Bed and Breakfasts v. Hostels
 

Hi, I'm 18 traveling to Europe for the first time. I'm wondering the benefits of staying in bed and breakfasts versus staying in youth hostels. Are bed and breakfasts generally about the same price as the hostels? And are they safer for a young woman alone than the youth hostels?

I think I am more than qualified to answer this question as 1) I am a female who always travels solo and 2) I have stayed in my share of both hostels and B&Bs.

This is my thoughts. Take them as you will.

My 1st time in a hostel was in 1997. I was 24 and went from London (where I had accomodations at Roehampton College) to Brussels. I was an avid listener to "Rick Steves" at that time and was under the impression that all hostels were same sex. WRONG!! I soon found out I was in a 12 person mixed dorm and it was filled with Europeans (i.e. they are not afraid to walk around nude) It was loud, the bunk beds were uncomfortable. There was a toilet down the hall. For breakfast I got a roll, a package of jam, a pat of butter and an 1 inch square of cheese.(this was issued at the bar downstairs) ... But the place really wasn't a dump. I can say that much for it.

I then learned to make sure I stayed in single sex rooms (I'm not a prude... but you have to be careful)-I have had some better experiences, but not much better. Most of these places you have to bring your own sheets and towels.- and you never know what kind of person (same sex or not) will be in your room.

I KNOW that a lot of guide books say that hostels are good for families, but I honestly have not seen that. From my experiences, hostels (no matter how carefully I always tried to choose them) turned out to be uncomfortable places geared towards people who "like to party." - I was just never like that. Not even when I was 18.

B&Bs on the other hand, are (IMO) the best. Breakfasts are usually very nice and generous (can fill you up til much later in the day saving you $$), the hosts/hostesses are always very accomidating and eager to help you with your travels, you can make friends with the other guests, and you get a good comfortable nights sleep where sheets and towels are provided!
(and you don't have to pick a very expensive B&B either! Some of the best ones I stayed in where not that much more than the price of a hostel)

But then again, you could be the type of young person who likes a party atmosphere. Just because I don't doesn't mean that it is wrong! - But I hope I have given you the basics of what each accomodation is about so you can decide what is best for you.

Thank you so much!! No, I am not the type of person who "likes to party" overmuch...I am going to Europe to see the sights and try to get some experience on my own before going off to college, not to get drunk and cut a hook-up swath through the EU!! lol Truly, your advice was very helpful, my next question is: I know B&Bs are common in Ireland, but what about places like Nice/South of France, Florence, Venice...and is staying in a hotel or hostel in the big cities like Paris, London, and Rome absolutely necessary?? Is there no cheaper (and more me-friendly) alternative?

For my next trip to Enggland and Belgium I will be staying in ALL B&Bs. I will never do a hostel again as long as I live. :)

I have found 2 GORGEOUS B&Bs in the suburbs of London (one North -one South) and both only 15-20minutes from the city center! (also, being in the suburbs gives you more places to travel...every neighborhood has its own special village feel)

I also found a nice one for my stay in Bath, Brighton and Brugge. ... Planning is everything when choosing a B&B. There is a lot of competition out there - you want to know you are getting the best rate for the services they provide. Look at websites. Most will show pictures of the bedrooms and bathroom/toilet. See if it looks comfortable. I especially like when they talk about the breakfast they will prepare for you. :) I prefer places that serve in a dining room to ones that will bring breakfast to my room. (That's not as friendly - and it usually means just cereal or something like that.) Also make sure they are not to far from where you want to be, and if using public transportation (which from your other thread I gather you will be) make sure it is accessible.

I know that B&Bs are very popular all over Europe. (Not like the US when a B&B is more like a fancy resort) You will have no problems finding one in any town you want to go.

Just do a web search. Google is very good.

Yes there are similar places in other locations, although maybe by a different name than B&B (for instance 'pensione'). Other non-hotel options include renting a single room in a home, sometimes people are at the train stations offering this, or staying in Convents that are open to travelers.

At any age I couldn't have done the hostel thing, simply because I am not and never was a big "group" person. I don't mind sharing a toilet down the hall with strangers but really would always want a private bedroom.

Hi again,

let me take the opposite opinion (having traveled by myself for over 10 months in W'Europe) . . .

only stay in YHA hostels. you are guaranteed to get a pretty regulated atmosphere -- unline the party-central, smoking & drinking hostels. YHAs will call ahead to book a bed for you, so you don't have to hope to get somewhere when you hit the next town. and all the wings i stayed in were strictly segregated by sex. yep curfews can be a bummer, but they're usually not too early.

as an example of good YHA service, i once had to overnight in Geneva, en route to a wedding in Brittany the next day (2 long TGV trips). i had a reservation at the GeneveYHA, was given my assigned room -- and what? -- every bunk was taken.

in french & english, i quickly figured out that 1 of the french-speakers in the room (most of the others were americans) did *not* have a reservation, or even a YHA card. went down to reception double-fast-quick, and 2 staffers hustled up to get interloper woman out of my bed (almost had to call the police). they were also very apologetic for the trouble.

hostels are cheaper than b&b's, more central, and less priggish/uptight in my experience. i hate making small-talk over breakfast before my coffee, and every b&b brekkie i've ever had has been so chirpy and hey-let's-get-to-know-ya, when all i want to do is study up my guidebook or read the newspaper while enjoying come caffeine & a croissant.

plus i've had some horrific UK b&b experiences, with hosts from hell.

check the YHAs out at

http://www.hihostels.com/

they're safe, clean & comfortable. and totally invest in let's go, lonely planet, time out & rough guides. rick steves is a goofball strictly for over-55s IMO.
hth, happy planning!!

In my experience, many European hostels charge for sheets, but very few do not have any sheets at all available. If you plan ahead, you would figure this out in advance, so you won't be surprised. Few European hostels have towels available, but some do for a fee. Similarly, you can ensure that you will have a single-sex room or whatever other requirementsyou want. I'd recommend reading the hostel reviews at http://www.bugeurope.com and planning in advance to make sure you have a positive hostel experience.

This is way out of my expertise: B+Bs are places I stay in only if walking somewhere with unreliable hotels, and it's many, many decades since I swore never to darken a hostel door again.

BUT:

Driving around, the overwhelming majority of the B+Bs I see are accessible only by car, or by a once-every fourth Tuesday bus. Virtually all hostels are, by their very nature, reasonably convenient for access on foot or by good public transport.

That's not to say there are no B+Bs an 18 yo can get to. But they often may not really be an option, so it's very unwise to plan on touring without using hostels.

ALSO:
In my youth, hostels were where you got your social life. B+Bs are seldom good for avoiding loneliness.

Every European country and city is different. Some have lots of cheap hotels, others have cheap private rooms or bed & breakfasts, and others have little except hostels and expensive hotels. In Britain and Ireland, bed and breakfasts are by far the best option whether you're using public transport or dependent on a car - they are friendly, plentiful and reasonably priced. Generally, B&Bs along main roads rely on a sign outside to get customers, while those in city centres rely on bookings through tourist offices so do not display signs outside.

dancinchica: B&B's are a cheap and accessible option in smaller towns, but since you have mostly larger cities on your itinerary, you should pay attention to flanneruk's comments about their limited accessibility; you'll probably need to spend a good deal of time coming and going from the suburb where your B&B is located. Hostels are usually better situated. You'll want to check on location of course before deciding.

For someone who wants a calm, non-party atmosphere, I generally agree that the HI hostels are a much better option than the privately operated hostels, which tend to be party zones. Many HI hostels nowadays are much more like hotels in that they offer small rooms with 2-6 beds rather than huge dormitories of the past. Most (not all) are separate-sex rooms with lockers and private bath. Families are using them more and more than in the past. HI hostels are usually government-supported in part but they have had to become more self-supporting over the years, and their strategy has been to make the places more desirable for families and school groups on field trips.

In large-city hostels, however, independent travelers like yourself are still commonplace. The cool thing about hostels is that you can usually meet other travelers not just in your room but in the dining rooms, rec rooms, etc. that most hostels offer. Some HI hostels also have cafes that offer reasonably-priced food and drink and a chance to meet others.

I usually stay in both hostels and B&B's with my family, depending on the circumstances. A few more differences to consider: If you're like me and you enjoy getting an early start, this can be a problem at some B&B's since some owners don't want to serve breafkast until 8 or 8:30; hostels usually offer breakfast at around 7:00 or 7:30. For breakfast, hostels often have an open buffet set-up with a variety of foods; B&B's are more limited, as a rule, in what is offered. Hostels often accept credit cards; B&B's rarely do. Unlike B&B's, hostels can often book future destinations for you. B&B's are great for gaining a glimpse at typical home life, while hostels usually feel a bit more institutional than homey. Also, B&B's are usually quieter - no small children or bouncy pre-teens, usually; for hostels, it's a good idea to take some earplugs just in case you end up next to a noisy room.

So don't be afraid of hostels, but do be choosy about them and find out as much as you can about the ones you choose in advance.

Enjoy your trip.
Russ

Consider pensions as well. Many are much like B&Bs in the USA. We have stayed in B&Bs and pensions in Germany, and they are much nicer than hostels. Single rooms with private bath and breakfast are easy to find in the 25-35 euro range many places. You can be as chirpy at breakfast as you want to be, or not.