Booking and Using Hostels
Hostels offer the cheapest (in the majority secure) roof over your head in most destinations around the world. You don’t have to be a youngster to use most hostels; age limits are not that common and where they exist are not always enforced.
It’s difficult to generalise, but along popular backpacking routes in Europe, South America and Australia hostels are no longer the realm of just the poor and dirty; ‘flash packers’ is a term that has sprung up to describe the more upmarket hostel options along the beaten paths (and travel writers always need a new category to place people into). From $5.00 digs in Bolivia to $60.00 a night in Europe, hostels are cheap, good value and a great place to meet fellow travellers.
For couples looking for some privacy away from dorm rooms most hostels will have single/double rooms (often with shard bathrooms) that will be considerably cheaper than most 2 star hotels.
Booking hostels
Booking hostels before you leave Australia is becoming easier. Check out the links at the bottom of the page.
If you are planning on using hostels then becoming a member of the national youth hostel association (YHA) can be a good idea. It’s affiliated with the world wide group Hostelling international (www.hihostels.com). Membership affords you a discount for using affiliated hostels across the word (usually a few dollars). Hostels with membership to HI should adhere to standard safety and cleanliness guidelines. If you are not a member its full price you pay; though the extra goes towards membership. After a week or so you will have enough credit for membership anyway.
Private hostels can be fine, but those without any association with international groups may not adhere to the same standards. No doubt about it; hostels can be rough and sometimes plain uncomfortable to use. The best source of information is always other travellers while you are on the road. Certain hostels will have reputations that reach you by word of mouth you long before you arrive.
Most dorms will have ‘lock out’ times during the day in which you are not allowed back into your rooms. There are also usually curfews, and some dorms maybe co-ed. If you are unsure about a hostel just ask a few questions and be sure to check out the room before you commit (make sure there is somewhere safe to store your valuables).
For booking before you go or on the road try these websites. The prices might be more expensive than booking direct, though for a one or two night stay on arrival booking this way will give you some piece of mind. Many hostels will offer cheap or free transfers from major airports or train stations as well.
www.hostelbookers.com – Claims to be ’5.1% cheaper’ than the competing hostel booking sites.
Outside of peak times of year most hostels will have space for you; its usually just a matter of showing up and checking out a few options (most cities will have areas full of cheape rstyle accomodation for travellers).
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