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How to Find Cheap Hostels in Europe
How to Find Cheap Hostels in Europe
In trying to find cheap hostels while traveling in Europe, today’s travelers have many resources available to them that make this a straightforward process. Budget travelers want reliable lodgings with secure, safe surroundings, especially when traveling alone. Looking for cheap hostels makes this more difficult, but travelers have plenty of options when they plan ahead.
Consult with a Reputable Hosteling Organization
Hosteling International, founded in 1932, provides budget travelers with a reliable network of approved places to stay worldwide. Through their website http://www.hihostels.com/ travelers can access tools and resources for use before, during, and after their trip. Member hostels must meet certain standards to maintain a rating with this organization. Depending on the countries you intend to visit, you may also find useful help from a regional hosteling organization. Many European countries have their own organizations that provide ratings, book reservations, or offer recommendations and feedback from fellow travelers.
Take Advantage of Online Resources
The internet allows for planning and research from home before you travel. Many travel websites offer bookings and ratings on hostels in Europe. In addition, many specialized travel websites offer competitive deals on airfare, lodging and cheap hostel stays. Budget travelers will benefit from comparing and contrasting deals on various sites before committing to a set price or particular hostel. A simple web search produces numerous sites, such as:
When travelers find cheap hostels in Europe that are clean, worthwhile destinations they use the internet to reach the widest audience for their reviews and endorsements. If you are interested in visiting a particular European country or city, some passive web research before you travel will provide excellent information. Many travelers maintain blogs devoted to sharing their experiences. These sites often include photographs, anecdotes, and tips that entice newcomers to follow in their footsteps. These blogs pay particular attention to hostels and other places to eat and sleep in Europe.
Word of Mouth
Remember, half the adventure in staying at hostels in Europe comes from exploring what a country has to offer for lodgings once you are there on the ground. Travelers will find word of mouth recommendations from other travelers useful. In addition, meeting new people during travel can make a hostel stay much more interesting than booking everything in advance and keeping to one’s self.
Interacting with people in the same age group, travelers can find good advice and hear firsthand feedback from others also looking to find cheap hostels. If you plan on traveling to multiple destinations in Europe, try to meet people and make connections one or two steps ahead of your next destination. Share information on rates, discounts, and positive or negative experiences with fellow travelers. As you travel, you will learn about certain areas. Trade information with the people you meet.
Locals in Europe have their own recommendations. Speak with Europeans. Ask them what places they might advise you to stay at in their home countries or home towns. By interacting with locals, travelers can often find cheap hostels and negotiate lower rates than booking ahead of time. Sometimes, a hostel owner may lower prices to convince travelers to stay at their establishment on the spot, or offer to reduce rates in exchange for an extended stay. Many locals run independent hostels or rent rooms if you know who to ask. Hostel owners are business people who make their living by selling to the market and usually like to bargain.
Do Your Research
During crowded tourist seasons, many European hostels fill up with backpackers and tourists well in advance. Travelers should read up on their destinations, taking careful note of festivals, holidays, and local events in European countries that affect hostel space and cost. In Venice, Italy, for instance, their annual carnival brings throngs of tourists from all over Europe and the world. Hostels and inns fill up months in advance and prices reflect the strong demand.
Look for Discounts
Most if not all reputable hostels offer discounts to students, seniors, disabled travelers, and larger groups. Student travelers can find cheap hostels by flashing their student status. Some countries in Europe and individual hostels may have an age restriction on student discounts. Generally, if you are over 26 years old, you do not qualify for student rates. Also, make sure you have the appropriate credentials with you at all times, as hostel owners expect boarders and guests to verify their eligibility for such discounts. An international student ID card, university ID, and of course a passport should accompany travelers at all times.
Travel Agencies
Student travel agencies operate in most European countries and also maintain branches in the US. Students can access discounted rates and obtain student identification through such vendors. Unlike traditional travel agents, student travel agencies specialize in budget travel and can often access hostel bookings and discounted, cheap rates if you qualify.
Traditional travel agents may provide some of the same services. Despite the how easy it is to find cheap hostel rates in Europe online, many travelers prefer to deal with professionals who can reserve rooms and make arrangements while offering personalized advice. As long as you shop around for the best deals, travel agents can solve many itinerary dilemmas to save you money when you reach Europe.
Avoid Tourist Traps
First time travelers to Europe will notice real estate surrounding transportation centers, such as train and bus terminals or airports, overflowing with tourist traps. These areas include currency exchanges, eateries, hotels, and hostels. Vigilant travelers notice that these establishments target people as they arrive in new surroundings. They are not the cheapest places to eat, sleep or purchase supplies you may need or souvenirs you might want.
In order to find cheap hostels in Europe, travelers require patience. Avoiding the easy, expensive hostels and inns surrounding transportation hubs, travelers may find cheap hostels and plenty of local flavor in other parts of a city or town. By planning ahead, budget travelers can avoid last-minute bookings and bad deals. The internet makes planning and executing cheap trips to Europe easier than ever before.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 27th, 2010 at 10:35 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.