Hostelling - a Crime?

Whenever I tell someone that I stay at hostels during my travels; I always get this astonishing look on the face. Most people presume hostels are dirty, cramped and full of weird hippies who smoke and take drugs.

There are various types of hostels: party, quiet, family-friendly hostels. Also, the thought of sharing room with total strangers can be daunting as well as the issue of security. Some hostels again offers various types of rooms: single, double, family or dormitory. Basically hostels are for everyone, not for backpackers only.

The reasons I like to stay at hostels are to meet other travellers, cook my own food. You'll be surprised how good facilities are provided in some hostels. Some hostels are even better than hotels.

The followings are reviews of the hostels I stayed during my European travel in September 2008:

1) Paris: Bureau des voyages de la Jeunesse (BVJ)
It is situated at Latin Quarter, near to the University of Sorbonne. A district, full of bookshops and cafes. The receptionists were helpful in providing local information. Rooms were not very clean. The shower 'stand' was very small with no curtain. So someone sleeping on certain bunk beds will have full view of the person in the shower. Talking about the openness of French. No lift, and my room was on the 5th floor. The spiral staircase is beautiful, but not so when you have to carry your luggage up to the room. Breakfast was a really BIG bowl of hot drink (tea, coffee or chocolate), buffet cereals, French bread (baguette) with jams and butter. The baguette was delicious. Bed price: €28 per night.

2) Luxembourg City: YHA Luxembourg City

Situated in a beautiful location underneath a railway bridge and next to a river. Reception is huge with lots of information. Rooms are very clean with new furnished IKEA-styled room. All rooms are accessed with key cards.Very comfortable with fluffy pillows and mattress. Everyone is provided with secure locker to store luggage. Shower and toilet facilities are abundant. Though there is no kitchen facilities, there is a very good restaurant serving reasonably priced meals. A 3 course dinner cost only €8. Buffet breakfast is included in the room price. Breakfast consists of all you can eat cereals, breads with jam, cheese and cold cuts and tea/coffee. Bed price: €20. The best hostel I have ever stayed in my life.

3) Bremen: GastHaus Backpacker

It is located very closed to the train station. Gender segregated communal shower. Excellent kitchen with dishwasher, means we don't have to clean up after cooking. €17

4) Dresden: Kangaroo Stop
Very close to Dresden Neustadt train station in a quiet and leafy neighbourhood. Hostels have excellent kitchen facilities. The shower is again communal. Rooms are decorated in a very cosy and homely design. Bed per night: €15 excluding breakfast.

5) Berlin: The Circus Hostel

This is the second time I stayed at this hostel, due to its location near to cafes and restaurants. The takeaways places around the hostel serve cheap and delicious meals. It is also very near to the main train station as well as next to the subway station.
Free WiFi is available in lobby as well as in the rooms. Excellent bathroom and toilet facilities. All rooms are accessed with key cards. Though breakfast is not included in the room price, the buffet breakfast is more like a brunch and cost €5. Bed price per night: €21