Experience with Youth Hostel (DJH)

I've never had a bad experience at HI Hostels (I believe that's the same as DJH). I've always found the facilities fairly consistent from one property to the next, with some minor differences. When using Hostels, I often use a four-bed Dorm, so one has to be prepared to accept "communal living". Some Hostels have an ensuite in every room, so that means sharing the WC, putting up with people coming into the room at all hours of the night, and especially putting up with people that snore like a gorilla. Be sure to pack ear plugs!

You'll also need to pack your own towel, soap / shampoo, flip-flops for the shower and a robust medium size Padlock for lockers.

No bad experience, since it depends on your tolerance level. I used to stay in HI hostels, just about exclusively in Germany, which DJH is part of, as late as 2009 but what you will find there unless you go in the summer, peak season, are school groups. I don't care for school groups. One bad experience does not count. The advantage with HI hostels is they serve dinner, good cheap food.

If you prefer the private independent hostels, they have no school groups staying there, the guests are international from what I've seen at Wombats in Vienna...Americans, Koreans, Aussies, Japanese, Argentines, Germans, etc, all ages, men and women. These hostels have no curfew, have 24 hr registration, laundry facilities, etc. Istay at the private, independent hostels now when I choose hostel option.

Hostels are not just for millennials or kids. In the DJH hostels I've seen womens' groups, retired couples, families with kids and grandparents, etc...all German.

No bad experiences only good in terms of meeting some fantastic people. As mentioned pack earplugs towel and flip flops as these are not provided. Go for a smaller dorm with four beds if your first time as big rooms can be annoying with people up and down constantly, most hostels also do private rooms these days aswell.

My experience is 45 years old - even had an article published by Bike World magazine on the experiences. I also ran into hostels overrun with kids. I find that today I can find accomodations in privat zimmers for a similar or lower price.

The school groups Fred mentions are a serious problem if your goal is to sleep. School groups are a major income source for DJH, and week-long stays are typical. Hostels have posted quiet hours, but there seem to be no teeth behind the rules. I've used DJH hostels for decades and had a lot of great experiences, but several sleepless nights because of these groups. You won't share a room with the parentless pre-teens, but they will be running around and squealing at all hours of the night, raising holy H. in their own rooms and in the hallways. You will need industrial-strength ear plugs. Summer break in Germany, when they're home with their parents, is the only sure way to avoid them; this break is only a few weeks in length and doesn't begin until mid-July, as a rule. Well, you will see kids in summer of course, but they're with their parents, and well behaved.

No, I've never had a bad experience. The last time I used them was in the 1970s though. I spent one summer staying at DJH most nights for 4 months. Only great, absolutely fabulous memories. The stables looking down on a castle. The woman with an iron rod banging on beds who acted as a human alarm clock. The incredible views, the fantastic fellow travelers, and the great community feeling minutes after arrival. Working together in the kitchen was great - this is in the day when you were expected to do a few chores.

I loved it.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.