Belgium - Netherlands - Germany (Northeast) - Czech Republic - Austria - Germany (South) - Switzerland (border) - France (Capital) - Spain (North) - France (South) - Italy
The hostels in Europe, in general, is very well-organized and equipped in both accommodation and staff/ services. For the accommodations, I rank them with stars. The ones with more 5 starts means that all hostels are equipped with them.
*****
Bed with linen & pillow, shower with 24-hour hot water (most are shared shower room), common area for social activities, Wi-Fi (common area), Reception (working hour), locker, luggage keeping service (paid), free city map & helpful staff
***
Wi-Fi (all-around), full-equipped kitchen (with fridge), public computers, luggage keeping service (free)
**
Reception (24 hour), free breakfast buffet, lounge/ bar, terrace/ garden, laundry (paid)
*
Free tower, free water/drink, free locker, free city transportation card
Besides, most of hostels ask deposit from 2 - 20 euro in cash, and in Spain for instance, they don't accept full payment by credit card even. Tax per bed/ person per night is not included in initial cost normally and also paid in cash on arrival/ check-in. As the activities/ events, not each hostel holds its own, but it is very possible that you find a lot local information and discount cards in the reception and on the wall/ book shelves in public area. Normally, free walking tour is in every hostel, and for the nightlife, pub crawl would be great in most of hostels.
In my whole trip, there are hostel in chain-business mode, which is highly recommended for its mature-organization, accommodations and services. The following three are where I have little experience to share,
(Photo from Meininger Hostel's website)
It has a lot branches in main cities of Europe with a big business scale. Well organized accommodation conditions and services. In some big famous cities, the prices would be a little more expensive than the average ones, but normally they have better locations (close to train stations or city center).
> Brussels | Belgium
Quite good place for youth and backpacker; it is easy to get there from the airport or from the metro station of city center. And the hotel to Grand Plaza, just takes 15-20 minute walk, which I enjoyed a lot, because by walking in the blocks, you won’t miss those hot tourism spots without a map. The shopping street and historical buildings are always in your left or right. Very huge building (guess re-constructed from an old factory) like a university dormitory, being equipped with lounge, canteen, lift and common area. The process is mature and the staff is really nice and helpful. Rooms are simply designed with bright and delight colors, full of young elements. The one I booked is 6-person dorm room, but it even has a private toilet and shower room with hair dryer facility, awesome!
(Photo from St. Cristophe Hostel's website)
Another big hostel group in Europe, similar to MEININGER but with a much smaller business scale. The condition, generally, is in average with a reasonable cost; BUT, they provide free buffet breakfast in good quality which is quite rare in Europe (normally you gonna pay 3-5 euro). Shared shower & toilet is offered, and each bed is attached with curtain to keep privacy while you are resting in room. There is big iron basket under every double-deck beds, so you can lock your important stuff by your own locker.
> Brugge | Belgium
Cool place with cool door-guide, Mr. Dog. WiFi is only offered in public area which means reception and bar area. The point of limited WiFi is quite supported by me in considering with the hostel spirit of meeting-spot of youth. The shared shower & toilet condition is a little inconvenient to girls, and if you really hate walking, the location of hostel would be a small challenge. I joined the pub crawl which leads us hanging around 3-5 pubs in Brugge from around 8pm till very late night (2-3am). And the crazy guy (leader) offers us Rose, Cream Wine, Cider when we are on the way, in the pubs you could buy Belgium beers or just enjoying the awesome atmosphere and talk to different people.
> Paris | France
New branch in Paris closed to Gare du Nord (one of the main rail stations in Paris). The hostel is itself an individual building; there are two hotels as its neighbors, and the huge lounge/ bar just facing to the entrance is shared by those hotels. The free breakfast buffet is also served in it, and you won't miss it for its cheeses, hams, banquettes, flakes & cereals, plain yogurt, coffee & milk, juices and TVs!
(Photo from Wombat's Hostels' website)
> Vienna | Austria
Cool hostel only runs in Germany & Austria (4 cities). The staff is really nice and good at open a non-stop talk with you. And they have a super cool bar on the ground floor which offers 'loud' club music every night. You can even enjoy the happy hour price as an early bird there! Upstairs, is a brighter common area in green and white, equipped with a large project-screen for live sport matches. What's more? They don't ask for deposit, just keep your passport (copy version) in reception is enough, awesome! Besides, facing to the hostel, there is the famous food market in Vienna!!!
Then let me introduce some interesting individual hostels in my Europe trip. They are probably not the best, but I just love some tiny funny or special elements they have. Keep reading,
(Photo from Arpacay Backpackers' website)
> Prague | Czech Republic
A beautiful hostel in a beautiful old building in the beautiful historical central area of Prague (at the foot of Prague Castle). They don't have large common area, nor kitchen, but their huge room is a family-style with large bath, and the all the decoration is full of classical beauty. The location is another reason I love it. Facing to the stone road which leads you upto the top of hill and Castle. Many mini-market runs till late night and restaurants in that area offers attractive sets with good price.
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(Photo from Tailor's website)
> Barcelona | Spain
Warm family-style hostel in Barcelona. The best part of it is the open kitchen with two large fridge and a wall of baskets for food storage. Everyone is trying to keep kitchen and the living room clean. The music is non-stop in the hostel, sometimes even in a living way coz of nice guys who have great passion in music there. The dorm room is not big but there is a private toilet & shower room inside for more convenience. Spanish Paella cooking course would be arranged sometimes in the kitchen. Or like me, checking out the nightlight of Barcelona, you could start from the clubbing event arranged & leaded by the guy working in this hostel. You will be leaded to the nearby pub first for shots to start the night, then move to club for the whole night crazy stuff there, and in weekends, going to the clubs along beach is awesome.
(Photo from Hostel Pisa's website)
> Pisa | Italy
This is the only hostel that offers dinner buffet during my whole Europe trip! Maybe it's in Italy, where cuisine is quite important for everyone. Just 5 euro for a vegetarian buffet with rich salads, fries, pizza and pasta and you can have a glass of wine/ beer/ soft drinks. It's absolutely under the average consuming level in any restaurant in Italy and Europe. They also have a large common space for dining, for socializing, for whatever; and the garden for fresh air at night and sunshine in the morning. The room is not good with a private toilet & shower room as well and the whole building is freshly decorated, clean and bright. The only thing I feel disappointed about is 'no-kitchen' nor 'fridge', but after talking to hostel staff I am quite understand their situation, coz I was told no one is responsible for the cooking stuff in the early time when they do have a kitchen! The hostel got a fine bill and the close of kitchen is the final result of that.
> Rome | Italy
Good location, near Termini Rail Station and the airport shuttle bus is frequently running nearby. To the city center is 20-30 minutes walking if you wish. Actually the hostel is the sister one of Carlito's hotel which is sharing the same building, the same reception and the same terrace with WiFi coverage. The WiFi is not free in room and they don't have big common area nor kitchen as a standard hostel. They are more like a hotel; a standard room with almost the full standard hotel decoration and furniture, and a TV! Thus, the condition is perfect considering the low price and you even have every-day room service. Besides, the reception runs 24 hours and the staffs there are very nice and helpful in whatever city suggestions or living flavors.
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