| What facilities are available at hostels? | | Facilities vary greatly from hostel to hostel and from country to country so you will need to check the microsite for each specific hostel before you book. Most hostels have self-catering facilities and almost all have lockers for safe-keeping of valuables. Some have bars or cafes, and depending on where you go some even have swimming pools and saunas! Almost all hostels provide internet access and international telephones so you can stay in touch no matter where you are. |
| Do I need to bring my own bed linen or sleeping bag? | | While some hostels do provide linen free of charge, others will apply a charge for this service. All hostels provide duvets or blankets and private rooms will usually include linen. Once again, it is worth checking the hostel's microsite before travelling. It is also worth noting that sleeping bags may not be allowed in hostels so check this out before you go to the trouble of taking it with you. |
| Are the rooms ensuite (private bath)? | | Some rooms in hostels have ensuite facilities, i.e. private shower and/or toilet. These rooms are generally limited, however, and are very much in demand. They are also slightly more expensive. |
| Is there any membership requirement? | | There are no membership requirements for any hostels listed on hostelsweb.com, however some hostels do offer discounts for various card-holding members. |
| What are private rooms? | | In order to secure a Private Room, you will need to book the entire room. For example, three persons booking a four-bed private room will need to select and pay for four persons if they wish to have a private room. If you set your preference to private room and there is no private room available, the website will offer the best alternative available. |
| Do the hostels close during the day, and is there any curfew? | | Some hostels, particularly the smaller ones, may close during the day as this is the only time the staff get to themselves. There is no curfew or closing time in most hostels, however, but you should check the microsite for your particular hostel to confirm that this is the case with regard to your specific accommodation. |
| What are shared rooms? | | Shared Rooms are dormitory style and range in size from four beds upwards. They offer mixed accommodation unless alternative arrangements have been made in advance with the hostel. Certain hostels do accommodate guests in single sex dorms. If this is the case it will be indicated on the hostel's microsite. |
| Is there any age limit? | | While most hostels do not impose an age restriction, this is not always the case, particularly in establishments which have a bar on the premises. Again, it is recommended that you check the hostel's microsite to find out whether or not there is an age restriction. |
| How much does it cost to book a hostel online? | | A service charge of US$2 applies to each booking made. Prices stated are per person, per night and payment is made on arrival at the hostel. To place a booking online, a 10% deposit is required for each room/night booked - this deposit will be deducted from the full room rate upon payment at the hostel. The outstanding balance is payable on arrival at the hostel. |
| Is this a secure web site? | | The booking and confirmation section of the Hostelsweb website is secured to 128bit encryption through Verisign. This is currently the highest standard of security available on the Internet and ensures that any information which you submit including your credit card details will remain completely confidential. |
| What happens if I need to cancel or change my reservations? | | Any changes to your reservations must be notified directly to the individual hostels. We cannot process any cancellation or changes after you have received confirmation. Please e-mail or phone the individual hostels. Most hostels will charge you a cancellation fee of the total of the first nights accommodation for a No Show or a cancellation made without giving at least 24 hours notice. |
| Are these bookings guaranteed and confirmed? | | Each online booking is guaranteed. The confirmation number provided for each booking will guarantee your bed at the hostel. This confirmation number will appear immediately on your Confirmation Page and will also be emailed to if you have provided an e-mail address. Please print out your confirmation and bring it with you to the hostel for a speedy check-in. If you do not have access to a printer, please make a note of your confirmation number. |
| How early in advance do I need to book a hostel? | | As a precaution, it is advisable to book as far ahead as possible. Throughout the year, the most popular hostels in main cities are booked out well in advance, particularly during the summer months. If there are particular events or festivals taking place, this will also reduce availability. Therefore it is recommended that you book ahead and guarantee a bed! |
| I stayed at a hostel booked through Hostelsweb and I have a complaint | | The hostels on Hostelsweb.com are all separate enterprises and we do not own them or manage them, we simply provide them with the facility to accept online reservations, so we do advise that you direct your complaint to the hostel in question during your stay. However we do take all complaints seriously, and will monitor them, and forward them in turn to the hostel. |
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