Hostels

drinking at the hostel in Prague Hostels are great.  (Most of them.)  Hostels are basically one big dorm room, usually co-ed.  The best part -- they're cheap, plus you get to meet fellow travelers.  The typical opening hostel conversation will begin, "Where are you from?  Where are you going?  How long have you been traveling?  How long do you have left?  Where have you been?"  Some of the best hostels have bars, which are a great place to socialize.  The photo to the left is a bunch of people drinking at the Clown and Bard hostel in Prague.

The down side of hostels is the lack of privacy, and sometimes rules you must follow.  I'd suggest avoiding Hostelling International hostels at all costs.  They have a lockout, and usually turn on all of the lights at 7 a.m. to get you up and out by 9.   Then you are locked out until the afternoon, and if you aren't back by 10:30 or 11:00, you'll be locked out all night.  Personally, I don't want to have a curfew or be forced to get up early.  However, HI hostels are usually slightly cheaper than other hostels.  You also need to have an HI card, or they'll make you pay more to stay there.  I would suggest not getting a card, and finding alternate sleeping arrangements.  Also, there is a very good chance that a group of 50 screaming French or German schoolchildren will be sleeping (or not sleeping) next to you.
the Flying Pig in Amsterdam  My favorite hostel was the Flying Pig Downtown in Amsterdam.  It was a very social hostel, and people lined up at 8 a.m. to try and get into it if they didn't have reservations.  The atmosphere was amazing.  A great way to find out about cool hostels is by word of mouth -- someone will have been there and have advice on where to stay.

Hostels.com has links to hostels all over the world.  Your guide book will also list hostels.

Try to make reservations at least the night before.  During peak tourist time and on weekends, hostels fill up fast.  Also, even if you can reserve by credit card, you'll most likely have to pay by cash.  If you arrive in town without a reservation, don't worry, but try to find something ASAP.  The best bet is to show up at 9 or 10 a.m., when people are leaving from the night before.  If all else fails, you can sleep at the train station.  It is a bit more dangerous than a hostel, and definitely a lot less comfortable, but at least you'll have a roof over your head.  If you can get to an airport, that is much safer than a train station.  Security is always around.  There are usually homeless people sleeping in train stations.  Make sure to sleep on top of your pack, and keep your money and passport in your money belt, next to your skin.

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