I have booked several hostels for my trip this spring and was just wondering if I should make a habit of calling or emailing the hostels before I get there to confirm my bed, and if so, how many days ahead should I do this?
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hi Justin. Telephone or send E-mail to every hostel, 2 or 3 days before you will be there.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
I like to book my hotels via email just so that I have a hard-copy of the reservation details to carry with me. Yes, I also re-confirm 1 or 2 months before arrival just to make sure they haven't forgotten me or misplaced my reservation.
Having a hard-copy with dates and prices is a good thing. Once when checking out of a hotel in Germany they charged my credit card too much for the room. When I protested and told them what the price was SUPPOSED to be they said that was impossible...until I whipped out my printed confirmation and showed them. They then refunded the overcharge. Better to be safe than sorry.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, US
31 posts
Hey Justin,
I'm travling this spring too and am looking for a hostel to stay at in Rome, are you going to Rome and if so what hostel are you staying at or do you have any recommendations?
Thanks,
Laura
Posted by
OP
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
21 posts
Laura,
Unfortunatly I have not searched for hostels in Rome yet(This is my first time!). I will probably do that in the next few days and if I find anything interesting, I will post it here.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
All you have to do is go to www.tripadvisor.com, go to the Rome section, and click on the tab for accomodations/hotels, then look at OTHER where hostels are kept. You can see all hostels ordered by users' ratings. It's pretty simple to find a hostel. Now, finding vacancies at this late date might be a different issue.
Posted by
Perth, WA, Australia
75 posts
Hi Laura .. I'm going on my first trip as well this spring (leaving in 11 days!!). I booked with the Beehive in Rome. I won't be there until the beginning of May but I'll report back on how it is.
here's there website
http://www.the-beehive.com/
trip advisor review:
http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187791-d263860-Reviews-The_Beehive-Rome_Lazio.html
It looks expensive but that's for a private room .. they have dorm rooms as well.
Posted by
dallas, tx, usa
1358 posts
Justin:
Having stayed in over 20 hostels in my 22 years of travel I can tell you that every one is operated differently than another. Some will not acknowledge reservations and others will.
To be safe I would reserve at least 3 days in advance. Do your research on the web for each one. Use the phone if you don't trust email.
I have arrived at several where they had no record of my reservation, but found a room for me. Most will accommodate you if you are considerate.
Even considering the inconvenience and disappointment sometimes, staying hostels is always rewarding for me and my wife.
We are past 80 and enjoy being with the type of traveling families (including kids) who stay in hostels.
Many managers will call ahead for me to reserve for the following night when I ask.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA, US
31 posts
Thanks Justin and Shauna!
I tried to book the Beehive too and they turned us down. There are five us and they didn't have room for us on all four nights. We're thinking about giving in and looking for a cheap but still clean hotel...