Calling Ahead for Reservations

[shep]

I have read that you need to book ahead for double rooms in Hostels.

Does it get expensive calling around to each country in Europe?

Kim, How did you call the hostels when you were already in Europe? From a pay phone?

What is the best way to call around to the different hostels while in Europe. (cheap way?)

Thanks a lot,
dave

[Kim]

Hi Dave,

Yes, you definately have to reserve double rooms in hostels-the further ahead of time, the better. Often if there is a school group, the teachers/parents will take the doubles and they reserve months in advance.

We did call the hostels while we were in Europe as we were going to wing it until we discovered it's pretty hard to wing it and stay in double rooms.

For most of the calls, we used phone stores in Belgium. What they are is a little store that has about 6-8 individual phone booths in it. The rates are posted for each country and you pay your total when you are done.

Problem is, I've only seen the phone stores in a very few countries. The best way other than that is to buy a phone card when you get over there. They are only good for individual countries though so don't buy a big one if you will be leaving that country.

The best way to do it in my opinion would be to make reservations by email or online before you go. Of course that may not work for everyone so in that case I would go with the phone card. You can buy them anywhere over there-grocery stores, little shops etc.

Kim

[me]

there are also some pretty cheap "dial arounds" to call from over here. but, for me "over here" is usa.

to most places in western europe i can call for 10 cents, or less, per min. if you have enough plans to make reservations before you cross the pond, that'd be best.

if plans change, you can always cancel your reservations!

[Shep]

Thanks for the advice Kim. I will try to book far ahead.

Great web site.

thanks,
Dave