Our travel expert answers your questions
My partner and I will be travelling to London, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. I am seeking hostel accommodation close to the main metro stations in the cities we visit. We would like double room with private bathroom/shower. — Camilla Dolley
A decade or two ago, you would probably have been thumbing through a guide book searching for a hostel; these days it is all on the Internet. There are three major booking sites serving the backpacker market: hostelworld.com, hostelbookers.com and hostels.com. All offer a similar selection of hostels, although hostelbookers seems to specialise in the flashpacker market — those who want a little more style. The sites give a full description of the hostel, its location and, in many cases, a listing of reviews. You can set all the sites to give you the price in rands — or any other currency. Make a checklist of the things that are important to you before you get swept away by lavish descriptions of the hostels. Among these could be laundry facilities, free wi-fi, distance from public transport and an elevator. Also check whether the hostel has a closing time each night, effectively a curfew. Some travellers say this makes them feel safer and limits noise caused by people coming and going throughout the night.
Before you make your choice, ensure you know what you are paying for. When it comes to double rooms, the price is often quoted per person. So, if the price for a double room is 30 euros, it will cost the two of you 60 euros.
Before you book, check what is available at hotels in the area by using one of the major discount sites like booking.com. You may find you get better bang for your buck at a traditional hotel. For some excellent tips on whether to go for a hostel affiliated to Hostelling International or an independent one, read Rick Steve's guide (ricksteves.com). You can also find some very helpful tips on the Savvy Backpacker site (thesavvybackpacker.com).