| Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel | | | | don't bother to book or at least research for a hostel. If |
| that allows young people to enjoy the fun of traveling | | | | you are lucky to avoid hustlers waiting for you in train |
| without spending huge amounts of money. The factors | | | | stations, offering cheap but probably low standards |
| that traditionally differentiate backpacking from other | | | | accommodation, you will end up paying high prices for |
| forms of tourism include use of public transport (mostly | | | | crowded rooms with noise and bad smells. To avoid |
| trains) as a means of travel, preference of youth | | | | unpleasant accommodation memories, book your |
| hostels to luxury hotels, length of the trip, use of a | | | | hostel online. |
| heavy loaded backpack, and an interest in meeting the | | | | Europe is packed with thousands of hostels, one or |
| locals as well as seeing the sights. | | | | more in almost in every city. However, you have to do |
| Europe can be considered a backpacker heaven for | | | | your homework beforehand. Which one is cheaper, |
| both prices and ease of transportation. Railway | | | | which one is closer to city center and the ultimate |
| passes like Interrail and Eurorail are widely used in | | | | question: 'Which one has 7/24 hot showers'. |
| Europe, which allows unlimited train travel in a specific | | | | Luckily, almost all European hostels have a website or |
| number of days. | | | | at least are included in hostel directories. Such |
| Accommodation Options for Budget Travelers | | | | directories will provide you inside and outside photos, |
| Since the logic of backpacking is 'spend less so that | | | | maps, directions, and even reviews of the hostels. |
| you can travel more', hostels, B&B's and | | | | Make sure you read all the comments, because they |
| campgrounds are the top three accommodation | | | | were submitted by people who actually stayed there. |
| options. Hostels provide budget-oriented | | | | Most sites will also offer you various booking options. |
| accommodation where guests can rent a bed, | | | | Online hostel booking is a must for every backpacker, |
| sometimes a bunk bed in a dormitory, and share a | | | | especially in high season, with crowded cities and fully |
| bathroom, lounge, and sometimes a kitchen. | | | | occupied hostels. For example; if you are planning a trip |
| Rooms can be mixed gender or single-gender, | | | | to Amsterdam, Netherlands on weekends, book online |
| although private rooms may also be available if you | | | | 3-4 days in advance, since it's almost impossible to find |
| are willing to pay higher prices. Hostels are generally | | | | a place to stay. This is also the same for big cities like |
| cheaper for both the operator and the occupant; many | | | | Barcelona, Paris, Rome, and so on. |
| hostels employ their long-term residents as desk clerks | | | | For other locations, I would recommend checking |
| or housekeeping staff in exchange for free | | | | prices before you go, since they tend to change when |
| accommodation. Hostels are generally more | | | | you arrive at the reservation desk without any prior |
| economical for individual travelers, but also have | | | | booking. I personally noticed that the prices at booking |
| advantages for large groups. | | | | sites are always lower than actual ones. That means |
| Choosing the Best Hostel | | | | you can save some bucks and spend it for a meal at |
| There are many fascinating hostels around Europe, but | | | | McDonald's. Hostel booking works, and is |
| also many that you should avoid. Since backpacking is | | | | recommended for every fellow backpacker. Have a |
| an unplanned kind of travel by its nature, most people | | | | nice trip. |