My friend and I - both 23 - are backpacking through Europe this month, and I keep getting mixed messages about hostel membership cards. HI offers membership for about $36, but is it worth it? I'm not sure if the environment at HI hostels is what we'll want for every night of our trip, and I'm just not sure if the card would end up paying for itself. Any thoughts?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32349 posts
Heather,
I always like to travel with a current HI Hostel membership for several reasons, including:
I prefer HI Hostels when possible, as the facilities are consistent from one location to the next, as is the pricing.
Having a membership provides not only preferred booking (over non-members) but also slightly better prices.
At a few HI properties that I've stayed at, membership was compulsory for booking a room. If that's the only Hostel in a particular town, having a membership can be useful!
HI Hostels usually have their properties located in a convenient and central part of town.
I've also stayed at some independent Hostels, and so far they've been good. Given the fairly reasonable cost, having an HI card isn't really much of a problem, and whether to stay at an HI Hostel or independent depends on what's available at the time and the cost.
Whether it will "pay for itself" will depend on how often you stay at HI properties.
Posted by
Boston, MA, United States
1806 posts
I have to say that if you are 23 years old, HI membership may not really be worth it for you. HI hostels are very much geared towards people who travel very low key and want peace & quiet, along with a safe and fairly clean place to stay for cheap.
HI are definitely not "party hostels" and really attract older solo travelers or families with young children. They are definitely in good, central locations and you can book a bunk at some HI's without a membership, but you'll pay an extra fee every night without a membership card. HI hostels are sometimes kind of spartan on the amenities compared to the independent or "flashpacker" type hostels that are popping up all over these days.
The HI membership is good for a whole year and you can use it to get some other minor discounts on food and sightseeing, but check to see what it will give you a discount on first, because if you only use the card 2-3 times for a hostel stay or a museum discount, you're really not getting your money's worth.
Read reviews of different hostels online before you book anything. Websites like hostelworld.com, bugeurope.com, hostelz.com are good resources to read about the atmosphere, safety, cleanliness and amenities of any hostel you might be interested in - and you'll be able to see what others in your age group have to say about the hostels.
Posted by
Halifax, N.S.
211 posts
I would say no. When I was in Europe I only stayed at one HI hostel, in Milan because it was the only option. I just paid the three extra euros or whatever it was and got stamps, if you stay enough times and get enough stamps, then you get your membership anyway. I was not a fan of the HI, very cold and industrial feeling, dull common room, plus strict lock out time rules etc. I found my favourite hostels by checking out hostelworld.com and looking for the hostels that had stars next to their name, or had at least an 80% approval rating.