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What is a youth hostel?

Youth hostels are low-cost, short-term accommodations for travelers of all ages. They are unusual in that nearly all facilities are shared with other guests. They range in price from about $10-20 per day (or as much as $50.00 in London) and you can usually stay from 3 to 5 days at the most. As you read this handout, you will find numerous "usually", "generally", "some", "most", and "not always." This is because hostels really do vary tremendously, both in style and rules and regulations. Some are in gorgeous old castles; others are dingy and utilitarian. Some you will rave about, others you will want to add to the Worst Hostel list on the Web. "What is a Youth Hostel?" That truly is a difficult question to answer due to the great variety of accommodations.

Do I have to be a member to stay at a hostel?

Maybe yes, maybe no -- everything depends on the hostel. As ambiguous as this sound, it is accurate. Some hostels don't care if you are a member or not. Some will make you buy a temporary membership. Some will make you buy the year-long membership. And some will simply give priority to members, making the non-members stand around until 5:00 (or some other designated hour) while members get beds. And some will allow non-members to stay only when accompanied by a Youth Hostel member. Ask! Having the card, however, will allow you to stay in any hostel anywhere in the world. Generally, members pay a lower price for the bed, usually $2-5 less. In some countries a membership card will also entitle you to various discounts on museums, sports facilities, and local tours. Exactly where you can get these discounts is unclear but it is worth showing your hostel card and hoping for the best.
You can find hostel listings in the world-wide guides published by Hostelling International (HI) to find hostels where you will be traveling, online on the HI website and in the official HI guides. There are two volumes, one for Europe and the Mediterranean and one for the rest of the world. You may not need them though if you already own a good budget travel book like Let's Go: Europe. We recommend the standard guidebooks over the HI guides because they list all the hostels in the major cities as well as other cheap accommodations, while the HI guides only list official HI hostels and give less of a description. The standard guides are best if you are traveling to the larger cities and major destinations, but the HI guides may be best for the smaller cities. Let's Go is great for Europe. For other regions of the world, The Lonely Planet and Rough Guides offer complete listings for budget accommodation. A guide to hostels in North America comes free with your membership if you join in the U.S.

Where are hostels located? Who can stay in a hostel?

It is true that over half of the youth hostels in the world are in Europe, with the greatest concentration in Germany, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, and Eastern Europe. However, there are hundreds of hostels in Australia, certain countries in Africa, Asia, and North and South America and in the Arab world. There are several hundred hostels in Japan alone, more than in France or Spain. In nearly every part of the world, in cities and towns and in villages in the countryside, you can find youth hostels. The same membership card allows you access to all of them.
HOSTELS AREN'T JUST FOR YOUTHS! Although they were originally designed for young students, and some hostels still give preference to people under the age of 26 (official Hostel International member hostels in Bavaria do have an upper age limit of 26), most hostels around the world are open for everyone to use. Typical hostellers are under 30, but family and retiree groups also frequent hostels. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and some hostels will accommodate children under 5.

What are hostels like?

Youth hostels vary greatly. Some, common in the US, are merely private homes with extra rooms. Others, more common in Europe, are public buildings which the local Youth Hostel Association has turned into hostels capable of housing dozens or even hundreds of people. Some of the nicer ones are even renovated historical structures such as castles. Except for those designed primarily for hikers, hostels can easily be reached by public transportation and many are just a short walk from a nearby train station. Wandering a little further away may yield a cheaper rate.
Don't expect the Holiday Inn. The hostels' main purpose is to serve as short-term lodging at rock-bottom cost. They are typically arranged in dormitory style. You are provided with a bed in a room which holds eight or more people with sleeping areas that are usually segregated for men and women (although a number of hostels have family rooms and some two- and four-person rooms). You are also provided with a place to shower (in a few countries the water may be cold, or you might have to pay extra for hot water or pay for the shower). Cooking and laundry facilities are available in many places. Breakfast may be included in the price and some hostels serve dinner for an additional low cost. Furthermore, you can make phone calls from a hostel, and you can even have your mail forwarded to you there (sending money or valuables in this manner is not recommended).

What are their advantages?

The major advantage is low cost. In many hostels a night's lodging can be as low as $10-20. In the major cities costs may be considerably higher, as much as $50 per night in London, though less in other cities such as Berlin.
Another advantage is that hostels--unlike hotels-- provide an opportunity to meet other people who are traveling on a low budget. With them you can share travel experiences and tips. You can make new friends or even find a traveling companion. Most hostels provide common rooms with pool tables, chess boards, and the like where you can spend time getting to know those with whom you are staying. Some have snack bars or bars. This is a great way to meet new people.
Hostels are also a good source of travel information, tourist maps and information about events in town. The desk people often have local tips and advice and some will call you a taxi if you need to leave early in the morning.

What are their disadvantages?

Most city hostels have a curfew of midnight or 1:00 a.m. Hostels in small towns or villages, however, may close as early as 10:00 or 11:00 pm. After the curfew the doors are locked and you cannot get in or out, although in Australia and a few other countries the manager may allow you to rent an outside entrance key. Most also require that hostellers be up and out by 10:00 a.m. so they can close during the daytime hours (from about 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to lower operation costs. Additionally, there is a limit of 3-5 nights that you can spend in any one hostel, although this is largely ignored except when the hostel is crowded and in demand by others.
A hostel provides you with only a place to sleep and shower. You might want some kind of flip-flops to wear in the shower. Usually, you must provide everything else: washing articles, towels, and linens although some do provide linen or rent for a minimal charge. Note that for sanitary reasons, most hostels say that they refuse sleeping bags although many students have had no problem with this. If you intend to stay at many youth hostels you might consider purchasing your own universally accepted sleep sack. This is basically two sheets sewn together to form a large bag with a flap attached to serve as a pillow case; many travelers opt to make their own. You can buy one for $13.50 from the U-M International Center, or you can rent one ($3-5) from each of the hostels you visit. The hostels supply blankets and pillows.
Your chances are usually very good of getting a bed. However, some destinations and times of the year are more popular, and hostels in demand during this busy season can fill up quickly. Generally, summer is the busiest, especially July and August in Europe. To be sure of finding an available bed, plan to arrive at the hostel early in the morning. Beds can be gone by 10:00am!
Something to keep in mind while traveling everywhere, but always worth being reminded, is safety. While many hostels provide a secure atmosphere in which to stay, there are those that aren’t as concerned about such things, particularly in places where tourist facilities aren’t as development. The best advice is to be aware of your belongings. Be sure to lock up your belongings, even if your room has a lock, either in a locker (most hostels have them) or by securing them to an immovable object, like a radiator. Be aware of the people you’re staying with, and be sure to keep your belongings on your person at night if you’re sleeping in a room with other people. However, the vast majority of those who stay in hostels have excellent time, so just aware, and you’ll have a blast!

How do I make a reservation at a hostel?

Making reservations usually is not necessary. Only the most cautious travelers will want to reserve a bed every night of their trip. However, it is a good idea to make a reservation for your first night so you don't have to worry about finding a place to stay (but be sure to check the guide books on how late the hostel will hold your reservation). Knowing that you will have a place to sleep on your first night in a foreign country can give you a great deal of peace of mind.
It's possible to make reservations online for most overseas HI hostels from the main website of Hostelling International: http://www.hihostels.com
STA Travel can also book hostels on a pre-paid basis. STA is located in the Michigan Union, tel. 769-2555.
Once you are abroad, many hostels will make reservations for you for the next hostel. This only works from one hostel to another. You pay the hostel you are leaving. This doesn't always work but ask.

How safe are hostels?

Generally hostels are safe. However, you do need to watch out for your things. You can usually leave your bags in the room during the day but do not leave anything valuable behind. Additionally, most hostels will either issue you a locker or will lock up your belongings in a separate room upon request. Some have safes for small items such as passports but remember that you often need your passport to exchange money. Leave anything really valuable at home in the US (rings, expensive watches, etc.). Less is always better. You may need to have your own padlock. All hostels are inspected and licensed each year, and all must meet local health and safety requirements.