Inexpensive Travel with Youth Hostels

Our mission is “to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.” – Hostelling International

I am all about inexpensive travel and a few years back, it stumbled upon Youth Hostels, one of the best kept traveling secrets. Now, any time I travel, I first check first to see if there is a hostel at my destination.

When many people think of youth hostels, they think that they are just for the young – typically, those 25 years old or younger. In actuality, Hostels are open to everybody and provide inexpensive, overnight accommodations no matter what your age. These days, there are more and more people 55 years and older using hostels, as well as entire families. While there are some places in Europe where the age limit is 25 or 26, it is extremely rare.

How much do Hostels cost?

Room rental varies by location. In bigger cities like Chicago or San Francisco, I have paid about $25-$30 a night. Hostels in smaller towns can be as low as $15 a night. It certainly is lot more inexpensive than staying at hotels.

How is a Hostel Different from a Hotel/Motel?

Hostels typically offer dormitory-style rooms although private rooms can be obtained for an extra fee. All hostels provide a blanket and pillow – linens are another story. Most often, they are included in the price – if not, they usually can be rented from the front desk. In the past, folks would bring their sleeping bags along just in case but the majority of hostels no longer allow them.

Hostels usually have dining areas or cafeterias and often come equipped self-service kitchens. Some even include hot tubs and swimming pools!

The building itself can vary. Some hostels make their homes in historic buildings like a castle or a lighthouse. Others might be a renovated barn on a farm.

Can anyone stay at a hostel?

There are no membership requirements for Hostelling International Hostels although if you are not a member, you will end up paying a higher rate than members. Membership runs $28 for adult and $18 for senior citizens. Children under the age of 18 stay for free.

So if you are an adventuresome type and want to save some money while traveling, hostels are definitely worth checking out.

To learn more about Hostels, visit the Hostelling International Web site.