Travel Tip: Hostels

1. Use www.hostelbookers.com and www.hostelworld.com to do your main research
1. For Europe’s famous hostels, check out www.famoushostels.com/europe-hostels
2. Begin booking your hostel AS SOON AS you know your trip’s dates of arrival and departure
1. The sooner you began looking into which hostels to stay at, the better availability you will find (hence, the easier the process will be). I recommend reserving your room at least 3 weeks in advance
2. Write down your hostel booking number in a safe location.
3. The most important thing about hostels is LOCATION—you want to make sure it is either a)close to the place you’ll be arriving (i.e. airport, train station) or b)close to the area of town you will be spending most of your time (i.e. center of town, cultural part of the city, where you will be going out at night). Best case scenario is finding a hostel that meets both of these demands. Location is key because you’ll always be thinking of the transportation required to get to and from your area
4. Before you go, check to see what amenities the hostel offers (i.e. morning breakfast, directions, tourist recommendations, internet services, transportation to and from the airport or town center, cubbies in the bedroom, towels, toiletries/hairdryers). Your hostel can sometimes have a lot to offer, but, on the flip side, you want to make sure you never arrive unprepared
1. It’s usually a good idea to bring your own towel (one for face and one for bath), earplugs, eyemask, snacks, waterbottle, and a lock for your locker
2. Take advantage of the free maps, brochures, advice, and potential gatherings/parties that the front desk of your hostel might have to offer
5. Don’t forget to rank the hostels on their websites after your visit, help out students like yourself who will visit that place in the future!