Safe, Clean Hostels
May 9th, 1998, 08:28 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Safe, Clean Hostels
My daughter and her friend (23 years old) will be backpacking across Europe in Aug. and Sept. They are planning to stay in hostels and with a friend in Slovenia. They are planning to join International Youth Hostelling but need first-hand info on the best hostels in London, Paris, Switzerland, Germany etc. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
May 18th, 1998, 07:42 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
First of all, they should get a copy of _Let's Go_. It lists most of the hostels to be found. Try finding an older copy and then ripping out the chapters they need (it's too big to lug around!).
Balmers Herberge in Interlaken, Switzerland is a good one, and a great place to stay if they want to do some hiking in the Jungfrau region of the Alps.
The International Youth Hotel in Salzburg is also a good one. Jules Ferry in Paris is supposed to be good, but are often busy -- tell them to call a couple days before they get there (my friend and I didn't get in because we arrived in Paris on the Easter long weekend).
Do NOT stay in Hotel Sandy in Rome. The staff are rude and it's a dump.
Ostello Archi Rossi is an excellent hostel in Florence, though it's not often listed in guidebooks because it is so new. It's at via Faenza, 94 r, 50123 Florence. Ph# 055/290804. It's just a few blocks from the train station and is quite central. The hostel in Fussen (near Mad King Ludwig's castle) is clean and in a nice area. It is an HI hostel. HI hostels are generally clean, offer breakfast and are helpful with the area, but often have long lockouts, which can be a problem if you're sick (you hope not to be, but it happens -- I did not have a good time walking around in the pouring rain in Sorrento for six hours when I was deathly ill with a flu). If they are going to Amsterdam and want to avoid general scumminess they should consider staying at one of the Christian hostels, or out in a little town called "Haarlem", which is more quiet and safe than Amsterdam, and only 20 minutes away by train. My friend and I stayed at a hostel near the train station in Amsterdam where drugs were not permitted in the bar, but were allowed in the dorm rooms, and it wasn't pleasant.
One more tip: always try to arrive in big cities before noon so the options for accomodations are still open. Or call a place before you leave for your next city. Never arrive late at night, and try not to follow the people at the train station who offer to find a room for you (it's okay if you are stranded, but the places can be real dives).
Good luck to them...and to keep your mind at ease, Dad, I'm female, and I went to Europe with a girlfriend when we were 20 (1995). If they stick together, act confidently, and use money belts under their clothes for their passports, travelers cheques, rail passes, etc there is nothing to worry about. And since you are hooked up to the net, get them to get web-based email addresses so they can send and receive email in cybercafes in Europe (probably cheaper than calling long distance!).
Balmers Herberge in Interlaken, Switzerland is a good one, and a great place to stay if they want to do some hiking in the Jungfrau region of the Alps.
The International Youth Hotel in Salzburg is also a good one. Jules Ferry in Paris is supposed to be good, but are often busy -- tell them to call a couple days before they get there (my friend and I didn't get in because we arrived in Paris on the Easter long weekend).
Do NOT stay in Hotel Sandy in Rome. The staff are rude and it's a dump.
Ostello Archi Rossi is an excellent hostel in Florence, though it's not often listed in guidebooks because it is so new. It's at via Faenza, 94 r, 50123 Florence. Ph# 055/290804. It's just a few blocks from the train station and is quite central. The hostel in Fussen (near Mad King Ludwig's castle) is clean and in a nice area. It is an HI hostel. HI hostels are generally clean, offer breakfast and are helpful with the area, but often have long lockouts, which can be a problem if you're sick (you hope not to be, but it happens -- I did not have a good time walking around in the pouring rain in Sorrento for six hours when I was deathly ill with a flu). If they are going to Amsterdam and want to avoid general scumminess they should consider staying at one of the Christian hostels, or out in a little town called "Haarlem", which is more quiet and safe than Amsterdam, and only 20 minutes away by train. My friend and I stayed at a hostel near the train station in Amsterdam where drugs were not permitted in the bar, but were allowed in the dorm rooms, and it wasn't pleasant.
One more tip: always try to arrive in big cities before noon so the options for accomodations are still open. Or call a place before you leave for your next city. Never arrive late at night, and try not to follow the people at the train station who offer to find a room for you (it's okay if you are stranded, but the places can be real dives).
Good luck to them...and to keep your mind at ease, Dad, I'm female, and I went to Europe with a girlfriend when we were 20 (1995). If they stick together, act confidently, and use money belts under their clothes for their passports, travelers cheques, rail passes, etc there is nothing to worry about. And since you are hooked up to the net, get them to get web-based email addresses so they can send and receive email in cybercafes in Europe (probably cheaper than calling long distance!).
May 19th, 1998, 01:25 PM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
I'm not a hostelling expert, but know there are
several good WEB sites with specific information
on them. Go to www.eurotrip.com for general
info on hostels and a list with reviews of them.
There is a very extensive hostel WEB site at
www.hostels.com that gives lots of links, info,
and has a bulletin board where you can get more
specific info and read advice--I don't think it has
a review section, though. Furthermore, there are
many student-oriented travel guidebooks with
information on them. You shouldn't plan a trip or
go to Europe with at least one (if not more) good
guidebooks, so you'll have to get one anyway.
I think Let's Go is not very good, myself -- try the
Rouge Guides who also have most of their
European book on-line at www.wired.com. I think
they review hostels, plus VERY cheap hotels and
other budget accommodations.
several good WEB sites with specific information
on them. Go to www.eurotrip.com for general
info on hostels and a list with reviews of them.
There is a very extensive hostel WEB site at
www.hostels.com that gives lots of links, info,
and has a bulletin board where you can get more
specific info and read advice--I don't think it has
a review section, though. Furthermore, there are
many student-oriented travel guidebooks with
information on them. You shouldn't plan a trip or
go to Europe with at least one (if not more) good
guidebooks, so you'll have to get one anyway.
I think Let's Go is not very good, myself -- try the
Rouge Guides who also have most of their
European book on-line at www.wired.com. I think
they review hostels, plus VERY cheap hotels and
other budget accommodations.
May 19th, 1998, 02:41 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Debbie, I have a 23 year old daughter doing the same thing this July and August with her girlfriend. My daughter has picked up lots of information on campus at her university. Seems they have just about every kind of info including Eurail passes, etc. I know she also made a reservation for the first night they arrive in Europe which will be in Paris. Had no problems with making reservations and received a confirmation FAX. I will equip her with a phone card but she told me lots of hostels have computers so she can e mail me as to where she will be. Also, I believe www.aftotravel.com is a site with youth hostel info.
