Frequently Asked Questions General 1. What is a Youth Hostel? 2. What is Hostelling International? Membership 3. Do I have to become a member to stay in a youth hostel? 4. How can I join Hostelling International? 5. Will my HI card enable me to use Youth Hostels overseas? 6. How much does membership cost? 7. I have lost my card while traveling - what should I do? 8. Does HI membership offer any kind of travel discounts? Reservations 9. Do I need to book accommodation in advance? 10. How do I find out about hostels around the world? 11. Can I book a private room? Guests 12. What kind of people use Youth Hostels? 13. Do age limits exist? 14. Can I bring a group to hostels? Hostels 15. How much does it cost to stay overnight in a Youth Hostel? 16. Will I have to sleep in a big dormitory? 17. Do I need to bring my own sheets or towels? 18. What kind of facilities can I expect in a Youth Hostel? 19. What kind of facilities are provided for disabled visitors? 20. Can I do my own cooking? 21. Are hostels open all day? 22. Are trips or activities organised at hostels? 23. Will I have to help with chores? 24. Who runs the hostels? 25. Still haven't answered your question? 1. What is a Youth Hostel? A Youth Hostel is good quality budget accommodation that offers a comfortable night's sleep in friendly surroundings at an affordable price. Youth Hostels provide the perfect way to get to know a country at low cost and meet with many other people who share your attitude towards travelling. 2. What is Hostelling International? Hostelling International is the brand name of the not-for-profit organisation the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) and its member associations. Our name is your reassurance of good quality budget accommodation that you can trust - simply look for the famous blue triangle sign! 3. Do I have to become a member to stay in a youth hostel? Hostelling International is a membership organization; members receive many benefits in addition to staying in HI hostels - for example special savings, discounts. You should join (see below) before you leave home. Non-members may be allowed to stay at some hostels, but a supplement will apply. 4. How can I join Hostelling International? You should be a member of a national Youth Hostel Assocation, which is recognised by IYHF in order to stay in a youth hostel listed on this site. The national website explains how to purchase membership in your country of residence. If you are not a member you are required either to purchase a membership from your nearest youth hostel association office or membership selling outlet before you start your journey or purchase an international "welcome stamp" (one per night up to a maximum of six) when you arrive at a hostel outside your country of residence. When you have purchased six welcome stamps, you have the equivalent of a full membership that is valid for 1 year from the date you purchased the first welcome stamp. Please check with the national Youth Hostel Association or the hostel you are travelling to for further information. 5. Will my HI card enable me to use Youth Hostels overseas? National Youth Hostel Association membership cards are valid at any Hostelling International hostel anywhere in the world, provided your country is a full member of the IYHF. If your country is not a full member, or you have lived in your country of residence for less than 12 months, you can purchase a Hostelling International membership card. 6. How much does membership cost? Membership costs and membership types vary among national Associations. Please contact the national Youth Hostel Association in your country for details. 7. I have lost my card while travelling - what should I do? National YHA Membership cards: please contact the Youth Hostel Association where you purchased the membership card for further information - contact details here. Hostelling International membership cards: currently these are not replaceable. 8. Does HI membership offer any kind of travel discounts? Hostelling International has negotiated a vast range of discounts around the world covering everything from reduced price coach tickets, to special deals in shops and entertainment venues. These are all listed in HI Savings. 9. Do I need to book accommodation in advance? We understand how important it is to be sure of your accommodation before you leave home, and recommend advance booking during high season and in popular destinations. With Hostelling International's HIhostels.com online booking system you can book your accommodation several months in advance. Book online here or at a booking centre Hostels do not make all of their beds available to HIhostels.com - they like to keep some for people who arrive on the day. However, there is no guarantee that there will be a bed available. If your destinations cannot be booked on this site, please contact the hostel directly to make a booking. 10. How do I find out about hostels around the world? Hostelling International publishes an annual Guide to worldwide hostels. This comes in two volumes - Europe 2004 and Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific 2004. 11. Can I book a private room? In some hostels you can book a private room. If you book online at www.hihostels.com you will clearly see which hostels offer private room bookings. For any other kind of reservation, please enquire at time of booking. 12. What kind of people use Youth Hostels? Hostelling International welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, origins and interests - first-time travellers, seasoned travellers, lone travellers or people in groups all find a warm welcome at a Youth Hostel. Only in Bavaria, Germany is access limited to individual travellers under the age of 26. 13. Do age limits exist? Youth Hostels are open to everyone. However age limits may apply for children in some places - check with the hostel. Young people may be given priority when the hostel is nearly full. Only in Bavaria, Germany is access limited to individual travellers under the age of 26 - families and groups with at least one minor are welcome. 14. Can I bring a group to hostels? Hostelling International welcomes groups. Some hostels are particularly well equipped for groups. Please visit www.hihostels.com for details of hostels in Europe which are particularly recommended for groups; for other countries please contact the National Association for their recommendations. 15. How much does it cost to stay overnight in a Youth Hostel? Costs vary from country to country, but always represent excellent value for money. Overnight fees can be found on this site - simply select the country and hostel where you would like to stay. 16. Will I have to sleep in a big dormitory? Big dormitories are becoming increasingly rare in the Hostelling International network. Many hostels now offer single, twin and four-bedded rooms - please check when booking. 17. Do I need to bring my own sheets or towels? Bedding is usually provided, although you may need to bring or hire sheets in some hostels - please check when booking. Towels are not provided, so please remember to bring a towel plus any toiletries you will need. 18. What kind of facilities can I expect in a Youth Hostel? Hostelling International recognizes that consistent quality and service are important to budget travellers. Local customs and practices vary around the world so please browse our website for more details. For information on hostel open times, open dates and facilities please select the hostel using the search tool on the left. You can also find this information on the National Association website and in the Hostelling International Guide. Most rooms are fitted with bunk beds, and sleep two or four people - larger dormitory rooms are becoming less common. Bedding is usually provided, though you may need to bring or hire sheets in some hostels. Some hostels have en-suite facilities, while others have shared facilities located nearby. Many hostels provide self-catering kitchens and most provide meals. You can also expect to find facilities such as a TV room, library, common room, laundry facilities and internet access in many hostels. 19. What kind of facilities are provided for disabled visitors? Many hostels provide access for wheelchair users, and specially adapted rooms are becoming more common. However, we recommend you contact the hostel for specific details before making a booking. 20. Can I do my own cooking? No, the hostels provide meals and these represent excellent value for money. 21. Are hostels open all day? Generally, large city hostels are open 24 hours per day, while others may have shorter opening hours, and some may close for a short period during the day. Most hostels are open all year round, though some smaller hostels may be seasonal. You can normally check in or out between 07:00-10:00 hours and 17:00-22:30 hours. 22. Are trips or activities organised at hostels? Many hostels offer a wide range of activities - from city tours to white water-rafting! You will find full details on many of the National Association websites (details here). In addition, the hostel reception often provides valuable local knowledge and tourist information. 23. Will I have to help with chores? In the majority of city and other key hostels, the most you will be asked to do is hand in your bed linen when you leave. 24. Who runs the hostels? Youth Hostels are run by the national Youth Hostel Associations. Each hostel must adhere to the Assured Standards set by the IYHF, which carries out regular inspections. 25. Still haven't answered your question? You can email us. We will deal with your query as quickly as possible, but please allow 3-5 working days for a reply.