Question 1

Is EuroHostelTraveler a booking site?

Accepted Answer

No. We are an independent travel publication. We do not sell flights, we do not take hostel bookings and we do not hold anyone's money. Every collection we publish links you back to the property or the airline to book directly.

Question 2

Are you an airline or a travel agency?

Accepted Answer

Neither. We have no ticketing system and no agency licence. If a page anywhere on the internet claims we can reissue your ticket, it is not us.

Question 3

How do you choose the hostels you feature?

Accepted Answer

A place gets in when at least one of our writers has stayed there, or when we can verify the details with the property directly plus a long run of consistent guest reports. We drop hostels that change hands and go downhill, which happens more often than you would think.

Question 4

Do hostels pay to be listed?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no paid placement anywhere on the site. If that ever changes, it will be labelled clearly on the page itself.

Question 5

Who writes the articles?

Accepted Answer

A small group of travel writers, all of whom travel on hostel budgets themselves. Every article carries an author name and a last updated date.

Question 6

How often is the content updated?

Accepted Answer

Air travel rules and hostel prices are reviewed on a rolling basis, and each article shows the date it was last checked. Anything about baggage fees or visa rules should still be confirmed with the airline or the consulate before you travel.

Question 7

What does a dorm bed usually cost?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 6-15 USD in Southeast Asia, 18-35 EUR across most of Europe, 35-60 USD in the United States and Canada, and 30-45 NZD in New Zealand. Prices jump during festivals such as Oktoberfest in Munich or Semana Santa in Seville.

Question 8

Are hostels only for young travelers?

Accepted Answer

No, though a few party hostels behave that way. Places like Generator Copenhagen or Hostel Celica in Ljubljana have private rooms and quiet floors, and plenty of guests are over forty.

Question 9

Should I pick a 4 bed or a 12 bed dorm?

Accepted Answer

A 4 or 6 bed room usually costs a few euros more and buys you much better sleep. Large dorms make sense for one night stopovers, or when you actually want to meet a lot of people fast.

Question 10

Do hostels provide towels and lockers?

Accepted Answer

Lockers yes in almost all cases, though many need your own padlock. Towels are often a small rental fee, typically 1-3 EUR. Bring a light travel towel and skip the question.

Question 11

Is it safe to leave a laptop in a dorm?

Accepted Answer

In a locked locker, generally yes. Loose on a bunk, no. Choose hostels whose lockers actually fit a 15 inch laptop, which the good ones advertise.

Question 12

What is the difference between a hostel and a guesthouse?

Accepted Answer

A hostel sells beds and shares kitchens and common rooms. A guesthouse sells private rooms and usually has no shared kitchen. Some properties in Hoi An or Kathmandu are honestly both.

Question 13

Can I check in late at night?

Accepted Answer

Most city hostels have 24 hour reception, but small ones in places like Chamonix or Ella close at 22:00. Always write to the property if your flight lands after 23:00.

Question 14

Do I need to book ahead?

Accepted Answer

In high season yes, especially in Lisbon, Split, Queenstown and Reykjavik. Off season you can often walk in and negotiate a better rate than the platform price.

Question 15

What is basic economy and should I avoid it?

Accepted Answer

It is the cheapest fare bucket with the fewest rights: usually no seat choice, no changes, and often no cabin bag beyond a personal item. It is fine for a two night trip with a backpack and painful for anything else.

Question 16

How early should I get to the airport?

Accepted Answer

Two hours for short haul with a bag to drop, three for long haul or a busy hub such as London Gatwick LGW in July. Small airports like Bergerac EGC need far less.

Question 17

What is a minimum connection time?

Accepted Answer

The shortest gap an airport is willing to sell between two connecting flights, sometimes as tight as 45 minutes at Amsterdam AMS. It assumes both flights are on time and your bag is checked through.

Question 18

Is a self transfer the same as a connection?

Accepted Answer

No, and this is the most expensive misunderstanding in budget travel. On a self transfer you have two separate tickets, so if the first flight is late the second airline owes you nothing.

Question 19

How strict are cabin bag sizers?

Accepted Answer

Ryanair and Wizz Air genuinely measure at the gate. Legacy carriers usually do not, until the flight is full. Pack to the smaller of the two allowances on your itinerary.

Question 20

Can I bring a padlock or a power bank?

Accepted Answer

Padlocks yes, in either bag. Power banks must go in your cabin bag, never in checked luggage, and most airlines cap them at 100 Wh.

Question 21

Can EuroHostelTraveler change my flight or hostel booking?

Accepted Answer

No. We have no access to any reservation system. Contact the airline, the travel agency that issued your ticket, or the hostel directly. Our guides explain what to ask for.

Question 22

Can I fix a misspelled name on a ticket?

Accepted Answer

Minor spelling corrections are usually possible and sometimes free within 24 hours of booking. Changing a ticket to a different person is not a correction and is normally refused.

Question 23

My flight was cancelled. Refund or rebooking?

Accepted Answer

If the airline cancels, you generally choose between a rebooking and a refund of the unused portion. In the EU and the UK you may also be entitled to care and compensation depending on notice and cause.

Question 24

What counts as a significant schedule change?

Accepted Answer

Airlines set their own thresholds, often somewhere between two and five hours, and a large change usually unlocks a free rebooking or a refund. Always ask, the first offer is rarely the best one.

Question 25

How late can I cancel a hostel bed?

Accepted Answer

Flexible rates are commonly free until 24 to 48 hours before arrival, non refundable rates never are. Read the specific rate line and not the property page headline.

Question 26

How long can I stay in the Schengen area?

Accepted Answer

Ninety days in any rolling 180 day period for most visa exempt travelers. Countries like Albania, Serbia and the United Kingdom sit outside that count, which is useful for long trips.

Question 27

Do I need travel insurance for a hostel trip?

Accepted Answer

Yes, mostly for medical cover rather than lost bags. A broken ankle in Interlaken is a serious bill without it.

Question 28

What is the best way to carry money?

Accepted Answer

One card in your wallet, a second card and a small cash reserve in your locked bag, and enough local currency for the first taxi or metro ticket.

Question 29

Is arriving at night a problem?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the neighbourhood more than the city. Naples Centrale and Medellin's northern terminal are both fine with a booked bed and a pre arranged ride, less so if you plan to wander looking for a room.

Question 30

How do you handle corrections?

Accepted Answer

Write to us with the page and what is wrong. If we got something factually incorrect we fix it and note the update date on the article.

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