We only work with the best hostels across Europe. To make sure of this, we’ve only checked out hostels rated highly by other travellers. Then on top of that, we’ve stayed in each one ourselves and hand-picked only the best to ensure quality, suitable accommodation when staying in hostels on your Euroventure. Never stayed in a hostel before? It’s natural that you might be wondering what to expect. Hostels have gotten a pretty bad reputation over the years, but when you stay in one of ours you’ll realise how outdated these myths are. You’ll be surprised at how relaxed and fun the atmosphere of many hostels can be, as well as being just as clean and stylish as many hotels. While different hostels have different ways of running things, you can rest assured that you’ll never be in for a nasty surprise when you travel with Euroventure staying in hostels.
Don’t worry about arriving in an unfamiliar city without a clue of where to go. We provide you with all the necessary directions to your accommodation, so upon arriving at the train or bus station of your next city, all you need to do is make sure you’ve got your directions handy!
The hostels we work with are brilliantly located in city centres so you’re never far away from all the action. However, they can sometimes be a little tricky to find. For every hostel with bright, flashing signposts, there are a handful of gems hiding in amongst rows of buildings on a side street. Be sure to expect the unexpected and keep your eyes peeled!
Just like a hotel, your first point of call when you arrive is the check-in desk. Most hostels run 24-hour help desks, manned by knowledgeable staff who can offer some advice on the local area. They’ll direct you to your room and show you where everything is, but it’s up to you and other guests to respect the surroundings and keep your rooms tidy. Sometimes beds will be made up already, and sometimes you’ll need to make your beds up on arrival (sheets and bedding are supplied for you).
Many hostel workers throughout Europe speak excellent English, although it doesn’t hurt to learn a few handy phrases in advance anyway. At the very least, we’d encourage you to initiate conversation by asking them in their native language if they can speak English. Most people appreciate when tourists make the effort to speak the language, before proving they can speak your language much more fluently!
When staying in a hostel, the most common and best value option is to stay in dorms with other travellers. If you’re travelling in a big group, it’s likely that you’ll get a room together. However, if you’re on your own or with a friend you’ll be put into a dormitory with other guests you won’t know. If you have booked a standard package with us staying in dorm rooms, you’ll generally be in mixed sex rooms of between 8 and 14 – enough to provide a sociable atmosphere without being overwhelming. If you need to request smaller dorms or single sex rooms please notify us before you book or when you make your quote request and we can adjust your quote accordingly.
Take a moment to choose your bed (or this will be pre-allocated), familiarise yourself with the room and get acquainted with others you may be sharing with. Loads of people travel solo in hostels, so guests are always really happy to make friends and socialise. We always recommend inviting other travellers out for a meal with you when you arrive – you never know what you’ll have in common, or where you’ll be heading together in the future! Remember – you’ll always have something in common because you’re both travelling – Euroventure team members have made lifelong friends this way.
Hostels usually supply individual lockers in dormitories to keep your valuables secure so sharing with strangers needn’t stress you out. It should go without saying that you don’t want to leave your money, passport, phone or any other valuables lying around anyway – if you don’t need them on your person, keep them locked away. You may find it useful to provide your own lock using a combination, so you don’t have to worry about losing the key.
Each dorm will generally have it’s own shared bathroom. Again, depending on the hostel, bathrooms can vary, however most will have a couple of showers, sinks and toilets so that you’re not all fighting over them, and many provide towels on request for an extra charge. They’re really not the run down facilities that they’re often made out to be – all our hostels have clean, modern and stylish rooms and bathrooms, making hostels a great way to save money without skimping on comfort.
Get to know the rules of the hostel as soon as you can. Different hostels have different ways of doing things. Hostels are generally kept secure using keys or swipe cards issued only to guests. There may also be rules regarding designated quiet hours during the night, so try to keep the noise down a bit if you’re going out – other people might have early trains to catch (that might be you the next day so the good deed will probably pay off!).
Check out the facilities your hostel offers and where they are. There’ll generally be common areas like a lounge or games room, which are great for meeting fellow travellers whether they’re a part of your group or not. Some hostels have a bar or even clubs on site for socialising over a couple of drinks, which will often be cheaper than most city pubs and clubs. Many also organise pub crawls and club nights which can be a great way to meet people.
Also, remember that hostels generally leave guests to cater for themselves, so you’ll usually find fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities on site. If you’re on a budget this is a great option – travel light and cut down on your spending by using the washing facilities and cooking for yourself instead of eating out every night.
With many hostels based in the middle of cities, you’ll never have too far to go if you’re looking for food, drink, entertainment, or even just some bare essentials. Staff at the help desk are usually able to fill you in on the surrounding area. Plus, there’ll never be a short supply of tourist information and What’s On leaflets at reception to help you decide what to do.
It can be extremely handy to locate the nearest convenience stores too. Essential items you don’t miss until they run out, like travel-size shampoos and shower gels, will always be in supply. You can always grab a few snacks to keep you going or even get some of your group to chip in towards ingredients for cooking together.
You’ll no doubt want to travel light on your trip so make sure you’re not overloaded with excess baggage. Remember, you can always buy disposable, travel-size items on your journey, or pick some up when you arrive. There are a few essentials and odd items you may find useful during your travels, so make sure these items aren’t neglected from your bag.
For a more detailed list see our Packing List.
