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Youth Hostels in Europe
By: David Reid (justin) 2007.07.13
Youth hostels are a great way to travel. they are even more
fun, and easy for those on a tight budget. Youth hostels save your cash while you experience the history and culture of your
destination. Many European youth hostels have special perks, amenities and even rules -- so, do your homework so you can choose the youth hostel that fits your
needs. Think about curfews, internet access, bag storage and
especially kitchen availability, all of which can save you money and
a headache.
Keep in mind that although some hostels offer private
rooms. These rooms come at a higher price and most times you will be
sharing both your room and facilities. In the meantime remember to
say hello to those around you. Some of the most interesting people
you will ever meet can be found in youth hostels.
| Hostel World
Hostelworld.com is the flagship website and was the first online hostel booking website out there on the internet. It has over 12,000 properties, predominantly hostels but also offering guesthouses, budget hotels, apartments and campsites. |
Hostels.com
Hostels.com is the largest and most up to date hostel website on the internet listing purely hostels (not hotels, etc.) worldwide with both online bookings and the option to book direct by phone. It has over 10,000 hostels listed. |
| Hostels of Europe
HostelsofEurope.com lists all the independent hostels in Europe that can be booked online. |
Hostel Bookers
Hostel Bookers is another great option. A couple of things make this website stick out from the rest - simplicity of use and no booking fees. Whenr you arrive at the website you’re only one click away from finding youth hostels, and the fact that there’s no registration or membership required also saves you time. With thousands of youth hostels and budget hotels in 1,500 destinations worldwide, a travel news and event section, and guides to most destinations, Hostel Bookers is a pretty decent backpacker and student travel resources. The website is efficient and informative, and you can search hostels by price or customer ratings. Hostel Bookers also run a free group booking service for groups of 10 or more people. |
Boots 'n All
Bootsnall.com-- Two points for a cool logo. And three more for an exhaustive list of youth hostels and easy interface for reservations. Even though these points I’ve just handed out are made of Monopoly money, Bootsnall really does have more than 6000 hostels in 50-plus nations around the world. You can peruse the list of European youth hostels by city or country, check out all the different youth hostel features (does it have Internet, a washer & dryer?) and even find maps to individual youth hostels. There is also a link for relatively unbiased youth hostel reviews (i.e. not “sponsored”), but it’s rather disorganized. Once there, use your browser’s “search” or “find” feature to zoom in on comments for your favorite city. |
Hostels1
Hostels1.com allows y ou to make very secure, guaranteed reservations on this site, or so they say. I, for one, happen to believe them. This site is all about North and South America, so those seeking youth hostels in Helsinki, or in the Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov are not welcome here (don’t worry we have other sites for you!). A very solid place for your New World youth hostel needs.
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Hostels Club
At HostelsClub.com, t he Prez and VP of the Hostelsclub appear to be one sexy virtual pair: a tank-topped dude with mini-dreads and a lady friend decked out in a newsies’ cap. I asked them what makes their site so swell, and this is what they told me: You can book European Youth hostels from pretty much anywhere, and shortcut straight to top destinations. If you’re cool enough to be invited to join the Hostelsclub, you can check out the online magazine, city guides and see how a hostel fares on its stoplight system (green ones are the best, avoid hostels that have a red light… unless you’re in Amsterdam that is.) |
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