Hostels - Book NOW? or Walk IN?

My backpacking trip isn't until next spring, but Ive already done research in terms of where I'd like to say. This doesn't mean you should or have to, but I just like planning and having some sort of idea of where I will be sleeping during the trip.

You're travelling into almost "off season" so it should be fine to just book your hostel a few days before you arrive in the city at an internet cafe. If I were you, I'd do a bit of research into the hostels and see which one is the cheapest one you can find that meets your needs. Then write it down in your guidebook on a sticky note. At least then when you go to reserve your room, you can try that place first because you already know you like what you've seen/read of it on the internet and it saves time sitting in an internet cafe trying to figure out which hostel you want to sleep in when you should be experiencing wherever you are. Of course if you really don't care where you sleep, this doesn't matter cause you can just pick the first one you see on hostelz.com

Another reason why you should book ahead is if you have a strict itinerary. If you have a loose itinerary, then its easier to make it up as you go.
One more reason is if your travel companion is your siginificant other. Then you might want a private room for more privacy. These can be a little harder to come by in hostels and can be booked ahead of time. My bf and I are going to Europe together and are spending about half the time in dorm beds, and half the time in a private room. We will probably be booking the private rooms a couple weeks in advance. (we're travelling for 2 1/2 months.)

Have a fun trip, I can't wait till mine.

if you've found hostels you like, i would reserve them now. you can always cancel later if your plans change, according to their cancel policies. i'm leaving in 3 weeks and i found out the hostel in vernazza is full. its the only hostel there so i'm bummed that i didn't book earlier. for larger cities with lots of hostels maybe it isn't a big deal. i'm going to book mine in advance just because i did research to find the ones i really wanted to stay at.

I would book now my favortive hostel in Rome the Beehive fills quick and they don't take walk in's.

Even though you are going in what many may call shoulder season I find on weekends and big cities they fill quick. You may also want to book in advance if you and your companion want to be in the same room, I met many people in my travel in off season who where split in to different rooms, or had to switch hostels nighly because they didn't book ahead.

Don't waste your valuable sightseeing time trying to find a hostel, book now then you will have the directions and know where you are going and how much it will be.

Also its best to book direct with the hostel I would avoid using hostel booking sites such as hostels.com or hostelworld.com. I think its better to book direct. If you go to hostelz.com you can search for hostels by city once you find one you like select it then expand the information under locaiton and it will give you the hostels website if they have one. If there is no link try google, also if you find a hostel that looks good check the reviews on trip advisor, its a good source as it does not edit the reviews like hostelworld.com does.

Kayla -
I would consider booking your first place upon your arrival. If you're using HI hostels, before you leave one, ask them to book the next one for you. I believe this is a free service - but check.

I would also concur with avoiding hostel booking sites. I prefer booking directly. Use the websites for getting opinions on the hostels you're looking at, but I feel its best to book with the hostel directly to avoid any conflict/trouble upon arrival. Just my $.02.

What is an HI hostel?

HI hostels belong to a network called Hosteling International. All HI hostels have to conform to certain specifications, and meet HI standards. To stay at an HI hostel, you can either join HI for a fee and carry one of their cards, or pay a bit extra per night. I think once you stay at two or three HI hostels you become a member automatically, because of the extra money you paid. Some people like HI hostels because you are sure of getting a basic level of comfort, as they tend to all offer the same services. However, they tend not to have any extras. Private hostels can be more of a risk, since they are not inspected, etc., but they also often offer more amenities.

To answer your fist question, I would book your hostels now, as it is so much nicer to arrive in a city already knowing where you are going to spend the night. Good hostels tend to fill fast. In Rome, I second the Beehive - it was great, but it only has eight beds, so it might be booked. In Paris, I stayed at Le Village, but I would not stay there again, as it wasn't the cleanest, and it is not in a very nice area.

Have fun!

My friend, who is traveling with me, and I looked up hostels.. we also vetoed Le Village in Paris... I looked at 3 different review sites and it just sounded iffy.

I'm going to have to look into the Behive!

We were going to stay at the Tiber Hostel.. which is in northern Rome. Has anyone stayed there?

For Barcelona we picked HelloBCN hostel.. 5 minutes from Las Ramblas. Any opinions about that one? Nothing but excellent review online.

and

For Paris.. I don't remember. I'll have to post that later.

I havent reserved these yet, so if anyone has stayed in them, or known someone who has stayed in them and has an opinion good or bad, I'd love to hear it!

Thanks for everyones advice!

Thanks for that Beehive rec!

In Paris, I like MIJE.

My first two backpacking trips serendipity planned save the first night's stay.

Since then, I book ahead.

The consolidator sites are good for cross checking hostels. I usually look at a few of them and compare to the hostels own site and usually book directly with the hostel. I do the same for comparing airfare.

Researching and booking hostels now is advantageous because you will know exactly where you are headed and likely to get preference on room type.

You can print out all of your directions and maps and you will just feel ahead of the game especially if you are going to a handful of cities.

One of the charms of traveling light & free is not being tied down to an itinerary you planned, with the best of intentions, before you left. So you can stay an extra day someplace or make other modifications on the fly.

If that doesn't appeal to you, then by all means make those reservations now. It will be one less thing to worry about on the road.

Otherwise, Europe in October is easy. In most cases you probably can just waltz in and get a bed. But to be safe call as soon as you are sure of your arrival date--afternoon before or morning of should be fine.

One exception that probably does not apply to you: If it would absolutely destroy your trip to not be able to stay in a particular hostel, reserve now. If it's unacceptable to keep the option of spending an extra 15 euros for a room in a cheap hotel in the unlikely event that you are shut out of a hostel, likewise.

Otherwise let flexibility about lodging be your insurance policy that allows you to be flexible about your itinerary as you travel.

I think you would be fine to not book your hostels ahead of time and just show up in October. Personally, I couldn't deal with that, but hey if you can go for it. The con for me would be: not knowing where I was going & when.

In Paris I suggest the AIJ hostel. It is very basic, but quite clean (cleanliness seems to be something many Parisian hostels lack if you read reviews on the hostel sites).

Everyone has given first class advice here. Basically, book a few days ahead. You don't have to have everything set in stone, but it's good to have some idea of where you're staying for the night. I'd also recommend the AIJ Hostel in Paris. I didn't book until I arrived at the desk, and paid a little as a result. However, I already knew I was going to stay there, so I didn't spend 10 hours wandering around the city for a bed.

I just booked a room in Venice and I am glad I did, because just a few days before that there were more options for that hostel, like ensuite bathroom, or 3-4 bed room.

Last night my travel companion and I reserved out Rome and Barcelona hostels! Thanks so much for all your advice in planning this!

We are still trying to decide where to stay in Paris. We like the MIJE and AIJ and were wondering if they are related some how? Same company? We are more than likely staying the those two.

Again, thanks for all your great advice and hostel recommendations! This helpline has seriously defined my trip's itinerary.

-Kayla

Some hostels fill up often, very few need reservations. You will be traveling in a lighter time period so it shouldn't be too bad. I call in the morning before I arrive in town to book. For me it's the best of both worlds, I don't have to stick to a reserved itinerary but my call beats all the people who walk in that day. Sometimes I have to pick another hostel, but most of the time it works out fine.

I'm going to Europe in March and April 2009, and I don't plan on booking at all. We'll be there for 2 months. We'll also be in any given city for at least 4 days or longer. I thought it would be fine, given it is shoulder-season. Maybe I'm wrong. Am I doing a dangerous thing?

I have my eye on my top three hostels for each city we are going to with their addresses, but I'm not terribly concerned. If anything, I may book my first night in Madrid.

Am I being careless? hehe.

Most of the time you shouldn't have any problems, it just depends on whether you prefer the security of knowing you have a reservation or the flexibility that not booking gives. However I would check for any major public holidays that may be happening. I was in Prague around the May 1st holiday this year and my hostel was overbooked and was getting desperate calls from people looking for beds for the night until about 8pm. I don't think that would be a problem in October but it might be worth checking?

We have officially booked our hostels and bed and breakfasts!

I appreciate all the help!!

I stayed in HelloBCN while in Barcelona. Liked it a lot! They have a bar downstairs and a small ( I repeat SMALL) kitchen where, if you can get to the stove, you can make your own food. Breakfast is good too. The bar is fun too. The rooms are really clean. I only had 1 issue and that's my modesty speaking, the showers on the floor I stayed on were in the bathroom. So there were like 2 or 3 shower stalls and all they have is a frosted glass door, which you can see outlines through. I was weirded out but again, that's my modesty speaking. So i took a shower during obscure hours of the day. Haha, but on the upside, it's very clean!
And in Rome, I stayed in the Funny Palace. The guy who runs it is a doll. :o) And they have cheap laundry and free internet for guests. It's over by Termini. Plus he reccomends this amazing restaraunt run by the woman and her mother. It's like having your own portable Italian mama who seriously keeps shoving food at you until you leave. And you have to force her to take the tip. Like by hiding it under a napkin before you leave. The FOOD IS AMAZING! And she was so nice. It's Le Due...( i think "Mice" but i can't remember the translation). They were so cute.

One down side to winging it is that you can end up wasting a lot of time looking for accommodations. If you are in the countryside with a car, no problem, just keep driving to the next town. But in a city, with your baggage. . . .