Hostels, an alternative to staying on...

Author Message   George B Johnston Jr Intermediate Member Username: Gbjohnstonjr Post Number: 54 Registered: 07-2008 Posted From: 74.178.207.77 Posted on Thursday, June 24, 2010 - 10:01 pm:    The is an excellent hostel in Homburg, Germany just a few miles from Landstuhl and Ramstein. There are frequent trains and the hostel is a short walk from the station. Ramstein to Landstuhl station may require a taxi. I travel with a folding bike and used it to get from Ramstein to Landstuhl and from Homburg to Ramstein direct, about 15 miles.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 128 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 209.26.113.146 Posted on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - 02:49 pm:    I have stayed at a lot of hostels in the US, Europe, and Japan with no problems, a reasonable price, and an enjoyable experience. For US hostels, try http://www.hiusa.org/hostels/usa_hostels. For International hostels, try http://www.hihostels.com.   Tony Lee Member Username: Fototaker Post Number: 23 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 79.108.47.177 Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 10:22 pm:    somewhere in my mess of moving and boxes here i have my virtual negatives from Germany. i loved the Bavaria area and wish i could've stayed longer. these little tidbits from everyone (THaNKs!!) about lodging, things to do in case there isn't lodging, etc., is really helpful. i was in Monterey just months ago and never knew even there was a base there, let alone lodging! thanks to everyone and to all who maintain this fine site   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 118 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 71.42.19.90 Posted on Saturday, June 12, 2010 - 10:12 pm:    Dear Tony, Wurzburg is under-rated. We happened to go there because our friend Sonja Kokott recommended it, and picked us up on her way back to Mainz. And the hostel there is first-rate, and reasonably priced. JC   Tony Lee Member Username: Fototaker Post Number: 22 Registered: 09-2009 Posted From: 79.108.47.177 Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 - 10:33 pm:    i've been to Wurzburg and though i saw very little, i DID like what i saw. thanks for such a great and detailed report... now i hope i can return soon.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 117 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 24.227.59.218 Posted on Friday, June 11, 2010 - 06:53 pm:    Here's a short trip report that includes staying at a hostel: As part of a humanitarian mission to guest teach English at Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany, my wife and I had the opportunity to stay at an HI hostel in Wurzburg, Germany. Sun 23 May With the rail tickets I purchased with the help of our neighbor Sonja Kokott (neighbor at Gutenberg U. Gastprofessorenhaus) we took the 3 hour trainride to Wurzburg, and checked into a private room at the HI hostel, right below an awesome medieval fortress (Marienberg) on the Main River. What a scenic spot, and excellent hostel, only 55 € for a private room for two. In the afternoon we visited the “Residenz”, palace of the Prince Bishops of Wurzburg, constructed in 1719. Above the famous entry staircase is the largest fresco in Europe, painted on a vaulted ceiling that uninformed architects were predicting would collapse in a few years, but it even held up against bombing in WWII. The palace compares favorably to Versailles or Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. Afterwards we went to weinstube Burgerspital for Spargel (asparagus) and bratwurst. Mon 24 May Took a long hike up a steep hill to the impregnable fortress Festung Marienberg, which was the home of the prince bishops from 1253 to 1719 when the seat of power was moved to the Residenz we toured Sat. It was quite a steep hike, but the tour was worth it, and the view of Wurzburg was outstanding. It was huge, covering many acres, containing several museums, the prince bishop quarters, and even a large chapel. Our hostel was directly below it. It looked really close on the map, but maps don't take elevation into account. We walked back down in early afternoon, and Thess rested at the hostel while I was given a tour of the beautiful hostel by the manager. Later I walked the bridge into the altstadt, town square area. In late afternoon Sonja Kokott picked us up for the auto ride back to Mainz.   FHYL Senior Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 406 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.130.56 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 04:57 pm:    Yes, I know. Senior hostels are but another option and options (choices) are good in my book. There are also hostels that are not affiliated with International Hostels too. And I've used several in each system with satisfaction.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 116 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 209.16.115.5 Posted on Thursday, June 10, 2010 - 02:52 pm:    dear FHYL, actually, "senior hostels" is a separate organization, that provides expensive, guided educational tours, including lodging, to seniors. It should not be confused with hostelling. JC   T Pender Member Username: Tysonstom Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 98.169.123.136 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 08:01 pm:    On my recent Space-A I was in Berlin for 2 nights and stayed at the Circus Hostel;they have a hotel, too but it was booked solid.It is located in Rothenthaller Platz and the staff goes out of their way to be helpful. "Jimbo's Cheap Man's Tour" of Berlin is a great way to get a feel for the sights. The hostel lends you a Walkman that has preloaded text keyed to stops on the #1 Bus. URL http://www.circus-berlin.de/0/circus_berlin_hostel.html   FHYL Senior Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 403 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.130.56 Posted on Sunday, June 06, 2010 - 08:31 pm:    hey, for the seniors there are senior hostels.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 111 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 71.42.19.90 Posted on Saturday, June 05, 2010 - 07:22 pm:    It's kind of discriminatory. I would look for a change in a few years. The population of Germany is "graying" just like the US, so there will be fewer Germans under 26. JC   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 398 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.130.168 Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 05:15 pm:    It's good to know there's now a surcharge for "older than 26ers" who stay in the Bavaria HI (DJH) during the tourist summer months when the youth travel most. A few years back (ok, decades), it use to be restricted to under 26 only....(because Bavaria is such a popular destination).   DAVIS, L. E. Senior Member Username: Ldavis Post Number: 496 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.24.183.1 Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 12:47 pm:    It has been several years but I have stayed at the hostel in Hawaii on Seaview near the U of H. I was in a room with three other fellows in bunks. Everyone is supposed to help clean up in the morning and they post the different jobs on the bulleton board. The earlier you get up the more choices you have. I would get up late and the only one left would be cleaning up the patio area. No problem at all. One morning after cleaning up out there the woman at the desk told me she had never seen that area so clean. But, I liked it just fine. Would eat lunch at the university cafeteria sometimes. Bus stop within easy walking distance. I need to get our membership up to date now.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 104 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.40.24 Posted on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 - 09:35 am:    Dear Cherry, when I have stayed at HI hostels with my wife all over the world, they have only asked for my card. And as for Bavaria, we stayed at the HI hostel in Wurzburg yesterday, with no children. There was a surcharge for being over 26 years of age. JC   Darin Brown New member Username: Danton31 Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.210.215.88 Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 10:31 pm:    The rules for staying at a hostel are determined regionally. For instance, adults over 26 can't stay in Bavarian hostels unless they're accompanying a minor. The hostels I've used in Germany simply supplied a "guest card" to non-members and charged an additional 3 euro per night. Just check with the hostels where you would like to stay.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6349 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Friday, May 14, 2010 - 10:13 pm:    Thanks to all for the good info. Now here's one more question: If a married couple are applying for a room together at a HI hostel, must BOTH of them possess paid-up HI membership cards?   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 85 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.47.181 Posted on Thursday, May 13, 2010 - 05:37 am:    HI welcomes Seniors, and has a reduced membership fee of $18 for us ($28 for those under 60). Hostelling started in Germany 100 years ago, then came to the US 75 years ago. There are over 4000 HI hostels worldwide, and over 100 in the US. JC   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 389 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 24.116.200.178 Posted on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 - 02:55 am:    Hmmm, tho there's a red white & blue medicard in my pocket, I'm some times not the eldest. Wrinkles on much younger worry warts are more aging than those I wear with my smile. and as to choice of base billeting vs hostel room, I am unaware of a base (of any nationality) in: Luxembourg; Rotenberg an der Tauber; Rudesheim am Rhein; Frankfurt am Rhein; Firenze (Florence), Venizia or Roma, IT; Santa Cruz, Pigon Point, Fisherman's Wharf (in San Francisco) or Sausalito, CA; Appalician Trail, VA; off Broadway in the Big Apple (NYC)... and gay Paris ... to just mention a few I've stayed at. Persoanlly, it's great to have the choices. Linen? I haven't packed any since 1998. Making advance reservations ... it depends on the popularity of the location, sponatity of my travel ... ranging from a walk-in to approx week in advance....but never more than two weeks.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 84 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.45.107 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 01:50 pm:    I am in Germany right now, but have lodging provided. I looked at the HI hostel in Mainz the other day just out of curiosity. Apparently the German hostels are owned by the govt. The hostel had a restaurant, bar, parking, heavy duty construction, and was almost new, located on Government land. Includes breakfast, and about 18 Euros a day. JC   TR Advanced Member Username: Travel_ready Post Number: 235 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 74.192.161.189 Posted on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 - 12:10 am:    Kind of goes without saying, Dinotars. Cost is around the same- private room and (usually) private bath and the on base privileges and security can't be replicated by a hostel. Unfortunately, our base options have shrunken over the past two decades and a hostel located in or near major metro areas looks like a cheap and handy alternative. Your mileage may vary.   dinotars Senior Member Username: Dinotars Post Number: 6681 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 173.169.151.24 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 11:42 pm:    If I have a choice,a hostel or a room on base,for me its a no brainer,it's the base.   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 497 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 76.106.250.199 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 11:29 pm:    Cherry, Cherry, Cherry, some of us do have wrinkles. Men have wrinkles. Ladies on the other hand, have CHARACTER LINES. Enough said?   TR Advanced Member Username: Travel_ready Post Number: 234 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 74.192.161.189 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 11:04 pm:    Great info, Larry. I've never stayed at a hostel, but after reading this thread and doing some research from the links James provided, I'll be giving them a try.   Larry W. Carnes Senior Member Username: Larry Post Number: 1148 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 63.20.102.94 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 10:59 pm:    Cherry, All of the hostels I've used in the last 5 years provided the sheets & pillowcases at no extra charge. Most also provided a bath towell, although a few charged a small fee. Almost all hostels prohibit guests from using personal sleeping bags. I've never been cold in a hostel; the blankets or comforters have been more than adequate. But I generally travel when it's summer there....wherever THERE happens to be. Most do not charge your credit card until you sign in. A few have rules about needing 24 hours for cancellations. I've never reserved more than a couple of days ahead. It's a good idea to reserve as far in advance as you can at the really popular ones like Sydney Central YHA and Christchurch Raulston. They often fill up. There's usually a good mix of young backpackers and us more seasoned travelers. Seems like more and more of the latter are using hostels now. As James indicated, the HI-USA-YHA hostels are the top of the line ones. If you're a member you save a couple bucks a night on the rate and get other discounts on travel, tours and sometimes restaurants. I'm paying 18 bucks a year for my Senior membership card....well worth it.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6335 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 10:57 pm:    Tom, Tom, Tom -- Where did you get the idea some of us may have "wrinkles"? They are CHARACTER LINES, not "wrinkles." At least, that's the case on MY visage; don't know about yours... ;-D (Still hoping some Hosteling expert will answer my questions, down below!)   Tom Jackson Senior Member Username: Tombo Post Number: 496 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 76.106.250.199 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 03:32 pm:    Cherry - I know absolutely nothing about hostels. But I do have a friend and his wife (early 60's) who started doing the backpacker and hostel thing about two years ago. They are crazy about it and say that is the only way to travel on the cheap and inter-act with the UN of backpackers in the process. From what he has told me, there are quite few gray haired and wrinkle faces out there. However, in the evenings it is all just one "big brotherhood of backpackers" regardless of age. He said most everyone is super nice and are more than willing to share stories of their adventures. Where to go, where stay, what to eat (backpacker's trip reports). They were both very leary of going the backpack route at their age. But after their first trip, they were hooked. And as they say, "the rest is history". It might turn into a new adventure for us gray-haired wrinkled folks.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6331 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 11:18 am:    Questions for you experienced Hostelers, from one "old dog" who is willing to try learning a new trick: -If the listing does not mention sheets (some do say they are provided) does that mean you must bring your own? -And if they already are provided, are they adequate or is is a good idea always to bring your own? -What DO you bring for "sheets" if needed? I have seen silk sleeping sacks advertized in travel catalogs -- is that the best option for minimal bulk and weight? -Are blankets provided even if sheets are not, and are they warm enough? -How far ahead do most take reservations, and must one pre-pay at reservation time? (I didn't go that far into the site...) -And finally, what is the reaction in the backpacker culture to people with gray heads of hair and "character lines" on their faces?   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 387 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 67.90.148.2 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 08:49 am:    Hmmm, douche en suite. How good can it get? There's a lew too, I assume? Maybe I need to check deeper on IH facilities and do fewer solo trips. LC, JC, THX for the terrific G-2 rpt.   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 82 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.41.172 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 05:05 am:    The hostel I stayed at in London last year had en suite bath, in a 4 bed dorm. If anyone wants the name of the hostel I can look it up. JC   Larry W. Carnes Senior Member Username: Larry Post Number: 1146 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 63.20.94.224 Posted on Monday, May 10, 2010 - 03:26 am:    "en-suite bathing facilities?" The 4-bed room I had in Auckland had its own toilet & shower. Ditto the hostel in downtown San Diego and New Orleans. I'm thinking maybe one out of every five hostels I've stayed in have had en-suite bathing facilities.   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 384 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 67.90.148.2 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 11:46 pm:    En-suite bathing? Have never seen that. But some hostels have family rooms & sometimes private rooms. Advance reservations made on line too. (check the web page...). Meeting others....absolutely...students, professors, businessmen, soccer teams, singles, couples, families, internationals from all over the world. Actually more varried cultures than SPATs. ...and have been an "annual" member since '97 (just as I was about to retire)....but as an "GI brat" I recall my first hostel experience back in my youth ('60s).   Mike Spengel Advanced Member Username: Mike_sp Post Number: 355 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 70.95.149.155 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 07:04 pm:    How common is it to find hostels with en-suite bathing facilities?   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 78 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.41.172 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 05:35 am:    Dear FHYL and Larry, my first experience with Hostelling International was in 97, when I was invited to join the Board of the Florida Council. I have been to hostels all over the world since, usually getting private rooms for my wife and I. The best part of the experience is meeting people from different cultures. It sure beats staying in a hotel, and not meeting but a few people. Currently I am President of the Florida Council, HI-USA. JC   Larry W. Carnes Senior Member Username: Larry Post Number: 1145 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 63.20.61.33 Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010 - 12:10 am:    Me three! I've been a HI-YHA member even longer than FHYL, averaging 3x or more a year. My favorites are Sydney Central, ALL of them in New Zealand and San Diego.   FHYL Advanced Member Username: Fhyl Post Number: 383 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 68.68.131.47 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 10:13 pm:    I concur. I've been an annual IH member since '97 and have stayed at hostels averaging more than 2x per year. IHs located in Luxembourg (1), Germany (3), Italy (2), France (1), Big Apple (NYC), CA (5), HI(1) & VA(1).   James H. Coppens Intermediate Member Username: Coppens1 Post Number: 77 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 134.93.41.172 Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2010 - 04:01 pm:    Hostelling International Hostels are a good alternative if you cant get on-base billeting. For US hostels, try http://www.hiusa.org/hostels/usa_hostels. For International hostels, try http://www.hihostels.com. Be careful, there are other brands that do not have the quality control that HI has. JC