New To Hostelling, new in Cheap-Click?

So what is this hostelling then?

If you're new to the whole 'hostelling' concept, then this is for you. And even if you're not, there might be a few things you've missed out on along the way so check it out...

Hostelling is, put simply, the act of staying in hostels while you're on your travels. Largely referred to as 'backpacking', this form of travel is usually done on a budget and is not for the faint at heart. Hostelling, or backpacking, takes people to parts of the world they had never even heard of before leaving the save haven of their homeland. It sees people learning local customs and traditions and eating food made from things they never thought they would put in their mouths. It sees people sharing confined spaces with several different nationalities night after night. But, on the whole it sees them enjoying a once in a life time experience which cannot be condensed into a plan or an itinerary. So if you are partial to planning everything with military precision, for example, then it's probably not for you.

Of course it has its downsides too and it would be misleading of us not to mention these. Thankfully they're few and far between but they do exist. Hostels, despite significant developments in recent years, are and always will be there to provide budget accommodation. So, if you're expecting luxury treatment, well our advice is to book a luxury hotel.

Accommodation will vary from place to place of course. Properties on Hostels.com range from traditional bures in Fiji to campsites in Florence. On the whole, however, you will be sleeping in something a little less exciting. Italian hostels are a prime example. Most of the properties which we list in Rome, Florence, Venice or anywhere else in the country are located in buildings which are hundreds of years old. They're not shiny and new - and the experience truly wouldn't be the same if they were. Furthermore, many properties are spread across several different buildings so you might have one room in one building and another in a different building down the street so prepare to be adventurous.

Overall, however, hostel standards have increased greatly in recent years. And all you have to do is check out our article on 'The Changing Face of 21st Century Hostels' to find out just how much.

Things to remember...

• Membership Is Not Essential: You don't need to be a member of any hostelling organisation to stay in any of our hostels. While we do list properties which are members of Hostelling International (HI), you do not need to be a member to book these hostels through our site. They usually offer members a discount when paying on arrival at the property or require you to purchase a stamp to build up your membership as you travel, but this is entirely at the discretion of the hostel in question.
  
  
• Bring Identification: You should always take some form of identification to a hostel when checking in. It should be a form of ID which is internationally recognised. This includes passports, photo driver's licenses and state or country identity cards. This is required for your protection so that the hostel is fully aware of who is staying there at all times should anything untoward take place. It is also a really good idea to take at least two photocopies of anything containing your photo and any other important information. Carry one on your person and one somewhere safe or you could avail of a service such as www.passportvault.com to guarantee security and peace of mind.
  
  
• Age Limits: People from every walk of life are now using hostel accommodation. Many are misled into thinking that this form of accommodation only appeals to the younger generation of travelers but here at Hostels.com we have booked people as old as 80 and as young as 6 months into hostel accommodation. Hostels provide a great way to meet new people and experience new things which is why they appeal to such a diverse range. Certain hostels, however, do have upper and lower age restrictions but where this applies, it will be noted in the hostel conditions.
  
  

You can book, at the same time, flight low cost fares or cheap flights in our web site, also a cheap car for your holidays.

And if you have any other questions on hostelling please visit our question and answer guide by clicking here.