List of hostels in Germany, Austria, Switzerland?

Hi, That depends on the type of hostel in Germany and Austria. For the HI hostels in Germany I use the DJH directory, this little book that lists all the DJH hostels, how to reach them in which towns/cities, etc.... a very helpful source when you don't want to plan everything and reserve the flexibility to call up the hostel a few days in advance to book. For the independent hostels I hostels.com, basically to see what rating is in security, cleanliness, location. They take more planning as regards specifically to availabiliy.

We first do some computer research on the city we are starting from and the and the city we are ending in. Then we do a computer search of hotels in those two cities and eventually pick one on each end of the journey. We then contact those two hotels directly and make reservations. All the hotels we stay at in between those two are arranged on the fly, sometimes through TI offices, but most of the time using guidebook suggestions or finding them when we get off the train.

http://www.hihostels.com/dba/continent-Europe-EU.en.htm "This continent is particularly geared up for group accommodation with many European hostels offering excellent communal facilities – self-catering kitchens, in-house dining options, social areas and multi-share rooms. HI Hostels in Europe are comfortable, affordable and meet international quality standards in many different countries, landscapes and climates including Scandinavia, the British Isles, Russia and Mediterranean regions. Experience diverse continental cultures by staying in: mountain stations; real castles and grand mansions; and beachside villas along the Mediterranean coast. Hostels can also be found in iconic European cities such as Paris, London and Barcelona, near famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace and the Sagrada Familia."

Andreas, If I plan on staying in any Hostels during trips, I check HI Hostels first, as they usually have several properties in the larger cities. Also, the facilities tend to be somewhat consistent from one location to another, so there are no surprises. They're not "party pads" and seem to be well managed, but they do host school groups so can be "lively" at times. I've found that some HI properties in Europe require a membership, so you may want to obtain one. Happy travels!

Hostelworld.com is the largest reservation website in the World. It has pretty extensive coverage of most hostels in Europe, including all the major hostel chains like HI, St. Christopher's etc.