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Recommended! Die Fabrik Hostel, it is right in the heart of the Kreuzberg district (and, to be honest, where real Berliner life continues away from the hellish maw of global tourism!)
Those looking for a hotel-style accommodation with hostel prices, this is the one. Been going there since 1998 and makes part of why Berlin is so special to me! Has nice big rooms and cosy art deco style. So good, even real Germans stay there. Also has very nice and comfortable cafe adjoining it.
At Schlesische Str. 18, Kreuzberg. Nearest U-Bahn Schlesiche Tor
A handful of rooms tucked behind the tourist agency in the old town square of the Turkish quarter, this place is small enough to feel like you're joining a family for a few days.
The war tour the hostel operates is a must (if not to be taken with a pinch of salt) and helps you truly understand the importance of the place.
The setting of the hostel is great, with a bakery next door and the markets and cafes sprawling off the square all close by.
The guests enrich themselves during the day and enjoy themselves in the evening - the hill behind the hostel, where the final scene of ‘Welcome to Sarajevo’ was filmed is a great spot for some alfresco rakia drinking.
A collection of pretty average rooms in a residential district of Bulgaria, run by the rowdiest gaggle of youngsters in town.
The downstairs basement bar has a set of decks in the corner, permanently prepared for impromptu parties…that seem to take place nightly.
For a bunch of arty ravers, they put together a cracking continental(ish) breakfast, served in a basement room covered in top notch wall art.
One of the unfortunate by-products of staying at a great hostel is that your enjoyment of the place can be inversely proportional to the amount of the city you see. Thus, the slightly guilty feeling when you're loafing on the huge bed/sofa that occupies the majority of the Stanger's communal area. But, quite frankly, it's worth it.
They screen films pretty much all day on to a projector screen in the lounge, have barbecues on the front porch, and the staff will frequently lead guests off to their favourite bars.
This is one of those places where the guests stay longer than they expected, and end up working there. The writing all over the walls and the squat-like attic give it a definite acid house feel, but don't worry, everyone’s friendly, and the hippy vibe is pretty infectious.
The 24-hour bar (essentially a fridge) and adjoining lounge are great to meet people and play some free pool. It’s a party place as well, so expect to have some messy evenings. A little bit of a mission to find, but definitely worth it. AND make sure you do a shot of Unicum at the bar. Medicinal apparently. Can't really remember.
The Hospederia Zacatin in a family-run hostel, immaculately clean and very friendly, bar stays open until all hours and there is a roof terrace on the third floor as well, which does barbecues. There is also a good restaurant so lots of food choices.
La Parqu is the restaurant/bar in the middle of Alacala square. It is a beautiful area where all the family stroll in the evening. La Parque is a lovely friendly bar doing tapas and where you can watch the world go by.
Just off the central square
zacatin@hospederiazacatin.com,
www.hospederiazacatin.com
A stunning location overlooking the loch. The hostel is recently refurbished to full 'green' standards with both wind and solar power and recycling. Well located for exploring the hills around Rannoch Moor - the best way to arrive is by train to Corrour Station and then walk the 1km to the hostel.
A must for scenic beauty in a remote location.
Loch Ossian YH, Corrour, Fort William, Inverness-shire.
0870 004 1139
www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/Web/Site/Hostels/txt_LochOssian.asp
This youth hostel is widely regarded as one of the best in France. The shared rooms with bunk beds allow you to get to know other guests really well. The breakfast is good and the park around the hostel is good for recreational activities. Quiet despite the busy main road to the A31 motorway directly in front of the hostel.
1 allée de Metz Plage
Take bus no 3 or 11 from Metz train station and ask for the Pontiffroy stop.
The city centre is a 15 min walk away (pleasant once you get off the busy main road outside the hostel)
This modern and safe hostel has all the accreditations from the French youth hostel association. The rooms are clean and adequate with comfortable beds. The staff are exceptionally helpful, kind and informative. There is a self-service restaurant with breakfast included, and there is internet and a laundry service. Game, TV and recreation rooms allow you to meet loads of people.
Chausée Bocquaine
10 min walk from the cathedral.
20 min walk from Reims train station
Take buses B,N,H or K and ask for the 'Comedie' stop if you don't want to walk.
This is a comfortable hostel with great facilities. The rooms are kept in immaculate condition and the hostel is in a great setting with shops and restaurants barely a minute away. The park named after the famous playwright Garcia Lorca is right opposite the building.
The kind and jolly owner will help you with anything - in fact, he helped me to settle into the Spanish way of life and to find a flat to share while I was studying in Granada. Without a doubt, the best and most memorable hostel I've ever stayed in.
C/Infanta Beatriz, 3
18412 Granada
The hostel is on the western side of Granada on the ring road.
Take a taxi or take bus no 10 from Granada's bus station. Count 10 stops (including the first one) and get off at the 5th one (Glorieta Arabial). Walk 50m from the stop and on your right you'll see the Caja Granada bank. Cross over the Camino de Ronda (Granada's ring road) and make a right turn down the first street on your right. This is C/Infanta Beatriz. Look out for a palm tree and this hostel is in the corner of building no3.
The Granada RENFE train station is a 15-20 min walk away.
A no-star hotel in the front garden of Notre Dame Cathedral. The wallpaper is bizarre, there is no lift (five floors though), and the bathroom door (yes, we had an en suite) came away in my hand.
But the view from the window is breathtaking and the owner is friendly and helpful. Shakespeare Books is just across the street. Doubles from €60 per night.
4 rue St-Julien-le-Pauvre, Paris 75005
+33 (0)1 4354 1920
Even though for many people Calais is a place to bypass en route to Paris or Lille, this hostel is clean and safe with modern facilities (bar, library, games room) and is the only cheap hostel in the town.
The double rooms are satisfactory, though admittedly they are tiny. The staff kindly put me up for a couple of nights on a camp bed despite the fact that there were no rooms available and I was stranded with nowhere else to go.
Breakfast is provided. The hostel is only 5 mins walk from the beach, and 10 mins from the town centre and train station.
Av. du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 62100 Calais
Tél : 00 33 3 21 34 70 20
Fax : 00 33 3 21 96 87 80
Take the free bus from Calais ferry port to the main town square and go straight up the main road to the beach (going over a canal and passing a caravan site). The hostel is well signposted.
Decent hostel, good sized rooms, good facilities. Great welcome, great service. They give you a shot of schanpps when you arrive, and when we saw a brochure for caving did all the organising for us.
Right next to St Stephen's Basilica
Beautiful hostel in the tiny village of Cloghane at the base of Mount Brandon. Cloghane is a one street village with two awesome pubs - one beside the hostel, with peat fires and great music. The atlantic tide rises to the back door, it doesn't get any better.
Great cheap hostel near Gare du Nord.
Le Montclair Montmartre, 62, Rue Ramey, 75018 Paris
If you are on a low budget then you want somewhere cheap and clean to stay that is in the centre of things.
Look no further than the International Youth Hotel (not Hostel) in Langer Straat. You've got all the familiarity of being close by the city centre and a room-style reminiscent of the French motorway hotels like Formule 1 and Campanile.
It has shared ownership with the next-door dormitory-based Youth Hostel, so do not book the wrong one. Two years ago, the cost per head for a group of 20 of us was £12 per night, including meagre and just adequate breakfast, but no more than two rolls each please. Nice to find a place where average age was less than 30.
An unassuming hostel, up the side of a hill, near Dunmanway in Co. Cork
Quiet and peaceful, you can camp, stay in an old gypsy caravan, sleep in the dorm, or take the family room with private bathroom.
The hostels get very, very busy during the summer months and it is certainly advisable to book as early as possible in order to get a cheap bed.
Also, be aware that if you have not warned the hostel that you will be making a late check-in (and by late check-in, they mean any time after 6pm) your reservation may be cancelled and given to another person. So if there's any chance of delay, send an email or call in advance of your arrival.
(The alternative is, if you missed out on point one, to hang around hostel receptions at about 6pm to see if they are yet ready to make some cancellations).
Friendly hostel run by Australian backpackers.
Centrally located and the cheapest place in town.
Join the Youth Hostel Association and then book one of the three hostels in Amsterdam - I prefer the Vondelpark, if you get enough going it's a hoot or - but you can also book a family room. And it's oh-so cheap!
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
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