Are These Hostels Good?

[Danielle]

Hello to all. I'm new here and i just got finished researching various Hostels for my Summer 2003 trip to Europe and was wondering what everyone thought of them, or if you know of better ones .

Salzburg: YoHo
(Backups- Institut St. Sebastian or JGH Salzburg)

Vienna: Hostel Ruthensteiner
(Backups- Strawberry Hostel, Wombats City Hostel)

Brussels: CHAB Centre Van Gogh
(Backups- Sleepwell, Brueghel Youth Hostel)

Brugge: Bauhaus
(Backup- Charlie Rockets)

Prague: The Boathouse or Sir Toby's Hostel
(Backup- The Clown & Bard)

London: St. Christopher's
(Backups- Quest Hotel, Museum Inn Hostel, Ashlee House)

Nice: Backpacker's Chez Patrick
(Backups- Hotel les Orangers, Hotel Belle Meuniere)

Paris: MJIE Le Fauconnie
(Backups- Young & Happy, Hotel Caulaincourt Square)

Berlin: Circus
(Backups- Odyssee Globetrotter Hostel, Mitte's Backpacker, Clubhouse, BaxPax)

Munich: The4You
(Backups- CVJM Meunchen, Euro Youth Hostel)

Dublin: Barnacles Temple Bar
(Backups- Kinlay House, Globetrotters, Browns, Abbey Court, Abraham House)

Cork: Sheila's
(Backups- Kinlay House, Issac's)

Galway: Barnacles
(Backups- Kinlay House, St. Mary's College)

Florence: Locanda Starlight
(Backups- 7 Santi Hostel, Ostello Santa Monaca, Instituto Gould, Youth Residence Firenza 2000)

Cinque Terre: La Torretta
(Backups- Hotel 5 Terre, Ospitalia Del Mare)

Rome: Hostel Alessandro
(Backups - Yellow Hostel, The Beehive, Fawlty Towers, Hotel Des Artistes, Hostel Casanova, Gullivers House)

Venice: Casa Gerotto
(Backups - Ca Venezia, Alloggi Gerotto Calderan)

Luxembourg: Auberge de Jeunesse de Luxembourg

Amsterdam: Flying Pig Palace
(Backups - The Globe, Hotel My Home)

Lucerne: Backpacker's Lucerne
(Backup- Tourist Hotel Lucerne)

Zurich: Martahaus
(Backup- Foyer Hottigen)

Also, I won't be 100% sure if I will be able to go or not until Christmas, when I will know if I will have enough money saved. Is that too late to make room reservations? Will there still be rooms left at the "good" hostels then?

Thank you all so much!
Danielle

[me]

actually, i've never stayed in any of these. but, haven't heard any bad stuff about any, that i recall.

you shouldn't have any problems with getting beds reserved for your trip. 5 or 6 months should be plenty of time. actually, i've always "winged it," never made hostel reservations ahead of time!

if you're going as far east as vienna, think about going on to budepest. i hear it's beautiful!

good luck!

[ludko]

we stayed one in brussels the van gogh and brugge at the bauhause the only hostel in brugge by the way and its about 20 min ride on trolley, they were both great, get breakfast at both, not much but its something.
in berling we stayed at called " steps" i believe, that was one of my favourite hostel, but it was about 15 min metro ride to center, ok i hope this helps

[Katie]

I stayed at the Bauhaus....it was decent. I didn't hear very good things about Hostel Alessandro in Rome. I stayed at Hotel Des Artistes and was very happy there. Met really cool people. There is a grocery store right around the corner. If you are going to Switzerland, you should try to make it to Interlaken. My favorite spot of my entire trip. Stay at Backpacker's Villa. The best Hostel I stayed in along the way. Good Luck!

[Kim]

I completely agree with the Backpackers Villa (aka Villa Sonnehof) in Interlaken, amazing hostel.

December is loads of time to make reservations, in fact many might not even take them that early.

I've stayed at:
Your backup in Zurich (Foyer Hottigen).
Outstanding place but quiet, not for the partiers.
Extrememly clean, brand new kitchens on every floor.

Your choice for Lucerne (Backpacker's Lucerne)
Great hostel with lake views, staff are extrememly friendly. Kitchen. Set up like a university/college dormitory.

Your choice for Venice (Casa Gerotto)
Very good value, Venice is outrageously expensive.
Plain rooms but clean.

Your backup for Rome (Gullivers House)
One of the things I didn't like about this little hostel was the street noise. Apparently now they have sound proof windows though, so that should fix it. Other than that, friendly hosts and clean rooms. Only one shower for guys and one for girls, it's not a big place though.

Your choice for Cinque Terre (La Toretta)
Straight up the hill in Manarola. Great views and breakfast (costs extra) under the lemon trees. Nice rooms, most share bathrooms with one other room.

Your choice for Berlin (The Circus)
One of my favorite hostels. Simply brilliant! There is now a Circus II by the way, if you want another back up.

Your choice for Brugges (Bauhaus)
Well, let's just say I don't think there is a great option for a hostel in Brugges. Not too keen on many of them.
Bauhaus is fine, probably better than the Snuffel Sleep Inn, which I've stayed at as well. The little pub there is great and the food they serve is excellent. I would say that it's fine, just not great.

Your backup choice for Brussels (Sleepwell)
Really try for CHAB, the Sleepwell is so sterile it's not funny. Plus the 10-4 lockout sucks. The only thing it has going for it is good showers.

Kim