Youth hostels (YH) are establishments of the regional associations of the Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (German Youth Hostel Association) (DJH) or establishments of other responsible bodies affiliated with the DJH.

Membership of the Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk or of a disparate association affiliated with the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) is a pre-requisite for YH acceptance. This may be acquired on site within the youth hostels.

Youth hostel accommodation is primarily offered to young people and to families.

Children’s groups and youth groups must be accompanied by at least one person responsible for their supervision.

1. Booking

1.1 Guests may book accommodation in person, on the telephone, by fax, by post, by e-mail or also online.

1.2 The booking request should provide the following information: name, address, dates of arrival and departure, number of people (specifying the number of male and female guests), date of birth, membership number (if available). Family bookings should specify the age of the child or children and any special requests.

1.3 The reservation shall become binding upon both parties upon written or verbal confirmation thereof and/or upon conclusion of a written confirmation of occupancy.

1.4 A written Agreement of Occupancy shall be concluded with families and groups, and specific to extended occupancy.

1.5 Unannounced guests may be provided accommodation solely if the occupancy status permits this.

2. Payment

Payment for accommodation in youth hostels shall be due no later than at the time of departure. Pre-payment may be requested. Further details shall be provided in the Agreement of Occupancy concluded.

3. Cancellations

3.1 Guests who do not have a written Agreement of Occupancy may cancel their booking telephonically. Cancellation must be received by the youth hostel by 6.00 P.M. on the day prior to the scheduled date of arrival.

3.2 Guests in possession of a written Agreement of Occupancy must effect cancellation in writing. Notification of cancellation must be received by the youth hostel no later than eight weeks prior to the scheduled date of arrival, unless otherwise covenanted in the Agreement of Occupancy. Notification of the number of participants must also be submitted in writing no later than eight weeks prior to the scheduled date of arrival.

3.3 Notifications received within the eight week period prior to arrival – and thereafter – shall unequivocally be governed by the provisions cited under “Cancellation charges” detailed in the next section.

3.4 The youth hostels shall be entitled to rescind approval of the booking and/or the written Agreement of Occupancy vis-à-vis registered guests in the event of non-availability of the agreed or covenanted services up to four weeks prior to the date of arrival. In such a case, they shall be obligated to inform registered guests immediately of such non-availability and to refund any pre-payments already remitted to them. Guests thus affected shall be provided support in their identification of alternative accommodation.

4. Cancellation charges

4.1 In the event that cancellation periods shall fail to be observed, or should there be a discrepancy of at least ten per cent between the number of guests who shall have registered and those who shall have actually arrived, or should the guests fail to arrive at all, the youth hostel shall levy compensation charges of fifty per cent per person and per day specific to all covenanted services unless the guest shall demonstrate that damages of an appreciably lower extent, or no damages at all, shall have been incurred.

4.2 In the event that the costs incurred by the youth hostel in consequence of cancellation shall be demonstrably higher than the fixed amount, the guest shall be liable for remittance of this amount.

4.3 Compensation shall not be due if the covenanted services shall be utilised by other guests.

5. Membership

Submission of a valid membership card is a pre-requisite for utilisation of the youth hostels.

6. Individual membership

6.1 All persons permanently resident in the Federal Republic of Germany may obtain a membership card from all DJH membership card issuing offices (including youth hostels and offices of DJH Landesverbände).

6.2 Individual guests aged up to 26 years old shall receive junior cards. Individual guests aged 27 years and above, married couples and those in a relationship akin to marriage residing at the same address, families or single parents with minor children (aged up to 26 years) shall receive a Family/27 PLUS (FAM/27 PLUS) card even in the event that addresses shall differ. One membership card may be issued per family member.

6.3 Family membership cards (FAM/27 PLUS) shall entitle adult card holders to bring along their own minor children and those of friends.

6.4 Guests from abroad who are not members of an association affiliated with the IYHF may obtain an “International Guest Card” (Welcome Stamps) on site.

7. Organisational membership

7.1 Schools, youth groups, unions, associations, foundations, companies, corporate enterprises and other organisations shall obtain corporate membership and shall, accordingly, be issued group membership cards. Their acceptance and inclusion shall be subject to statutory provisions of the primary DJH association and of the regional associations of the DJH.

7.2 The group membership card shall entitle the leader and that leader’s group to accommodation in the youth hostel. The group membership card shall not replace individual membership. It shall not be transferable to other institutions or persons.

7.3 A group shall consist of not less than four participants, including the group leader. Group leaders shall be required to be of no less than 16 years of age.

7.4 Group membership cards shall not be issued to travel agencies or other businesses that organise travel on a commercial basis. Even when making a booking through an intermediary, the group proposing travel shall be required to be in possession of membership.

8. Prices

Prices shall be based upon the current price list of the respective regional association, or Landesverband, and/or the youth hostel at the time of receipt of the booking request, provided differing prices shall not have been covenanted in the Agreement of Occupancy. Price lists may be obtained from the DJH Landesverbänden and the youth hostels.

9. Liability

9.1 Guests who shall have culpably inflicted damage to buildings and fixtures shall be statutorily required to provide compensation thereof (those with parental responsibility and operators included).

9.2 Liability specific to loss, theft or damage of articles of value may be assumed solely if such articles shall have been surrendered to the youth hostel management, or the representatives thereof, expressly for their safekeeping unless the DJH, its organs or vicarious agents shall have caused such loss or damage either wilfully or in consequence of gross negligence. In such an instance, too, statutory provisions shall apply.

9.3 Liability shall not extend to damage to motor vehicles (including their contents) and bicycles sited on the YH premises, provided such damage shall not have been inflicted wilfully or in consequence of gross negligence by the DJH or its organs or vicarious agents.

 

These Terms and Conditions of Use / General Terms and Conditions for Youth Hostels were adopted following a resolution of the members’ assembly passed on 19th November 2005 in Hanover.

Note:

We would like to refer to the EU platform on online out-of-court dispute resolution, which can be found under the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. Our DJH Service Center will be happy to assist you with initial questions on dispute resolution. Beyond this we do not participate in voluntary dispute resolution procedures before a consumer arbitration board.

Welcome to our world: The German Youth Hostel Association (DJH) wishes you and all guests a pleasant and inspiring stay in its youth hostels!

With us, you will not only find a variety of opportunities to engage with people, but you will also meet people from different age groups and cultures. These often have individual habits, behaviours and needs. Open-mindedness, mutual respect and tolerance are important values that we embrace. We want all our guests to feel comfortable and safe – regardless of their gender, ethnic origin, religion or beliefs.

The youth hostels therefore have house rules that are intended to help take these different needs into account and ensure that everyone has a pleasant stay. The following basic rules should be observed by all guests. In this context, group leaders and teachers are responsible for their groups and their behaviour, as well as for ensuring that the house rules are observed.

Arrival

If you have made a reservation, you can arrange your arrival time with the youth hostel manager. Confirmed bookings will be held until 6pm, after which they may be allocated to other guests.

If you have not made a reservation, you can find out whether there are any vacancies online, by phone, by email or directly at the youth hostel.

To stay in a youth hostel or take advantage of other offers, you must be a member of DJH or another national youth hostel association. Travellers with a German address without a membership card can also become members directly at the youth hostel. Guests from abroad without a membership card must purchase an ‘International Guest Card’, which functions as an individual membership for 12 months.

You find detailed information about our membership regulations in English at: https://www.jugendherberge.de/en/membership/.

Stay

In the spirit of the hostel community, we ask you to always show consideration for other guests during your stay.

Accommodation may be in single, twin or shared rooms, subject to availability at the youth hostel, and usually separated by gender.

Travellers travelling together can be accommodated together if they wish and subject to room availability.

We ask for your assistance during your stay. This includes, for example, keeping the facilities, rooms and objects you use in order and clearing away your own dishes after eating.

The youth hostels are committed to environmental and nature conservation. Therefore, we ask you to separate waste according to local regulations or to avoid it completely and to use energy and water responsibly.

No food may be prepared in the bedrooms. For fire safety, insurance and health reasons, the use of electrical devices for preparing food and hot drinks is generally not permitted.

Batteries for electric motors and e-bikes may only be charged at the designated places.

The interior and grounds of the youth hostel are non-smoking areas, except for the designated smoking areas. This also applies to vaporisers and e-cigarettes. As a provider of youth welfare services, we strictly prohibit the use of cannabis in all youth hostels and within sight (100 metres) of them to protect the young people accommodated at the youth hostels.

Consumption of personal alcoholic beverages is not allowed in the youth hostel or on its grounds. Heavily intoxicated guests can be expelled from the premises.

Animals are generally not allowed in the youth hostel. In some youth hostels, dogs are allowed by prior arrangement. Assistance dogs can stay in all youth hostels by prior arrangement with the youth hostel management.

Youth hostels are generally open until at least 22.00 o'clock. You can find out the opening hours and other details (front door key, door code) on site.

Sleeping hours begin at 22.00 o'clock and end at 7.00 o'clock. In order to allow all guests to rest, we ask for your consideration.

Departure

In general, bedrooms must be checked out by 10.00 o'clock.

Exceptions are possible by arrangement with the youth hostel management.

Householder's rights

The youth hostel management or a person authorised by them exercises the householder's rights on behalf of DJH. They can impose a ban on the premises if the basic rules are not observed.

Clothes, symbols or insignia, propaganda material or statements that can be clearly associated with extremism, discrimination or inhumanity are not welcome in youth hostels. In such cases, the youth hostel management has no tolerance. It will demand that the respective violations be stopped and will exercise its householder's rights. The right to further criminal prosecution is expressly reserved.

The reason for banning someone from the premises will be given verbally.

These house rules were adopted by the general meeting of DJH on 16 November 2024 in Berlin.