberge was great as well.
The staff was excellent and the rooms were clean. Nice place to stay.
Too bad it's in an uninteresting town.
Paul <email>
Saint Louis, MO USA 11/25/03
Great Hostel in Bath
Following the recommendation for budget accomodations in Bath, my travelling
companions and I made last minute reservations at the White Hart Hostel
(www.whitehartbath.co.uk). The rooms are smaller than many hostels, as the
current owner is quickly subdividing the larger, dorm-like rooms into well-appointed
rooms suitable for 2-4 people. There were four in my group, so a single
room with two twin beds and a set of bunk beds with sink (loo just 'round
the corner) fit us perfectly. The only surprise was, not having stayed at
a hostel before, having to provide our own towels. The shower facilities
were clean and the plumbing remarkably reliable.
It's a very short walk up the block, across the bridge, and past the train station to a shopping area with a Roseby's as well as most other types of shops. We had to wait until 9 for the shops to open.
We stayed there two nights, but I would not recommend waiting until the last minute to make your arrangements. We moved to another part of the countryside the third night because the entire hostel had been booked by a group that night. We found the proprietors as well as all the guests to be among the friendliest we met during the week, and the rooms were very quiet at night. On-street parking is good overnight until 10 am.
If you are approaching from the northeast, be forwarned:
as you come down the hill you'll see the road become one-way. The hostel
is almost immediately on your left and I only spotted it when I looked
behind (the road curves to the right just there). I highly recommend the
White Hart Hostel, particularly for young travellers (some of the mattresses
may not be suitable for bad backs) and families (sharing a room for four
keeps everybody in sight and is extremely economical).
Zoe <email>
Edmond, OK USA 11/21/03
Good Hostels
Amsterdam — Flying Pig Hostel is cool. Good environment, you'll meet people
within five minutes. Watch out for dudes who look for backpackers and tell
you everything in the city is full except their one room. If the city's
so full, there wouldn't be guys on bikes trying to get you to stay at their
roach motel.
Vienna — I think its called Ruthsteiner. Its clean, mainly quiet, but also a great place to meet people. Its also located near much of what you probably want to see. Wombats is also nice from what i've seen. I hung out there during happy hour one night and had a blast.
Some other good hostels are the Welcome Hostel
in Prague, and the AO Hostel in Berlin. Also, Strawberry Hostel in Krakow
was good because they'll meet you right at the train station. It's clean
and has its own transportation to the salt mines and concentration camps.
Greg
Pittsburgh, USA 11/19/03
Best and worst hostels
Barcalona: Kabul Hostel was a complete blast! I stayed there for 9 nights
and the place is great. It's clean, has hot showers, no curfew, nice lockers,
Heiniken beer and candy bar machines, pub crawls, good music always playing,
and a crazy party atmosphere. It's also in a perfect location, only 15 euros
and booked with fun people every night. You also get a free t-shirt if you
stay for 3 nights or more and if you book Sat, Sun, and Mon then you get
Tues night for free! I highly reccomend Kabul.
Victoria <email>
East Greenwich, RI USA 11/13/03
Bregenz, Germany
A wonderful hostel can be found in Bregenz, Germany on the Bodensee. It
is Jugendgasthaus and they accomodate youths as well as entire families.
Very clean, inexpensive and extremely helpful and pleasant staff. The hostel
has an internet cafe which serves coffee, beer and wine. Breakfast is provided
too.
Mike <email>
Arlington, VA USA 11/09/03
Hostel experiences
Just returned from a month in Europe, 10/7-11/7, and have some hostel recommendations:
Berlin: Circus Hostel is very good. Location just off AlexanderPlatz in "East"Berlin, staff helpful, room and facilities clean, price good.
Coblenz: Festang Ehrenbreitstein Youth Hosel. Location is fantastic, a fortress overlooking the confluence of the Mosel with Rhine — see if you can get a ride up there, the walk is probably a stinker. We arrived late in the day but had called ahead. Staff very helpful, bar good, breakfast offers a good variety, dorm room clean and not crowded. Hint: if you are doing the Rhine cruise, leave early and don't expect the ferry, grab a taxi when you cross the highway.
Munich: Euro Youth Hostel. Easy to get to from train station. Clean, good bar, great staff, reasonable price.
Prague: Boathouse Hostel. If you don't need to be near city center this place is terrific. Easy 20 min. tram ride from the train station and downtown. On the river. Owners are terrific. We went the wrong direction on the tram so arrived late, they pulled out breakfast leftovers for us (free) and helped us get back to the city for sightseeing with no hassle. Good laundry service available cheap. You can sign up for dinner — good filling homestyle food. Facilities clean.
Vienna: Wombats. I don't know how you can beat this place for the price. Everything clean, self-serve laundry facilities, good bar, convenient to city, quiet room, good security available.
Budapest: Aquarium Hostel. If it were not for Clara and the guests we met on arrival, we would have turned around and left. It is convenient to train station and metro and the rooms are clean but it lacks some pretty basic amenities even for E. Europe.
Istanbul: Amphora Hostel. This was a great choice
for us. Right in the Sultanahmet district but on a quiet side street (look
out for the 3 ft x 5 ft hole in the sidewalk near the door.) The staff
is terrific, especially Ozgur. Facilities are a little basic, even for
the east but location and people make up for it. BTW, Ramadaz is a great
time for Istanbul, especially along the Hippodrome area after dark.
Dick <email>
Imperial Beach, CA USA 11/08/03
Best Hostel in Inverness, Scotland
The best hostel in Inverness is definitely the Ho Ho Hostel. Actually, it's
the best hostel I stayed at in a whole month of backpacking through Western
Europe and the UK last summer. They have great staff, super clean rooms
and bathrooms, and with an extra pound you'll get a great breakfast in the
morning. Its in an excellent location, just 5 minutes walk from the train
station. Just look for McDonalds around the train station, and the hostel
in the alley across of McDonalds. As great as the hostel is, I can't really
say so much for Inverness, though.
Zaki Amir <email>
Minneapolis, MN USA 11/04/03
Paris, Bacharach, Carcassonne
I have found that what I look for in a hostel differs depending on my location
and mood. Whether or not you're looking for a place that inspires quiet
reflection, or moments of revelry that would put Bacchus to shame, Europe
has the perfect hostel for you. Here are three of my favorites:
PARIS: The 3 Ducks Hostel is awesome. Don't expect a ton of amenities or a bargain (around 20 Euro per night), but the social atmosphere is top-notch. There are more fun people per capita here than at any other hostel I've visited in Europe. (Disclaimer: I have yet to visit the Pink Palace in Corfu). It caters to an international clientele (in the 5 days I was there I met people from New Zealand, Norway, England, Mexico, and Iran, just to name a few). It also has a lively little pub and a chill courtyard. Every night at about 9 pm the staff would come out and say that quiet hours were starting and that we would have to clear the courtyard in about 10 minutes. After that formality was out of the way, the party would continue (staff included) until about 3 am. Not the place I'd recommend if you're looking for peace and quiet, but if late nights and an interesting crowd is your thing give the 3 Ducks Hostel a try. Check the Let's Go guide for location and other info.
BACHARACH, GERMANY: The hostel in Bacharach (on the Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz) is located in a castle that dates from the Middle Ages. Everyone seems to know about this place, but even on a weekday in late June I virtually had the place to myself. Staying here requires a steep hike of about 10 minutes up a wooded trail, but the view from the top is to die for. Even if the village of Bacharach wasn't spectacular, its castle hostel would make the trip worthwhile.
CARCASSONNE, FRANCE: This is another one that everybody
seems to know about, but the HI in Carcassonne has to be considered one
of Europe's best hostels. It is located within the walls of the Cite (Carcassonne's
medieval old town). Beds are cheap here, breakfast is included, the staff
is welcoming, and the location places you right at the pulse of this medieval
wonderland. One last tip: when in Carcassonne, take the opportunity to
walk the historic ramparts at sunrise. You'll be treated to a Carcassonne
in which tourists are replaced by birds eating breakfast, as the visual
delights of Southern France unfold before your waking eyes.
Nick
OR USA 11/04/03
Loved Rome's Beehive
Another vote for the Beehive in Rome! It was cleaner than most of the hotels
we stayed in. Had a private room for 2 of us and shared bath. There was
a sink and mirror in the room which was nice and there were several bathrooms,
so sharing was never a problem. Loved the location- being close to Termini
to catch trains and Metro made it easy to get around. Only drawback was
the heavyset girl that worked there and was very sarcastic and not helpful.
Everyone else there was great!
Sky
T, OK USA 11/03/03
Durty Nelly's Inn
Was in Amsterdam and stayed at Durty's Nelly's near The Red Light District.
Had my locker broken into (everything taken) and no one in the hostel cared
very much, with supposed 24hr watch no one saw anyone go from room to room
breaking into evryone's locker. Somewhat understandable but tbey didn't
want to help in any way. Pretty much left on my own to figure out where
the Embassy was. Steer clear of this place.
Mike
Santa Barbara, CA USA 10/29/03
Hostels/Hotels in Europe
My three friends and I backpacked for 5 weeks and stayed at some GREAT and
not so great places, and we never paid more than 30 Euros to sleep.
Paris: Hotel du Bresil on the rue Le Goff. Standard left bank room, friendly staff, decent breakfast, walking distance to luxembourg, notre dame, etc.
Amsterdam: we stayed at the Flying Pig Palace and wished we'd stayed at the hostel across the Vondelpark. Friendly staff, but dirty rooms and DISGUSTING bathrooms.
Dublin: Cobblestones on Eustace Street. Clean rooms, lame common room. In the heart of Temple Bar, close to everything, easy to get a reservation, even on St. Patty's.
Bruges: Bauhaus. Don't believe the hype. This was the worst place we slept all trip. Filthy rooms, out of the way. I expected so much more...
Prague: Traveller's Hostel on Dlouha. FABULOUS. Immaculate room, strong hot shower, extremely helpful staff, all for SEVEN dollars a night.
Vienna: Wombats. Full of American kids, but great bar, internet access, private bath and immaculately clean room. All hostels should be like this!
Munich: Hotel Germania on Schwanthalerstr. Great hotel two blocks from the train station. Spacious rooms (for Europe) and an outstanding breakfast. Very clean.
Interlaken: Backpacker's Villa. Great alternative to Balmers (which was full). Our room had a balcony with an amazing view of the alps. Great staff, soooo helpful.
Geneva: City Hostel. Good alternative to the super shady hostel on rue Rothschild, but not much better. Fine for one night, but not the best place we stayed.
Florence: Hotel Orchidea. Great location, around the corner from the Duomo. Very friendly staff, big room with a terrace and a view. No breakfast, but the location made up for everything.
Barcelona: Hotel Opera, right off of Las Ramblas. Again, big clean room with a private bath. Unbeatable location with an English speaking staff.
Madrid: Hostal Principado on
Zorilla. Right off the Paseo de Prado in a gorgeous neighborhood, but
a noisy street. Tiny rooms with an even tinier bath, but also relatively
inexpensive. Very helpful owners.
Courtenay <email>
Chicago,, IL USA 10/21/03
Hostels in Belgium
My brother, father and I stayed at Bauhaus in Brugges and Generation Europe
in Brussels. I would recommend both. Both are a little walk to the city
center, but no more then a 15 minutes away. The breakfast is free at Generation
Europe and is typical hard bread rolls and coffee. At both places the people
that worked there were very kind and helpful and the rooms were clean, which
is all you can ask for for 15 — 17 euro per person.
David Coughlin <email>
Marion, IA USA 10/09/03
Best hostels in Europe!
My daughter and I travelled through Europe this summer and stayed in lots
of hostels and budget hotels. The two hostels that were outstanding?
The Beehive, Rome: This was our first stop so we had nothing to gauge it against until we were deeper in our travels and realized how lucky we were to stay there. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. The hostel was super clean. The shared bathrooms/showers were the cleanest we saw in our whole trip! There is a common kitchen where you can make your own meals. Free internet access — which is a real bonus! There is also a nice garden area that you can sit and relax outside. The hostel is a couple of blocks away from Termini Station which is very convenient. We had a double room with a ceiling fan — very spacious. If you are going to Rome, I highly recomment the Beehive.
Ostello Cinque Terre: This youth hostel is perched up the hill in Manarola in the Cinque Terre. A bit of a hike up a hill to get to it, but well worth it! The rooms are single sex and all shared, although I hear there are plans on making some double rooms available. There is a family room as well. The hostel has a restaurant where you can order dinners that are very good. There is internet access and laundry facilities. A great terrace to sit out and eat breakfast or have some wine. All this for 20euro each per night. This proved to have the best value for the money. We found this hostel to be very friendly and met some great travel friends! Highly recommended.
Both of these hostels are very popular, so I would
recommend that you reserve as early as possible. I hope you enjoy both,
as we did. And for any "older" travellors worried about staying in hostels,
don't worry — go ahead. They are by far the most rewarding as you meet
so many great people. My daughter is 11 and we had the most fun when we
stayed in small hostels. The Stayokays in Holland are great as well.
Dunn Family <email>
Surrey, BC Canada 10/08/03
Hostels in Central Europe
Budapest, Hungary: The best hostel has got to be Backpacker's Guesthouse.
It has such a cosy atmosphere, a relaxing garden with hammocks and a gazebo,
themed rooms such as the Bob Marley room, a bar, a TV room with over 100
videos to watch. It's just so easy to get to know people there.
Ljubljana, Slovenia: you have to check out the Celica, a converted prison.
Each room is decorated individually and it's all new and clean.
Caroline <email>
UK 09/27/03
Amsterdam, Stayokay Vondelpark
By far, the cleanest and roomiest hostel I've ever stayed in. As a mid-life
traveler, I found it very comfortable, quiet and charming. The hostel is
located near the city's huge Vondelpark, and a 2 minute walk from the nightlife
of Amsterdam's Leidseplein. Easy public transportation is nearby to whisk
you to all the sights. The free breakfast is an amazing assortment of breads,
lunchmeats, cheeses, yogurt, juices and tea/coffee/chocolate. I skipped
lunch most days after such a filling breakfast. Best of all, the staff is
friendly and helpful. I recommend it highly.
Ron <email>
Elyria, OH USA 09/22/03
Ideal Hostel-Barcelona
IDEAL YOUTH Hostel — Barcelona. Avoid this hostel at all costs. Staff are
rude and shout at guests, sheets are dirty and they will charge you more
if they feel like it.
Alfonso <email>
London, USA 09/18/03
Kalmar B&B in Budapest
The Kalmar B&B in Budapest was the best of my trip! Beautiful rooms in a
lovely house just above the Gellert (and close to transportation). Nice
owners/staff and a wonderful breakfast. They also were very informative.
Valerie Peck <email>
Oakland, ca USA 09/18/03
IYH Lisbon -Catalazete
In Lisbon, rather in Oeiras, the International Youth Hostel-Cazatelete is
way too far from Lisbon. It takes about an hour total to get from downtown
Lisbon to Oeiras. The website wasn´t all too specific on the amount of time
and money it would take to find this hostel. Plus, once you get off the
train in Oeiras they give you no other information on how to make the 20
minutes hike to the hostel. The locals barely even knew how to get there.
There are few other hostelers there either. Not worth it! There are plenty
of other hostels within Lisbon, so skip this one.
Vida Ahyong <email>
Seattle, WA USA 09/14/03
Great hostel in Capri, Italy
The Bussola di Hermes hostel on Capri was definitely a highlight of our
trip to Italy. We arrived in Capri too late to take the boat to the Blue
Grotto, but the staff at the Bussola di Hermes made sure that we got there
while there was still light to swim in it. They drove us down there for
free and let us check in when we returned. The information they provided
on the island was amazing. As a bonus, when I left our palm pilot in the
room by accident and called them, they offered to send it to our home in
the states and would not accept any payment for it. And the room wasn't
bad either — air conditioning and a private bath for hostel prices. Definitely
stay there when in Capri!
Laurie Douglas <email>
Denver, CO USA 09/09/03
Rowardennan, Loch Lomond, Scotland
Rowardennan is a great hostel on the east side of Loch Lomond at the base
of Ben Lomond. People who want to get out and enjoy the outdoors in this
area and get away from the crowds on the other side of the Loch in Luss
would really enjoy this place. It is right on the loch, and you can even
sit out on a pier just outside the front that juts out into the water. Three
of us were there in June and had a room to ourselves, which was nice. Very
comfy beds, too. Part of the Scottish Youth Hostel Association — www.syha.org.uk.
The entrance can be a bit muddy from all the hikers, though.
Amanda <email>
Clayton, MO USA 09/06/03
The Beehive hostel, 8 via marghera, Rome (see other references in this
forum for contact details). I stayed there 2 weeks ago in the very hot weather
and it was an oasis of coolness, cleanliness and calm — with spotlessly
clean, new facilities and a garden to relax in — in the centre of Rome — the best hostel I've ever stayed in — and right next to the principal train
station in Rome — Termini where you'll arrive from Fiumicino/ Leonardo de
Vinci airport or other cities in Italy. I highly recommend it!
Maria King <email>
Dublin, Ireland 08/18/03
My sister and I took Rick's advice (and a friend of ine's who had stayed
there a week earlier and loved it) and stayed at Casa Olmata in Rome, and
it was a huge mistake. The woman who manages the hostel/hotel let us check
in and unpack and told us it was totally fine if we went to an ATM on the
corner and got money to pay for the entire time and dinner quickly (since
we hadn't eaten since breakfast). We returned to find our belongings sprawled
out and bags opened in the lobby and two Hungarian men in our twin room!
Outraged we asked the woman what was going on and she informed us that we
would need to leave and walk to another hostel 4 MILES away at 9:00 pm at
night in Rome! Yeah right! Luckily the story has a happy ending because
a nice group of Italians that rescued us! But I'd be very leary of staying
at this place, and don't let the 1 euro all-you-can-eat dinner influence
you!
LS <email>
Atlanta, GA USA 08/12/03
Paris — La Maison Hostel, this place, by far was the worst
hostel we stayed at. Lots of mold on the outside wall. It is definitely
a health hazard. The bathroom light didn't work and they wouldn't fix it.
Elevator was broken, we were on the 5th floor. Free breakfast was okay,
bread and jam.
Laine
St Louis, MO USA 08/03/03
Big City Hostels
london: st. christopher's shepherd's bush. a little pricey, but the best
reputable hostel we could find in london. clean and neat; our room had its
own bathroom and a minifridge, but was very spartan. good location altho
zone 1 would have been nicer. had keycards for the room and the front door,
which was great. nice staff; breakfast of toast, jam and tea included. we
had no complaints, minus the price.
paris: hotel caulaincourt. wonderful! more of a super-budget hotel than a hostel, so you get towels and soap and the rooms have a little character. we paid 42 euros a night for a room with a large bed, a tv and a sink (shared wc/shower)... you can't beat the price! (but don't expect TOO much — the walls are thin and breakfast isn't included.) in a fun residential neighborhood (montmartre), so you get a taste of "real" paris. definitely recommended.
rome: b&b cosmos all the hostels were booked, so we ended up at b&b cosmos, booked through the cross-pollinate.com website (run by the folks that own the beehive). huge, beautiful room w/private bath... we didn't want to pay extra for the ac so we just took a couple cold showers a day. it's also on a really busy street (w/ the windows open, it sounded like the indy 500 outside — REALLY), but it's fairly central so we didn't really mind. fabulous staff (yay fabritzo!), def recommended.
florence: 7 santi DO NOT STAY HERE. the price is good, but it is way far out (you need a bus to get to the city center, which is silly because florence is very small as far as cities go), and we got EATEN ALIVE by the most hungry mosquitos i've ever seen (which made HUGE swollen bites that didn't fade for a week). it was HORRIBLE. i don't know if they built that place on a swamp or not, but we spent night 2 in a friend's apt and had no problems with bugs. save yourself the agony and STAY AWAY.
interlaken: happy inn and alp lodge both are good hostels; good management, reasonable prices. happy inn was better; our room was huge (it was supposed to be for 4 people, but we got it as a double) and reasonably priced; we also had a sink, and the people there were younger and more fun. alp lodge seemed to be families and older people, and the room wasn't as good a deal... but the staff was nice and our room was cute and clean. you really couldn't go wrong with either one of them; in fact, i think they have the same owners/management.
amsterdam: shelter jordan. highly recommended.
it's a christian hostel, so no drugs, and it's very clean with a very
caring staff. they don't try to force beliefs on you, and their cafe gives
you an included hot or cold breakfast (we got PANCAKES! most breakfast
we'd had all trip!). all beds are single-sex dorms, but you get a free
locker and they are well-cared for. their cafe also serves VERY reasonably
priced meals and snacks. for 18 euros a person, hands down the best value
we found on the trip!
niki <email>
stanford, ca USA 07/29/03
Hostels Benelux
Amsterdam:Cityhostel Vondelpark is hard to beat. it is inexpensive,(pd
$15/nt for v nice six bed room) quiet,good bar, cheap and hearty restaraunt,
internet, lockers, extremely nice rooms, state of the art security, tv
room, walking distance from everything, and a massive free breakkie in
a second floor room overlooking the park. best hostel ive stayed in on
three continents. Brugge, Belgium:the de snuffel sleep in. very basic,
youll think its awful when you first walk in. not for the hotel/b&b set.
i stayed there for two weeks, had to drag myself away. close to eveything
and the price cant be beat (i pd $8/nt for 12 bed dorm in 2000) relaxed,
friendly, local pub on first floor, good security, very quiet, lockers.
quiet charm, is what you make of it.
NJHC City Hostel Vondelpark Zandpad 5, 1054 GA
Amsterdam tram: 1, 2, 12 tel: (020) 589 89 96 fax: (020) 589 89 55 website:
www.njhc.org/english/ hb_entree.cfm?hb_id=3 De Snuffel Sleep In Ezelstraat
47-49 8000 Brugge Beligium Tel:050/33 31 33, fax:050/33 32 50 email:snuffel@flanderscoast.be
like i said, vondelpark hostel is like a hotel. snuffels is a total bohemian
backpacker hostel only for the laid back and friendly.
Elizabeth <email>
Houston, TX USA 07/26/03
Berlin — The Circus!
This was the best hostel I stayed in anywhere. Ikea central! Cheap, Helpful
staff, nice cafe, great cheap bar.
Alex <email>
WA USA 07/17/03
Salisbury YHA Hostel
The Salisbury (1/2 hour driving from Stonehenge) YHA hostel is great, friendly
and clean, on beautiful grounds.
Maureen Crawford <email>
San Diego, CA USA 07/16/03
No clowns at this Circus — Berlin
Hey there! Listen if you're going to Berlin (and you should be, its great)stay
at The Circus in Mitte. Not only does it not feel like a hostel, it feels
like you've died and gone to Ikea heaven. Its really clean and the bar downstairs
is actually a hopping club at night..$2 beers? How can you go wrong. One
more thing, its in a great part of town.
Frank <email>
Toronto, on CA 07/15/03
La Primula — Hostel on Lake Como
Just returned from Italy. Spent 3 nights at Rick's recommended La Primula
Youth Hostel. The location is wonderful — across the street from Lake
Como. There are excellent views of the mountains and lake from most bedrooms.
4 course dinners are available for 8 euros and definitely worth it. Linens
may be rented for 3 euros. Staff was friendly and helpful. The hostel
is just a stone's throw from a good sized plaza filled with gelaterias
and a tree lined-promenade. Cons: Located in town of Menaggio which is
across the lake from the train station in Varenna. You can either take
a one hour bus ride from Como or take the train to Varenna and take the
15mins ferry ride to Menaggio. Co-ed shower rooms — enough said. Try to
get a room on the 3rd floor. The bathrooms are nicer there. 2nd floor
bathroom was filled with mosquitos. Located on main road — so it's a little
noisy and tricky crossing the street. Would be hard to cross street with
small children or large sporting equipment. All in all a great place with
ping pong table, great people, and excellent location.
SFRome <email>
San Francisco, CA USA 07/13/03
Kabul Hostel Amsterdam
No reservations so last minute arrival gives you a chance. No party I repeat
no party. But if your interested in a clean centrally located hostel this
is it. Not plush but great by Amsterdam standards. Very safe even amongst
the madness outside. Decent breakfast provided in the morning. I would recommend.
Justin <email>
Detroit, MI USA 07/09/03
Fussen Youth Hostel
I stayed there while visiting Nueschwenstien Castle. It was very close to
the train station, trans. to castle was available. Staff was courteous and
helpful. The rooms were bunk beds and were clean and comfortable, bathrooms
as well. But now for the bad news, KIDS at least a hundred 8-14 running
around constantly. It was like a bad summer camp atmoshpere. But they put
the backpackers in another area so you will not be in a room with three
9 year olds.
Justin <email>
columbia, SC USA 07/08/03
Clown and Bard — Prague
I just returned from a fabulous trip to Prague and had the best time at
the Clown and Bard hostel! Such a friendly environment, and you even get
a complimentary drink when you arrive, so you can drink on the house and
get to know your fellow hostellers! It's a wonderful, friendly, sociable
environment! Definitely the best hostel bar I have ever seen, and the 15
cz sandwiches can really save your life at the end of a long night! Yay
for Clown and Bard! p.s.- Do not expect to sleep a lot here, just to have
a lot of fun and pay very little!
Ryan <email>
Germany, 07/04/03
Amsterdam backpacker's B&B
The most fun we had was in Amsterdam. The B&B was something different —
just basic (mattresses on the floor) but clean and quiet and not far from
the centre. The owners of an apartment just divided it up into rooms for
the B&B, so there's a kitchen, a washing machine and even a computer with
internet free to use. Their email address is fransnsharon@fransnsharon.com
if you want to give it a try.
jeysa <email>
Chile 07/04/03
Hostels all over
Europe
Just returned from a wonderful 6 weeks of backpacking.
London: The Generator. Fabulous! Good times were had by all, nice staff, comfy and clean.
Paris: 3 Ducks. Great! A lot of fun and very centrally located.
Berlin: A&O Friedrichshain. In the east, so the area sorta sucked. Hostel was alright, but nothing to brag about.
Salzburg: Yoho. Really cool except the lockers are pay each time and there are no locks on the outside or on the individual doors to the hostel. Bar isn't too exciting.
Vienna: Ruthensteiner. Cool! Well located, with shower in the room (in the kitchen actually) and nice bunks.
Venice: Camping Village Alba d'Oro. A long way out of Venice, so you had to take either the shuttle or 2 buses and a water bus, but it has a pool which was nice in 40 degree C heat. Lots of bugs! Good bar...
Rome: We were supposed to go
to Pensione Kenzos, but he wouldn't give us our H.O.E. discount, so we
instead stayed at a small hotel which was awesome. Kenzos looked slimey.
Ashley <email>
Victoria, BC Canada 06/28/03
Kerouac Hospitality
I cannot say enough about the Kerouac Bed and Breakfast. The helpfulness
of Rene, the host, is worth the price alone. After our airline lost our
luggage and was supposed to be delivering it to the B&B, Rene promised that
whenever they called he would come to the B&B to pick it up, so that we
wouldn't have to interrupt our sightseeing. He is great and the place was
spacious and quite clean. I would recommend it to anyone!!
LS
New York, NY USA 06/27/03
Hostels — Dublin & Skye
Stayed at Abbey Court Hostel in Dublin. It was very nice. Clean, quiet and
well managed. Also stayed at International Youth Hostel on Isle of Skye
in Scotland. It was great. Avoid Castle Rock in Edinburgh, though. Dirty
and noisy.
Mark
USA 06/24/03
London — Generator
Had a blast there after Christmas. It's definitely a party atmopshere though.
Cheap, good beer. If you get to bed early, expect to wake up when your roommates
stagger in drunk. Since we were there during the winter, I thought it might
be cold. Ended up being too *hot*. Heaters must've been on overdrive. Bunks
are good. Free breakfast isn't anything fancy(cereal, coffee/tea, misc)
but it's a good enough start to the day. Plenty of internet kiosks that
worked fine. Pool tables were in a pretty sorry state, especially the cues
but we had fun playing with some Belgians anyways. Showers were large locker
room style, 1 to a floor. Bring some flip flops and you'll be fine. All
in all, I wish I had known abotu this place the first time I went to London.
I had a lot of fun there.
Aexia <email>
Seattle, WA USA 06/23/03
Prague Hostels
I thoroughly enjoyed the "Boathouse" Hostel in Prague. It is 20 min outside
the city center, but easily accessible via the streetcar that runs 24 hours.
The house mothers take care of you and provide a good free breakfast and
an inexpensive dinner. Beer is less than one dollar, and it feels like you
are away from home at camp. Tell Vera that Tonishka sent you.
Tony Montanez <email>
Chino, CA USA 06/18/03
The Shelter City in A'dam is a good hostel.
I stayed for a couple of nights in the Shelter City hostel in Amsterdam.
It is a Christian hostel, so it probably won't appeal to those looking for
a wild party atmosphere. The dorms were gender-segregated, and it had a
midnight curfew. However, the people were nice, it was clean, the free breakfasts
were good, and even though it had a stated age limit of 35, they let me
in (I'm 36). I definitely recommend it as a good place to stay in A'dam.
Their website is www.shelter.nl or you can call them on + 31 20 625 3230.
Erik <email>
Portland, OR USA 06/17/03
Hostels We've Liked
Hostels we've enjoyed: Wilderhope Manor near Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England,
near the Welsh border. 16th century Tudor manor complete with ghost, beautiful
surroundings. Bacharach, Germany. Castle overlooking the Rhine River. A
different hostel? Try the Llanbedr, Wales, hostel. The shower is in the
barn next to the cow. Really!
Valerie <email>
Pella, IA USA 06/12/03
Spain
Hostel Viena in Granada was pretty cool. After a terrible stay in Hostal
Lis II in Sevilla, Hostel Viena in Granada was unbelievably spacious, cool,
and an all around good backpackers hostal. It was 35 euro a night for a
double without bath, but the room had AC and was very spacious. The people
were also very helpful. The bed was the only thing that was noticable..extremely
noisy and similar to a fold out sofa bed. We had to use our travel pillows
to"fluff" up the mat that was the pillow — but otherwise, a great stay. Granada
has some great weather and is a pretty nice town to visit. Right now, I´m
in Barcelona and Pension Fernado (though steep at 55 euro for a double with
bath) is hotel-classy as far as it´s private rooms are concerned. It´s dorm
rooms are also phenominal — or so I´m told by some of the residents there
at the moment. Barcelona seems to be packed right now (including Fernandos)
but I would definitely recommend the pension if you could find a vacancy.
And if in Sevilla, stay far far away from Hostal Lis II. No AC and sometimes
no power, and no outside window, on the top floor with no bath — -it was
a living nightmare and oven. If in Sevilla, always get a room with AC.
Holly
barcelona, espana 06/11/03
Barcelona Hostels
Barcelona Hostels: IDEAL HOSTEL — If you absolutely have no other choice,
go ahead and book at this place. But be warned: the receptionist can be
difficult and rude (My friend had nasty, stained bedding — and the woman
initially insisted against all reason that it was clean and we were making
it up, the storage of luggage is not safe -anyone can take your bag, since
there is only one key, the bathrooms get kinda wet and nasty, the beds
creek, breakfast is nasty as well). Besides all that, I did appreciate
the free *but heavily used* internet, and the no-curfew rules. Our experience
was mediocre, no better or worse than what you'd normally expect.
HOSTEL GAT RAVAL — however, is an AMAZING hostel!
I had to stay one night in Barcelona by myself, and this place exceeded
my expectations. Downside — there is no elevator and you have to walk
up about three floors with your luggage. Upsides abound: my private room
(I think I paid around 40 euros), was small but not too small, very clean,
bright, well decorated, with a tv and a sink. Internet is not free, but
half the time they aren't very strict about making you pay for the whole
time you use it. THe bathroom was impeccably clean. I stayed on the first
floor however, which is the same floor as the lobby, so it was a bit noisy.
Other than that, the location is great — right next to the cultural center
and the museum of modern art. If I ever go back to barcelona I will DEFINITELY
stay at this hostel. Happy travels!
Crystal
Philadelphia, PA USA 06/04/03
Canada 06/02/03
Station Hostel, Cologne(Koln) FRG
Great laid back atmosphere, friendly staff, convenient bar, and clean modern
rooms, with nice touches, very close to main attractions.
Justin
USA 05/29/03
Hostels in Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France
My friend & I traveled through europe for 3 weeks recently during March
& April and these are the hostels we stayed at:
Haarlem, Netherlands — HI Stay Okay Hostel: The best hostel we stayed at and it was set up like a hotel. The room was for 4 people and it had a shower & toilet. They cleaned the rooms everday and the staff was very helpful. Includes free breakfast with many varieties of bread, meat, cheese, cereal, juice, coffee. It is a 15 min. train ride from Amsterdam. A+
Munich, Germany — Euro Youth Hotel: We stayed in a 3 person room and the showers & toilets are in the hallway and they are cleaned daily. Breakfast is not included & there's a bar downstairs. It's located a block from the main train station which is very convenient. A
Rome, Italy — Hostel Alessandros-The Palace: We booked this place online and there was no note stating that it was being renovated. They sent us a couple blocks to a different building which had none of the free services (internet, etc.) that was advertise on their website because it was at the main building that was being renovated. We stayed in a 6 person room with a toilet & shower. Breakfast included but is not good-just bread, jam & the juice & cappincino machine never worked & if it did, it was disgusting. The one good thing is you are allowed to take as much bread as you want & you can take some for your backpack for lunch. It is located a few blocks from the main termini train station & bus station which has a grocery store on the lower level. I've talked to people that stayed at the Alessandro-Downtown & they said it was great. C
Venice, Italy — the only HI hostel on one of the islands: It's a big room that is sectioned off into 3 rooms with 6 beds each — the walls don't completely go all the way up to the ceiling so the rooms are not completely enclose so you can hear people next door & in the hallway talking. The toilets & showers are in the hallway. Breakfast is included. It's a clean place. B
Paris, France — Aloha Hostel: This was the worst
hostel we stayed at, we stay in a 4 bed room and they were not cleaned
daily. The entire floor shared 2 toilets & one shower! In the shower you
had to keep pressing the button to keep the semi-warm water running continuously
otherwise it shuts off in 5 seconds — horrible! Shower was not cleaned.
It did have a kitchen and breakfast is included. It's located a block
from a train station & grocery store. F
Alyssa <email>
Burnsville, MN USA 05/13/03
Italy, France, and Spain hostels
Three of us headed off to europe for three weeks; we prebooked all of our
hostels in advance and had no trouble checking in. Our experiences were
as follows:
Venice: Ostella Venezia (through hostelbooking.com). Clean, but a bit noisy from the masses of little French girls staying there. Breakfast was free and really good (croissant and cafe), clean sheets, spongy matresses, clean bathrooms, lockers in the room. The staff was kind of bland, but Venice is great; a nice place to stay even if you don't have a Hostelling International membership (you can buy a stamp when you get there; when you collect six they consider you a member-at-large).
Rome: Gulliver's House. I found Gulliver's House through this site and I am very grateful that i did. We had a wonderful time with Simon and Sara — a quaint Italian home with a few beds upstairs and downstairs. Coco, the maltese dog was a doll and loved on everyone. It's a few euros extra to use the kitchen, but well worth it. Please stay here if you want a fantastic experience in Rome — they give you a map and tell you where to go — very helpful.
Florence: Antica Posta Hotel. We booked two nights but had to leave a night early because of a train change. She charged us a half a night per person in order to let us leave. A nice room, but steep for price at 42 euros per person. About 15 minutes from the train station.
Nice: Hotel Meyerbeer. Check-in was a snap — a straight shot from the train station. They have a kitchen in the room which saves money. The bathroom smelled bad from the pipes but that was the only thing wrong. A nice place if you stay in a dorm (18 euros).
Barcelona: Ideal Hostel was OK — but not great. The beds were on a solid sheet of metal so each time one of us (or the other 5 people) would roll over it would sound as if a sledge hammer was taken to a trash can. No hot showers and a dinky breakfast (a small roll and a tablespoon of orange juice or coffee). What a rip — they charge you for sheets (6 euros) but they do have free internet (one computer). Book somewhere else in barcelona in advance so you don't get stuck here.
Paris: La Maison Hostel. Fantastic; stay here and book in advance. Hot showers, a kitchen downstairs, a fantastic breakfast, great staff, very helpful and comedic — a nice place for 21 euros.
An overall rating of A of all the hostels. Thanks
to all who provided these suggestions; we had a fantastic time backpacking!
Laura L. <email>
Greensboro, NC USA 05/03/03
Rome Hostel
We stayed at the Pop Inn in Rome last week. It was exceptionally clean and
inexpensive. There were sinks in the room with a shared bath for about 4
rooms. It was across the street from the train station, so extremely convenient.
Walking distance to every site. Free internet use! You had locked rooms,
free breakfast and towels. The theme is bright and cheerful. Can't say enough
about the service, too.
Stacy Wheeler <email>
Spring Branch, Tx USA 04/27/03
Blue Dolphin
Blue Dolphin Backpackers Hostel in Penzance, Cornwall, UK. Clean, friendly,
awesome place to stay. Staff is great (say hi to George for me!), good location,
near the water, walking distance to main bus station, little bus stop at
end of street, fabulous experience. Lots of help with local information.
You won't regret staying there.
Libby <email>
Philadelphia, PA USA 04/17/03
European Hostels
I have traveled across most of Europe hostelling. Here are my opinions:
Montpellier, France — HI hostel — always packed. Staff never seem to be off the the phone in this place accepting reservations. Very friendly and obliging.
Hamburg, Germany — Instant Sleep — possibly the cleanest hostel i've ever stayed in but staff are rude. Cool bar with bean bags and pool table.
Heidelberg, Germany — HI hostel — Palatial but mostly seems to be crammed with busloads of German schoolkids on tours, even in July. Hostel has bar which was usually empty. Location of hostel was awful. A 2 km walk to the centre of town.
Prague — Clown and Bard hostel — Possibly the best breakfasts in Eastern Europe are served here. The bar(with piano) is kicking and beer is cheap. The dorm rooms sleep about 7. There is one bed in every dorm room that is on a kind of loft area that is basically like sleeping on a bookshelf. Make sure you avoid this one when booking!. Otherwise recommended.
Helsinki HI hostel — this hostel rocks! Even if you have to be quiet after 1 am or so. Staff could not have been nicer. Great location. Cool chill out room. A lot better than Eurohostel in Helsinki.
Zagreb HI hostel — possibly the worst hostel in
Europe. Feels like sleeping in a Russian hospital. This place is literally
crumbling away. Toilet doors hanging off their hinges and blocked showers.
Areas to relax are non-existant. Staff not very warm or pleasant.
Robert L.
Ireland 04/07/03
Dublin Hostel
I stayed at 2 hostels during a recent trip to dublin. Jacob's Inn is clean
and nice — breakfast isn't the best but the kitchen is a lifesaver. The
location (right by the bus station) is great. I also stayed at the four
courts hostel. Again, very clean, but I stayed in a 16 bed dorm and there
was another large dorm room that could only be accessed through my room.
This meant a lot of noise throughout the night. Also, the two large dorm
rooms (around 30 people) share two showers which makes things difficult
in the mornings.
Liz <email>
Toronto, Canada 04/07/03
4 You, Munchen
The 4 You in Munich was not the best hostel experience I have ever had.
You can hear absolutely everything that goes on there, which makes sleeping
really difficult. They claim to be an "ecological hostel", but that's just
their excuse for being cheap. They offer rough squares of paper napkins
for toilet paper, no soap in the bathrooms, and there were a lot of kids
(as in teenagers, and I'm only 23) The worst was the mattress. They were
comfortable and solid in my room, and I liked the bedside locker, but my
mattress had a HUGE blood stain on it that I didn't see until the next morning.
It's in a great location (1 minute walk to the train station), and there
are no curfews. The staff is really uptight, and the guests were there to
sleep and leave, so there was no atmosphere to it. I didn't have the time
of my life there and probably won't stay there again.
Rye
Germany 04/05/03
The best hostel in Europe
The Euro Youth Hotel in Munich has to be the best hostel I've stayed at
in Europe. Spotless rooms, awesome staff and knockout beer. I'd recommend
it to anyone of any age. Enjoy.
stanley <email>
pittsburgh, pa USA 04/03/03
places to stay in Italy
SORRENTO: Ostello le Sirene — really close to the train station, squeaky
bunk beds, really crap rooms, breakfast included and internet access (but
you gotta pay for access)
CAPRI: Bussola di Hermes — run by really friendly and helpful Rita, they're expanding so lots of construction while I was there, only bad thing is they were pretty hidden but give them a call when you get into town and they'll pick you up
SIENA: Soggiorno Lo Stellino — clean room and facilities, staff not very knowledgable
FLORENCE: Locanda Starlight — clean room and facilities, close to train station, staff never there, pretty much there on your own
CINQUE TERRE: Mar Mar Rooms — 12 people having to share 1 bathroom was a bit tough, shared kitchen good, really close to the train station, co-ed
VENICE: Casa Gerotto — clean room and facility, curfew at 12:30a, close to train station
ROME: Gulliver's House — very clean, breakfast and lockers provided, curfew at 1a and lockout from 12p-4p, kitchen available but must pay for each use, staff extremely helpful and a very cute dog who hangs out with you
Hostel Des Artistes — clean room and facilities,
free internet access, really close to Termini, supermarket, and a really
good pizza place
Elaine <email>
San Diego, CA USA 03/29/03
The Beehive
Spent six days at the Beehive in Rome and it was fantastic. The staff were
extremely friendly and helpful. The communal kitchen they have is a great
way to cut down on meal costs and meet other people.
Jose Collazo <email>
Miami, Fl USA 03/27/03
4U Hostel, Munich Germany
This is the worst hostel I have ever been to. I have stayed at literally
hundreds of hostels around the world, from Scotland to Thailand, and this
was easily the worst experience I have ever had. Most hostels cater to travelers
and backpackers who are on a trip. This means that they are doing a lot
during the days and just want a quiet, clean, comfortable place to sleep.
The 4U hostel in Munich provided none of this.
The noise was deafening! Their policy of allowing groups of teenagers is horrible and should be reexamined. Many hostels do not accept these groups because they are so horrible. All we wanted to do was sleep, but there was screaming and running and god knows what until 2 in the morning. It probably went on longer, but that's when we left. Also, the rooms were not clean nor was the main floor lounge. The comforter on the bed was filthy and had blood stains on it. The bunk beds did not look stable either and we were afraid that they would collapse.
If you want a comfortable, clean, hostel where
you can get a good night's sleep and hang out with fellow travelers, this
is NOT the place.
Matt <email>
Washington, DC USA 03/26/03
Great Place to stay in Florence Italy!
I'm currently studying in France for a semester and decided to spend my
winter break taking a trip to Italy. It was my first time there and I was
pleasantly surprised with the quality of lodging we found. Leonardo's House
in Florence deserves particular mention because it was inexpensive, close
to the train station, and Leonardo himself was very friendly. A former professor
of the french language, he was happy to chat. The rooms were quiet, clean,
and large and the bathrooms were spacious and sufficient. I would definitely
recommend Leonardo's house to anyone who is looking to have a good experience
in Florence. I went in February and paid only 18€ per night.
Cindy V. <email>
USA 03/18/03
hostels
In Rome, avoid the Colors Hostel. It was not a nice expereience. There were
too many people in the rooms. I stayed at the YWCA, close to Termini Station.
It was clean, and only two beds to a room. It's really nice for women traveling
alone. In venice, Hotel Calerdan, close to the train station, has a nice
set of shared rooms, great deal, wonderful big open windows for the night
sea breeze. I always stay there as it's such a wonderful place.
justine <email>
forest grove , or USA 03/11/03
Hostels in Ireland and London
I highly recommend the Globetrotters Hostel in Dublin. The dorm rooms are
more than comfy. The breakfast was awesome and the staff were wonderful.
We also stayed in the Rainbow hostel on the Dingle peninsula. It's about a mile out of town but still worth it; just like home and with great facilities. Don't let the farm animals throw you off!
In Cork, Sheila's Hostel was well-located (even though it's a hike up a hill!) It's only about 5 minutes from center of town and bus station. My only complaint is if you don't want a co-ed dorm, make sure you specify.
Lastly, I cannot recommend the Caledonia Hostel in London. This was a last minute booking we had to make. The price was relatively inexpensive and it was located near Kings Cross station, but the neighborhood was a bit shady. It was a very minimal type of place but it definitely could've been worse.
My last suggestion is to get Paul Karr's hostel
books. He covers Ireland, the UK, and other countries. The hostels are
rated by Karr and other travelers. It rates many things and also says
how to get there, prices, any extras, all necessary info.
becki <email>
indianapolis, in USA 03/10/03
Hostelworld.com
Want to recommend an excellent site for hostel reservations www.hostelworld.com.
They've got over 3000 hostels in almost 200 countries IMPRESSIVE and a really
easy to use site for bookings.
Cath <email>
New York, NY USA 02/24/03
Berlin, Amsterdam, Prague
The Circus in Berlin was just amazing. The rooms, staff, showers, people,
etc. were all more than you could ask for, for around 15 euros per night.
The owner, Andreas, even took my friends and me out to see what this great
city had to offer.
The Bulldog in Amsterdam is also worth mentioning because of its location and friendly (yet sometimes forgetful) staff. Overall, it was about a 4 out of 6.
Lastly, steer clear of the Advantage hostel and
the Travelers youth hostels in Prague. They were both dirty, had uncomfortable
beds, and a staff that was far from friendly. The city was beautiful but
we found it hard to find a halfway decent hostel. Best luck and safe travels.
David C. <email>
Miami, FL USA 02/19/03
Best European Hostels
My wife and I can both recommend the hostel in the old castle high on the
bluff in Koblenz, Germany. When we took high school kids on European sojourns
they also rated it highly. They especially liked taking the ski lift up
to the castle and the views of the Rhine and Mosel river traffic.
Bud Dorholt <email>
Sheboygan, WI USA 02/16/03
Beehive Hostel, Rome
This place is the worst. I just traveled 32 days through Europe and thought
the Beehive Hostel in Rome was terrible. The staff are rude and the room
was like a jail cell. I moved to the Hotel California by the train station
and it was a thousand times better for the same price.
USA 02/15/03
Kerouac B&B — Rome
The Kerouac B&B is THE place to stay while in Rome, hands down. There are
many choices when it comes to staying in this city, but none are as accessible,
clean, affordable, and friendly as the Kerouac. Rene and Emma are the most
accommodating hosts we have ever stayed with, always ready for questions
and totally willing to go out of their way to help. They make visiting Rome
a true experience. The location of the Kerouac is perfect. Centered in downtown,
the B&B is about 5 minutes from the Coliseum and not much further than that
from the rest of the major attractions in Rome. And in terms of cleanliness,
the Kerouac can't be beat. We have stayed in many hostels and hotels throughout
Europe on several different occasions, and we have yet to find one that
compares with the quality of the Kerouac. Everything is clean, all the time.
Finally, the affordability of this B&B is outstanding. We have stayed in
many places in Europe that have made our skin crawl and cost twice as much.
The rates are extremely low for this level of quality! When in Rome, we
will never stay any place else!!
Cory & Meagan Allen <email>
Battle Ground, WA USA 02/12/03
Maybe long but worth reading.....
Just got back from backpacking across Europe. The greatest time of my life.
Did it alone but was never alone. Met tons of wonderful people from all
over the world. Great time during the holidays. Anywho, here's my advice:
LONDON — The Generator. Holy Wickets Batman, this place is huge, they offer a lot at the hostel: bar, cafeteria, internet room, tourism office. The rooms were quite small though and disapointing. Hot water wasn't great, more like lukewarm, but you get used to it. So overall I give it 3 out of 6 1/2 stars.
AMSTERDAM — The Bulldog. Great place. The rooms had a lot of beds but very spacious. The staff was very friendly, though at times it seems like they stopped by the "brown cafes" before work. Good atmosphere, located in the Red light district and near all the happening spots of Amsterdam. Everything was within walking distance. I rate this hostel 5 out of 6 1/2 stars.
BERLIN — The Circus. This place was better than some 5 star hotels I've stayed at. The atmosphere was amazing. The staff went above and beyond. They knew of all the happening spots for the night. Very young and friendly staff. Berlin was amazing, I've never partied so hard and much. The owner Andreas was very cool. The rooms here were great, tons of open space, some rooms even had a balcony. The bathrooms are very clean and had the BEST showers! They had a coffee shop with food, which was very good, Sophie and Nikki were very friendly and always greeted with a smile. Reception was great. They'll help you out in anyway possible to book you a hostel elsewhere in Europe. They even had a bar downstairs and bring in a DJ a few times a week. This hostel receives 6 1/2 out of 6 1/2 stars!
PRAGUE — Travellers Hostel and Advantage Hostel. STAY AWAY!! Disapointed with the service. Rooms aren't the greatest, I sunk in my bed at the Advantage hostel and the pillows are the funniest things in the world, I think a sheet of paper may be thicker. Both were cheap (about 7 Euros) but I think the majority of Hostels in Prague are cheap. I give them a combined score of 1/2 star out of 6 1/2 stars.
ROME — Alessandros Downtown. Had originally booked in the Palace but its closed, so ended up at their downtown hostel. Heard negative things about this place but I was really impressed. The place was kinda small but very clean. The staff was friendly. They made an effort to bring people together by having group activities. Walking distance from just about everything, very close to the Termini train station. This place gets 5 out of 6 1/2 stars.
Good luck on your trip. If you have any questions
email me.
Vinny Villanueva <email>
USA 01/14/03
Vondelpark Hostel, Amsterdam
I am in complete agreement with Elizabeth about the Vondelpark hostel in
Amsterdam. It truly is terrific. The breakfast is amazing. There are several
types of breads, meats, cheeses, corn flakes, orange juice, milk, coffee
and cappacino, among other items that have slipped my mind. I'm sure that
many fellow travelers know what a typical hostel breakfast can consist of.
I stayed in a 4 bed dorm which was peaceful and the bathroom facilities
were very clean and tidy. The staff was incredibly friendly (as I found
with almost all Dutch people) and very knowledgable. The hostel also has
discounts for museums and boat tours. I would strongly recommend this hostel
to Amsterdam bound travelers. Just a note though...try not to forget something
back at the hostel, as it is a bit longer than a short walk to the hostel
from the street (it's set back on a different quieter street). Have travels!
Amanda <email>
Menifee, CA USA 01/12/03
Hostels Amsterdam
i stayed in a really great hostel in amsterdam, which was also in a very
convenient location. it is the vondelpark city hostel, right on the edge
of vondelpark, a beautiful and quiet city park in central amsterdam. everything
i needed was within walking distance. the room, a six person, was clean,
quiet, very comfortable, and had toilet, shower, and sink,all in seperate
rooms, in the room. the free breakfast was the best ive ever seen and huge.
the hostel has card entry, a very good restaraunt bar, and has a slick hotel
like interior. the hostel is in three sections, the old section which is
a converted school house, a central portion, and a modern tower with more
rooms. it is the best hostel i have ever stayed in, and i have stayed in
A LOT. most other hostels in amstel are basically pay as you sleep frat
houses, or like a really dodgy boarding school.
elizabeth <email>
TX USA 01/11/03
Kerouac B&B
We also stayed at the Kerouac B&B in Rome in Nov. and had absolutely no
complaints. The rooms were clean and large, the bathroom was clean and accessible,
breakfast was filling and we were able to walk everywhere. We even walked
home from the Vatican one day (although we did bus there)! Rene and Maria
were very kind and helpful — much appreciated! And Rene even pointed us
to the most authenic Italian restaurant that we ate at during our whole
month in Italy. Great food, great price.
Jilaire Wagner <email>
Red Deer, Alberta Canada 01/03/03