Hostels are generally fantastic places to be. The people who are there are passionate about travelling, there is lots of camaraderie and a strong sense of community between travellers. It is in the hostel, not a guidebook that you will found out the best places to go, great places to get discounts at and loads of other tips about what is worth the money and what isn’t. It is also common for groups of people to travel together for a few days after meeting at a hostel.
This relaxed, communal atmosphere does not mean, however, that you can be completely naive about leaving your stuff in plain sight. If you are going to be out for long periods of the day, it is probably best to buy a PacSafe. This is essentially a slash-proof wire net that you can lock around your pack so pesky fingers cannot explore while you’re out on the town.
Older hostels generally offer dorm style rooms separated by sex but the trend is for most modern hostels to offer single, double and four-bedded accommodation as well. Private accommodation is more expensive but having a room to yourself can be a luxurious treat, especially when the thought of having another nights sleep interrupted by selection from the Snoring Chorus is enough to bring on a nervous breakdown.
It is traditional for hostels to ask their guests to help with the some chores during their stay. Most city hostels just ask you to put your linen in the laundry but some rural hostels will expect more of a commitment. If you have completely blown your budget, it is possible to negotiate a free night’s accommodation in exchange for doing some extra housekeeping chores. Don’t count on this every night however, or you’ll end up spending your entire vacation doing dishes.
If you are planning to do a lot of hostelling, it is wise to investigate the situation from home first. The Youth Hostelling Association, for example offers a membership card that entitles you to a reduced rate whilst staying at recognised sites. Hostelling International (HI) is the largest chain of hostels in the world. All HI sites require a YHA membership card to be presented when you turn up. These cards should be purchased in your home country before you leave.
There are plenty of private hostels available as well, but tales of infantile curfews, bedbug infestations and slightly deranged owners abound so if at all possible; it is best to stick with recognised brand. If you are thinking of booking a private hostel, do Google search first so see if there is anything untoward written about it.
You may have realised that you and your friends are not the only people that are going to be backpacking through Europe in the summer. If you are travelling in July and August, it is best to try and book your hostel ahead for some places, especially popular cities like Rome, Paris, London and Venice. Although it is tempting to be completely spontaneous, you may find yourself without a place to stay, especially at the weekend.
Hostelling is where you’ll make some of the best memories of your travels!
A backpack hiking trip through Europe or any other area that you are unfamiliar with is a great adventure. Backpacking Italy with friends will leave you with pleasing memories that you’ll enjoy for a lifetime if you do it right.
Backpacking mountain terrain will provide you with breathtaking scenery in addition to all of the fun you can have. When you lay out your backpack hiking trip use careful planning to take exactly what you’ll need to be prepared for your exciting excursion.
The first thing to remember is that a backpack hiking trip is one without long stays in hotels with room service and porters to carry your bags. You will be responsible for carrying around your own backpacking mountain gear. While you want to have everything, you’re limited to how much gear you can realistically carry.
Pack as light as possible without leaving out anything important. After all, you’d hate to be backpacking Europe in the rain and realize that you’ve left your waterproof jacket behind because you wanted to make room for your favorite book!
The items that you bring with you should be multi-functional. The more things you can do with one piece of clothing or a towel, the less items you’ll have to bring and the more room you’ll have for all the other gear you have to pack.
You need things that are practical and comfortable. Packing a suit or a formal dress really isn’t necessary, and deodorant is far more practical than a bottle of expensive perfume. The rule of thumb is that if you can’t wear something more than twice, don’t bring it. If you’ve left anything vital behind, you can always buy what you need on your trip or do laundry from time to time.
Think about the type of terrain you’ll be crossing. Backpacking Europe in the summer will require different gear than backpacking Europe in the winter or fall. Use your common sense. When you’re choosing clothes to bring on your trip, take things that won’t wrinkle easily.
Dark clothes work better than light-colored ones because the darker clothes will hide the dirt. Stock up on sample sizes of shampoo, soap, and toothpaste. If you run out, you can get more. Backpacking in Europe doesn’t mean that you’ll be hiking in some barren, uncivilized wilderness. They do have drugstores over there!
Things like prescription medications, aspirin (you’re going to be achy at the end of the day), toilet paper, a water bottle, a watch and yes, even condoms (hey, you never know!) are all things that people tend to forget about.
Another item you might want to consider purchasing is a smaller backpack for shorter excursions. If you’re stopping at a youth hostel for a day or two, you might not want to carry around all your gear for a brief night out on the town.
One other thing you might want to keep in mind is leaving room for souvenirs. You might have the option of shipping the souvenirs back, and if you do have that option available, take it.
Don’t be the typical tourist and overburden yourself on your backpack hiking trip. Before you leave, take your gear out for a test hike. See how the weight feels on your back for a few miles and make any last minute adjustments before you leave.