questions

[celestialbreezeaolcom]

1.are luggage rooms the same as lockers? does the luggage room ever have people watching the luggage? (i'm anal retentive about my stuff)
2.ok this is driving me crazy with phone numbers. i was at the ultimate backpacking europe website and it had phone numbers on there like for the hostel blue planet in paris it listed the phone number as [phone] 8. on the hostel blue planet's webpage it had the number + 33 1 43 42 09 89. which one is the one you call for when you're in the country of the place you want to stay in and which is the international number? i think i might have lost a few people here.
3.ok this next question is about train reservations. can you call a station if you have a eurail pass like 2 days in advance to assure that you have a sit? Or do you have to go 5 hours or so before the train takes off to make your reservation in person?
4.lastly, what are the best hostels in London that are near all the tourist attractions? thanks

[Kim]

OK..answers

Q: re luggage rooms the same as lockers? does the luggage room ever have people watching the luggage? (i'm anal retentive about my stuff)

No. Basically what a luggage room is is what it sounds like, a place to throw your bag temporarily. Occasionally, it will have something you can lock your bag to, but most often not. However, if you have all your valuables with you and all the zippers on your pack locked and have no other choice for a few hours, more often than not it will be OK. Note the have all your valuables with you though, never leave them in your bag, even if the zippers are locked.

Q: ok this is driving me crazy with phone numbers. i was at the ultimate backpacking europe website and it had phone numbers on there like for the hostel blue planet in paris it listed the phone number as [phone] 8. on the hostel blue planet's webpage it had the number + 33 1 43 42 09 89. which one is the one you call for when you're in the country of the place you want to stay in and which is the international number? i think i might have lost a few people here.

This was a pain in the butt for us too cause it differs in every country.

Within France- [phone] 8
The "33" is Frances country code, so that is what you call when you are in another country calling France.

Q: ok this next question is about train reservations. can you call a station if you have a eurail pass like 2 days in advance to assure that you have a sit? Or do you have to go 5 hours or so before the train takes off to make your reservation in person?

In most places, you will have to go to the train station to make a reservation. You can make them months in advance if you want. Your best bet is to make them right when you get off the train. Say you are arrive in Venice and staying for 4 days. Make a reservation for 4 days from now. If you try and make reservations for long rides, esp. night trains the day of, it will almost always be full. Make them as far in advance as you can.
That said, when you aren't going from one country to the next and it's not a long ride, you probably don't need a reservation.


Q: Lastly, what are the best hostels in London that are near all the tourist attractions?

That depends on what you want from a hostel. Do you want one that's a party place or a quiet, mellow place?

Popular hostels are:

Trekinn
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=548

Astor Hyde Park
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=521

Astor Museum Inn
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=520

International Student House
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=515

Ashlee House
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=516

St. Christophers Camden
reservations.bookhostels.com/guideforeurope.com/hostel.php?HostelNumber=516


How's that..

Kim

[nitsansh]

More on phone numbers:
When you dial from another country, the format of the number should be:
international access code+country prefix+regional prefix+phone number.
Usually, you ommit the 0 of the regional prefix when dialinig from abroad.
When dialling from the same region or city, ommit the region prefix.

[celestialbreezeaolcom]

THANK you both very much! Kim you were very helpful.