My wife and I are middle aged and are considering buy International Hostelling Memberships for cheaper accomdations. If anyone has stayed and any and have any opinions or advice it would help greatly. We plan on travelling in oct and would be looking for a room for us with a shower and washroom, maybe a little peace and quiet if thats possible. Thanks alot.

You might want to try these bulletin boards: <BR>http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntre...est/topics.htm <BR>www.eurotrip.com/cgi-bin/bb/Ultimate.cgi <BR>www.hostels.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/index.pl <BR> <BR>I've stayed in hostels in the US and found them sufficiently comfortable, and am hoping to find the same in Europe too!

I haven't personally stayed in one, and probably wouldn't even at gunpoint (ha, ha), but know some younger people (ie, in their 20s) who have and think you might have unrealistic ideas about how much money you'll save (and what some hostels are like). Since there are two of you, a very basic, budget hotel may likely be no more (or very little more) than 2 hostel fees. What you want sounds like a hotel room (private room with shower) and some hostels don't have these or not many; those that do, they cost more than the multi-person dorm-type rooms and can be as much as a cheap hotel. Some hostels can be filthy and filled with very loud, drunken, etc. young people who make noise to all hours. I've also heard stories of extreme filth, rats, people having sex in front of others, etc., and some are in rather out of the way places, also, like in the suburbs (several of the HI Parisian hostels are in the burbs). Anyway, those are just some thoughts from what I've heard from others I trust who have stayed in them. There are undoubtedly some that are decent and that you might find acceptable, but if I were you, I'd try to get better estimates of hostel rates for private double rooms, whether such a place is available where you're going, and compare those rates to some good budget hotel recommendations. To get some idea, Fodors here has a few good budget hotel recommendations in the online stuff; also Timeout Guides has an online site with good free info and rather extensive hotel descriptions -- go to www.timeout.co.uk (I think), then the city you want, then accommodations, then budget. Roughguides also has some good info on their WEBsite www.roughguides.com, but I think their prices are wrong from what I've seen--double them as I think they are per person assuming a double room, although they don't explain this.

I have stayed in many hostels across Europe and fond my stay in most of them just fine. Most of them were clean and the staff friendly. I bought a HI card and only used it once. However, for the price, it may come in handy if you do need it. I didn't think it was a waste of money. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to send me an email.

<BR>We are senior citizens and have stayed at several hostels in Italy and Austria. Some are better than others. They are not as cheap as they used to be and sometimes a room in a private home. B%B, is about the same price and more like staying with a distant relative. We have never had a IYH card and were never ask for one. Some places say it costs a little more without one but we did not find that. Look at <BR>www.ricksteves.com <BR>go to the grafetti board and then Best Euopean hostels for some comments with reports of good and not so good ones. I think you should try it. You meet mostly well traveled young people from all over the world who are very interesting. Also look at <BR>www.iyhf.org for information on various hostels with addrsses, phone numbers, email and fax numbers.

When I went to Europe for the first time I stayed excusively in hostels. Okay, so I was only 21, but my friend and I encountered many older types staying in them as well. I think your best bet would be to check out the websites listed here already as well as copies of "Let's Go" or the "Lonely Planet". They aren't great as guidebooks, as a rule, but they have the most extensive hostel listings of any guidebooks. And don't limit yourself to HI hostels, either. In my experience it is harder to find doubles at HI hostels than at independent hostels, and independent hostels have less rules. I'm not sure an HI membership is worth it, really. <BR> <BR>I beg to differ on the point that they may not be as cheap as you think. The most expensive we encountered four years ago were about $20 a night each. Double rooms may be a few dollars more, but it's a negligible amount. However, finding doubles with private bathrooms may be more of a problem. If you don't mind going down the hall, I think hostelling is a great idea to save a few dollars. <BR> <BR>I think out of all the many hostels we stayed at, all over Europe, I only had complaints about two of them. One is closed now. The other was in Amsterdam. ("Well, you can't smoke drugs in the bar, but you can in the dorms." Enough said.) <BR> <BR>I had such a good time staying at hostels and meeting so many great people that I tried to convince my husband that we should stay in a few when we went to Europe on our honeymoon. Unfortunately we never did. And we never found a budget hotel for under $70 a night... and even some that cost more were dirty and dumpy, compared to the clean hostels I've stayed in. Nor did those budget hotels provide breakfast like the hostels did. This is why I think hostels are a better budget alternative. My husband and I also didn't meet very many people, and I find meeting people adds so much more to your trip. As for hostelling types being maybe younger than you are, I don't think that's an issue. People who travel, young or old, are just plain interesting, and will have great stories to tell you of their own travel experiences. Especially at the time of year you plan to go -- the younger ones will be back at school! Avoid the popular party hostels...there are a few listed on the Web (look for the "top ten"). These include Balmer's in Interlaken, Yoho in Salzburg, the Pink Palace in Corfu, and the like. I stayed in the first two and they were clean and nice and friendly, but the partying was definitely a bit annoying. <BR> <BR>If you opt for the budget hotel route, or a combination of hostels and budget hotels, do get Rick Steves "Best of Europe" or specific country guides for where you plan to go. The listings are generally decent, and sometimes you'll get a discount if you walk in with his book in your hand. Steves usually lists at least one hostel for each location, too. <BR> <BR>Have fun!

Did the legwork for you. Here's the top ten... no locations listed but if you see these names, RUN! Also add Faulty Towers in Rome to the list. <BR> <BR>Bauhaus International Youth Hotel. <BR>Balmer's Herberge. <BR>YOHO. <BR>The Flying Pig. <BR>The Three Ducks. <BR>Castle Rock Hostel. <BR>The Pink Palace. <BR>The Generator. <BR>Avalon House. <BR>Kabul Hostel. <BR> <BR>These are the two websites where I found this list: <BR> <BR>www.hostelwatch.com <BR>www.hostelseurope.com/top10.html <BR> <BR>I forgot to mention... another budget bonus. Many hostels also have guest kitchens, so you can save a bundle if you whip up the occasional dinner yourself! Guest kitchens are more common in the north, I found. <BR> <BR> <BR>Feel free to email me if you have any other questions!

Question: Can 4 people stay in 1 hostel room? My 3 friends and I will be in France and Italy in Late Dec-early Jan and are thinking about staying a few hostels. Does each person pay individually, or can you get a room rate for 4 people. <BR> <BR>Thanks.

Many hostels have rooms for four and though the rate does go up, it's not always by a factor of 4.