Do I really need hostel reservations?

[CowTown19]

I'm going to be travelling in May (Amsterdam, Barcellona), and June (Rome, Florence, Prague). I'm really concerned about reservations, will I need them? If I make reservations do I have to give them a credit card number? And what happens if I can't make a reservation?
I've never even booked a hotel in North America, let alone a hostel in Europe.

[Murat]

It will be much better if you book in advance.. The weather is improving and tourists are arriving to the main cities... so if you want to have a decent place to sleep, I highly recommend you to start looking.

You will have to pay at least 1 night (if you are staying more.. you will pay them when you arrive).. in case you change your mind and tell to the hostel 4 days before the reservation (it depends on the hostel).. they will be you back the money...

I haven't cancelled any reservation, but that's what the hostel staff explained to me.. when I was in your situation...

Hope this helps you

[WillTravel]

If you book through HostelWorld (see link at the bottom of page), they take a deposit which I think is nonrefundable. But often the rates are better than if you contact the hostel directly. However, if you contact the hostel directly and reserve, they might have a 24-hour or 48-hour cancellation policy and no deposit, which might be fine for you.

I would book the first nights in Amsterdam for sure, because that can be a challenging place to find a bed, and your last night.

I'm picky about where I stay and have specific hostel requirements so I always reserve in advance.

[ERIKAerikaErika]

Most def.!!
Esp. when it comes to weekends. Places in high summer on the weekends are very hard to find. Book book book! You dont want to be left without a bed.

[euroman2006]

Hi, I didn't want to start a new thread (hate doing that). But had a question relating to this.

If I will be in the UK/Spain/Belgium for maybe 3 weeks or so before I head to either Amsterdam or Switzerland in mid June, will I need to book ahead? We are not sure which one we want to go to, and want to decide then. When do you think is the minimum time to book for hostels in Amsterdam or maybe Interlaken or one of the largest Swiss cities?

[WillTravel]

With Amsterdam, if you are flexible about the quality of the hostel (many appear to be absolutely miserable and vermin-infested), and if it's not a weekend, and if you're willing to stay in an outlying area (like another town), you have more flexibility. I don't want to say how much leeway, because I know people have had difficulty getting Amsterdam accommodation.

With Switzerland, you run the significant risk of not getting a cheap place. Can you make cancellable reservations, which you don't have to pay for in advance, by calling your desired hostels? Just make sure to cancel in time.

[euroman2006]

We can look for cancelable reservations, that is one idea.

But do you think it wise to maybe wait until a few days into the trip (maybe 3 weeks before the time) to make reserveations at decent hostel? Sorry if I am being rhetorical.

[WillTravel]

I think I'd make cancellable reservations for at least one location. Then if you change your mind, you can start looking then for reservations for the other spot. Not to say you'll be fine if you don't - I admit I'm both picky and cheap, which colors my thinking. But I know that Kim posted that her stay in Amsterdam was cut short, because she absolutely couldn't get accommodation, and I've read similar things elsewhere.

[euroman2006]

Ok, thanks, I'll also assume I can't use a general online booking site for this. (like hostels.com) and I need to go to the hostels webpage (if it has one) or call them directly to see if they have cancellable reservations?

Or on second thought perhaps it is in the fine print on those booking sites' listings.

[WillTravel]

I think hostels.com has a nonrefundable deposit, but yes, look at the fine print.

[stanncie]

you are right willtravel, hostels.com has a nonrefundable deposit. Euroman one advice I can give you once you are in europe is to call the hostels to make reservations. Many times I would find them booked online and when I called they had availability. Also if you are a lone traveler it is much easier to find hostels at the last minute if you don't mind staying in the big dorms

[adworx]

Nice username, but we still won't let you post ads here.

[adworx]

I can recommend www.hostelumelounu.cz and www.praguecityhostel.cz

[kena]

What about Spain in late September, in larger cities? I've always travelled with reservations, but I might want more flexibility this time around... (Yes, I'm aware this is almost 9 months from now. I have to book my tickets really early because they're frequent traveller ones, and I have to reserve my vacation time early to get the first choice, so this got me in planning mode a bit too soon )

I will certainly book for my first destination (Barcelona, most likely.) a couple of months in advance, but could I wait until the last minute for the other cities? The other option is to reserve in advance and cancel if need be, but I'm trying to decide if the extra cost is worth it.