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Backpacking In Europe? Stay In Hostels!
By Matt Reider, Thu Dec 8th
A Few Words About Hostelling Hostels are generally fantastic places to be. The people who arethere are passionate about travelling, there is lots ofcamaraderie and a strong sense of community between travellers.It is in the hostel, not a guidebook that you will found out thebest places to go, great places to get discounts at and loads ofother tips about what is worth the money and what isn’t. It isalso common for groups of people to travel together for a fewdays after meeting at a hostel. This relaxed, communal atmosphere does not mean, however, thatyou can be completely naive about leaving your stuff in plainsight. If you are going to be out for long periods of the day,it is probably best to buy a PacSafe. This is essentially aslash-proof wire net that you can lock around your pack so peskyfingers cannot explore while you’re out on the town. Older hostels generally offer dorm style rooms separated by sexbut the trend is for most modern hostels to offer single, doubleand four-bedded accommodation as well. Private accommodation ismore expensive but having a room to yourself can be a luxurioustreat, especially when the thought of having another nightssleep interrupted by selection from the Snoring Chorus is enoughto bring on a nervous breakdown. It is traditional for hostels to ask their guests to help withthe some chores during their stay. Most city hostels just askyou to put your linen in the laundry but some rural hostels willexpect more of a commitment. If you have completely blown yourbudget, it is possible to negotiate a free night’s accommodationin exchange
for doing some extra housekeeping chores. Don’tcount on this every night however, or you’ll end up spendingyour entire vacation doing dishes.If you are planning to do a lot of hostelling, it is wise toinvestigate the situation from home first. The Youth HostellingAssociation, for example offers a membership card that entitlesyou to a reduced rate whilst staying at recognised sites.Hostelling International (HI) is the largest chain of hostels inthe world. All HI sites require a YHA membership card to bepresented when you turn up. These cards should be purchased inyour home country before you leave. There are plenty of private hostels available as well, but talesof infantile curfews, bedbug infestations and slightly derangedowners abound so if at all possible; it is best to stick withrecognised brand. If you are thinking of booking a privatehostel, do Google search first so see if there is anythinguntoward written about it. You may have realised that you and your friends are not the onlypeople that are going to be
through Europe in thesummer. If you are travelling in July and August, it is best totry and book your hostel ahead for some places, especiallypopular cities like Rome, Paris, London and Venice. Although itis tempting to be completely spontaneous, you may find yourselfwithout a place to stay, especially at the weekend.
Hostelling is where you'll make some of the best memories ofyour travels!
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