My husband and I are planning a backpacking trip to Munich, Venice, Rome, Florence, possibly Naples in May 2009.
I am nervous about being able to get a hostel if we do not reserve beforehand, since we are going at a busy time. Is it necessary to reserve hostel rooms in advance?

I think you will be fine for Florence and Rome since they also have many convents and monasteries that rent rooms.

Absolutely. There are good hostels and awful ones - and without reservations you don't know where you'll end up.

Be a member, or course, and have the list handy, if necessary go to the nearest town that has another hostel, with a backpack you are, by definition, a flexible traveller. Call ahead from one to the next, rather than making all reservations beforehand, that would take away some of that flexibility.

Hi am,

If budget accomodations are very important to you, I suggest making reservations in advance.