Hostels...what are they?

[CMC_Michele]

Hi Everyone!  

We are trying to put together a family vacation to Europe.  We have a 5 week period that we are trying to see 17 countries in.  Of course, the more we see, the higher the final bill is looking!

Since airline tickets for 5 are running about $6000.00 and Eurailpasses for 5 is another $3700 (I think), one of the ways I was trying to cut costs was in accomodations.  I have run across several sites where hostels are recommended.  Unfortunately, I don't know exactly what that is!!!  I found one site that was supposed to tell me but all I got out of it was that it seems like a place where a bunch of kids crash.  Reading here makes me think that was the wrong impression

I have TONS of questions regarding our trip and plan on picking all of your brains....so look for me all over the board!  

Thanks, Michele

[Cat]

Hey, fellow tigger!  ;D

Hostelling is a great way to cut costs. You've got different organisations, for example HI (hostelling international). They are pretty good, it's not only kids who go there. You can book a family room (although I think that only four people fit into one) or a dorm room. Family rooms usually have their own bathroom. Dorm rooms sometimes have a 'private' bathroom. But it is also possible there's only a bathroom down the hall. Dorm rooms differ in size from 4 up to about 18 beds (depends on how much you want to spend of course). You can also go independent, those hostels are a bit more liberal and more personal then HI. Some are very good, some are very bad.
One very nice hostel I can recommend is Fawlty Towers in Rome, very near to the train station and heaps of atmosphere! Very helpfull staff, too. Don't expect that in all the HI hostels! The adress: www.fawltytowers.org  Book in advance, espeaccially in summer!
Can't help you with more adresses, I'm sure other members can.
Before I forget: If you are going to Scotland, you MUST stay in the HI hostel at Loch Lomond. It's a huge castle! Very cool and people of all ages stay there.

[Kim]

Another bonus with hostels is that they often have kitchen facilities, which makes eating a whole lot cheaper. If you can cook and pack lunches, you will save quite a bit of money.

Not all hostels have family rooms and if they do, you should reserve early. We stayed in double rooms in hostels while travelling and found we had to reserve in advance as there aren't that many doubles or family rooms in hostels.

Once you figure out the cities you will be going to, we all can post on what hostels we would recommend and you can check their webpages out.

Kim

['Guest']

www.eurotrip.com/hostels/hostels_faq.html

Michelle, read this.  it might help

['Guest']

www.eurotrip.com/hostels/sleeping_cheap.html

more for you to read