Hostels: The good, the bad, the ugly
- Mike Kotas
Ok, so yes the title line is a tad bit clichéd but I can tell you that
it's very fitting in the hostel world. You truly don't know what you're going to
get yourself into when you sign on to a hostel (well at least you didn't 7 to 8 years ago when I did the majority of my hostelling). Fortunately the internet has helped to spawn some awareness around what a specific hostel entails.
Let's talk about that for a second. What are your expectations of a hostel? Should I fear the pot-smoking, euro-trash,
college hippie crowd? or rather should I see a clean-cut, efficient,
tree-hugging hiking group, only there to soak up the natural enjoyment of a
specific country? Well, because this article is geared towards people headed to
the World Cup you should expect the former over the latter. Do not fear however,
for if you are in the mood for cheap accommodations and a "relatively" good
nights sleep, then you should be fine in most hostels. Sounds ambiguous, I know!
Honestly, my Hostel count is up to 36, which has somewhat dwindled as I've aged but I can tell you that for the most part,
unless you're extremely anal, you shouldn't really be to concerned (If you're of
the anal type, then hostelling is not for you anyways). Several Hostel associations have tried to provide standards with which you can minimize concerns about cleanliness, service, and security.
Additionally, the internet has helped to produce vast amounts of information to
the conscious travelers, but this for the those who actually take the time to
accomplish their research.
But Gee Mike, isn't everything in Europe like it is in the US.
Don't they wait on you hand and foot and provide you with immediate
gratification? Are you telling me that I actually have to get off my arse and walk to the location? That's terrible that they're not going to provide me with my 3-cheese egg omelet with Grits and coffee in my room! What's up with that?
The common mistake for the newbie traveler is to expect
fireworks from the hostel. Hostels are the Low-Cost Carriers of the lodging
industry. They are the
Southwests and the
EasyJets. There is no first class upgrade.
Alright alright, I'm off on a bit of tangent, so let's get down to business. First off, the two most important things I look for in a hostel is Security and Cleanliness. When you know where you want to stay, go
to some sites like
BugEurope.com and/or
Hostelz.com and read up on the reviews that users have written. Everyone has their varying perception of what clean and secure is, but if a majority of posts are suggesting that a specific hostel is relatively clean, then you should be good to go.
My next concern is location. I personally enjoy walking but I still like to be relatively close to a train station or a tram stop. Figure out where your hostel is by checking the maps of various cities. For Germany 06, unless you decide to stay in the country, most hostels in the cities
will probably be located within a 10-15 minute walk of a train if not closer.
Finally, make your reservation but have a back-up plan in case things go
awry. Although it doesn't happen often, you just never know the 20 year old
immigrant girl with broken English who took your reservation, may lost it
or typed it into the computer as someone else. Re-confirm two days after you make your booking, and 2-days before you head to the hostel. This way, if they lose it and can't offer you a room, you can switch gears and know immediately the other hostels that you felt comfortable with.
So what about booking online? That's a good question and I can tell you that 90% of the hostels book online and that I've never had a problem. I prefer
hostelz.com as its a relatively simple if not extravagant method to use. Alternatively I will just go to the hostels web site and book through them direct. Don't hesitate to call them either. Its better to triple check then to wind up without a bed.
