Staying in a hostel is a much cheaper
option (less than 50 €) than staying in a hotel (more than 100€?). If you’re
travelling alone, it’s also a good way to meet other young people. My basis for
choosing hostels were:
- location
- price
- female friendliness
Since I was taking the train all the
time, I usually choose hostels that are near the central train station. I spent
most of my time outside of the hostel, going around the city, so I didn’t
really care if the hostel had a lockout.
Hostels are usually cheaper if you book
online. I booked online at Hostelle in Amsterdam early in the morning on the
day I was going to check in and it cost me €20. My roommates, who walked in
during the morning spent 40€ for the same room on the same day. Most hostels, I
reserved way before the start of my trip. Others were on the preferred-hostels-in-case-I-go-to-this-city
list that I prepared before my trip. And some, I found during my trip. I just use
my smartphone (Sony Ericsson Xperia Mini with Android OS) to book online.
Hostels are NOT hotels. Most hostels
require you to clean after yourself and do your own bed but that’s why they’re
cheap. Hostels in Europe are generally clean but if there are 4 of you sharing
the same bathroom, don’t expect the bathroom to be squeaky clean if you’re the
last one to use it. Roommates? Well, I stayed in 11 hostels and I had nice and
considerate roommates in all of them (I’m not a light sleeper so I don’t mind a
little noise).
Below are the hostels I stayed in and a few of their details. The prices are based on the rates I got when I booked a room (the type is mentioned below) around April and May 2012.
AMSTERDAM
The Shelter Jordan Christian YH
Bloemstraat 179
Tel: p. +31
20 624 4717
f. +31 20 627 6137
Website: www.shelter.nl
Booked through hostel website
€ 30 8 Bed Female Dorm, common bathroom
Location:
A minute away (130m)
from the bus/tram stop (Marnixstraat/Rozengracht)
Others:
Free breakfast – French Toast, hot chocolate/coffee
(menu changes every day)
Free lockers
Free wifi
Nicest hostel staff!
Would I go back here? Definitely! There
are other hostels near Amsterdam Centraal and those around the red lights but I
like my stay here.
AMSTERDAM
Hostelle
 |
| The lovely Hostelle |
Tel: + 31 207703504
Website: www.hostelle.com
Booked through hostelbookers.com
€ 19 8 Bed Female Dorm, common bathroom
Location:
800 meters away from the train station/metro (Amsterdam
Bijlmer Arena)
A little bit far from the city center, (Almost an hour
away by night bus)
Others:
No free breakfast
Free lockers
All female Hostel
Would I go back here? It depends. I like
the hostel; their rooms are cute and clean but it’s a little too far from the
center.
BARCELONA
Lullaby
Hostel
 |
| Artistic atmosphere of Lullaby |
Tel: (34) 93
3019610
Booked through hostels.com
€ 19.9 10 Bed Female Dorm, common bathroom
Location:
3 minutes (approx 180 m) from metro station (Passeig de Gràcia)
3 minutes (approx 210 m) from metro station (Catalunya)
Walking distance from La Ramblas
Others:
Free Breakfast – Bread, jam, cereals, juice (I think
they have hot chocolate/coffee as well)
Free lockers
Free wifi
They have an artistic, free spirited atmosphere
You have nowhere to hang your clothes in the showers
Would I go back here? Yes
BERLIN
Meininger Hostel
Ella-Trebe-Strasse 9 D-10557
Tel: +49
(0)30 983 21 073
Email: welcome@meininger-hotels.com
Website: http://www.meininger-hotels.com/en/
Walk in
€ 40 4
Bed Female Dorm
Location:
Right across the Berlin’s
central station (Hauptbahnhof)
Others:
No free breakfast
Free lockers
Would I go back here? Maybe. I chose
this place because I had to get to the train station early the next morning.
Although the place is nice (rooms look just like a hotel), I’ll probably look
for a different hostel if being near the Hauptbahnhof wasn’t important.
BRUGES
St. Christopher’s Bauhaus Hostel
135-137 Langestraat, 8000 Bruges
Tel: Outside Belgium: +32 50 34 10 93
Inside Belgium: 050 34 10 93
Website:
http://www.bauhaus.be
Booked through hostelbookers.com
€ 19.5 5 Bed Mixed Dorm,
common bathroom
Location:
Bus stop 5 minutes away
You can go around Bruges by walking
Others:
Free breakfast – bread, cheese, cereals, juice, hot
chocolate/coffee
Free lockers
Free beer sampler at their restaurant Sacre Coeur if
you buy a meal
COLD showers (But some said they have hot showers,
maybe I was just unlucky)
Would I go back here? I’d try Snuffel
Backpacker hostel
FLORENCE
Ostello Centrale Firenze
Via Faenza 46 - Red, Florence 50123
Tel: +39055414454
Website: www.ostellocentrale.com
Walk in
€ 20 3 bed female dorm, common bathroom
 |
| Garden at Ostello Centrale Firenze |
5 minutes away (approx 400m) from Florence central
station (Firenze SMN)
A lot of restaurants and shops nearby
Others:
No Free Breakfast
Free cabinet
Free wifi
Very roomy bathroom
Would I go back here? Yes. The place is
nice.
MADRID
The Living Roof Hostel
Costanilla de
San Vicente nº4 28015
Tel: (34) 915
230 579
Website: www.thelivingroofhostel.com
Booked through hostel website
€ 16 10 Bed Female Dorm Ensuite
 |
| 10 bed female dorm of Living Roof |
3 minutes away (approx. 250
meters) from metro station (Noviciado)
About 25 minutes away from
Puerta del Sol, by foot
Others:
Free Breakfast – Bread,
jam, cereals, hot chocolate/coffee
Free lockers
Free wifi
Would I go
back here? Yes.
MUNICH
Wombats City Hostel
 |
| Entrance to Wombat's Munich |
Tel: p. +49
89 59989180
f. +49 89 599891810
Booked through hostel website
€ 20 6 Bed Female Dorm Ensuite
Location:
2 minutes away (approx
130m) from train station (Hauptbahnhof)
 |
| 6 bed female dorm at Wombat's |
Others:
No free breakfast
Free lockers
Free drink from hostel bar
Free wifi at the lobby (but can’t connect/too slow)
Would I go back here? I’d try the Euro
Youth Hostel next door, if the price is about the same.
PARIS
Auberge
Internationale des Jeunes
 |
| Façade of AIJ Paris |
Tel: +33 - 01.47.00.62.00
Website: www.aijparis.com
Booked through hostel site
€ 19 4 Bed Female dorm, ensuite
€ 16 4 Bed Female dorm, ensuite
*I booked twice (I started and ended my trip in Paris)
*I booked twice (I started and ended my trip in Paris)
Location:
3 minutes away (approx. 250
meters) from metro station (Ledru Rollin)
Grocery store and restaurant across the street
 |
| 4 bed female dorm, Ensuite |
Others:
Free Breakfast – Bread, jam, hot chocolate/coffee
Free safety deposit box
Free wifi at the lobby between 1600-2300
Would I go back here? Definitely! It’s
well situated.
ROME
Ma Hostel
Via Magenta
24, Rome, 00185, Italy
Tel: +39 - 349 0902 233
Website: www.mahostel.com
€ 18 4 bed Female dorm
common bathroom
Booked through Hostelbookers.com
Location:
2 minutes away (approx 200 m) from Rome central
station (Termini)
The metro (Termini station) is also located around the
train station
Others:
No free breakfast
Free wifi
Laundry shop a minute away
Would I go back here? Yes.
VIENNA
Hostel Ruthensteiner
 |
| Clean rooms (but I messed it up) at Hostel Ruthensteiner |
Tel: +431 - 8934202
or 8932796
Website: www.hostelruthensteiner.com
Booked through hostel site
€ 16 4 Bed Female Dorm, common bathroom
*€1.5 Booking Fee
Location:
6 minutes away (approx
450 m) from Vienna train station (Westbahnhof)
Others:
No free breakfast
Free lockers
Free wifi
Washing machines available
Cleanest hostel I’ve been to!
Would I go back here? Definitely! It’s
very clean, homey and I had a good time here.
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