Europe’s Best Hostels, Part II
When I started researching “Europe’s Best Hostels, Part I,” I found so many amazing hostels that I was unable to choose the best five. Narrowing it down to 10 was a little easier, but there are many other hostels that didn’t make the list which you can find for yourself on eurobookings.com. In the meantime, here are five more hostels worth visiting.
Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry Gardens, Nice
Ah, the French Riviera. Not the place to go on a budget, right? Wrong! The beach is free. So is wandering through the crooked alleyways of the old city and climbing to the top of Mount Boron. And when it’s time to bed down for the night, you’ll find that the Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry has been voted the Number One Hostel in France and has been the Author’s Choice in Lonely Planet and Top Ten Worldwide 5 times in 5 years! Set in a former monastery, this friendly accommodation starts you with a complimentary all-you-can-eat breakfast. You can gaze at the beautiful stained stained-glass windows of the chapel as you sip your €1 drink in what is now the hostel’s bar, and you can enjoy complimentary 24-hour internet access on 12 computers, along with complimentary wireless Internet access everywhere. You can also enjoy homemade pizza and Provencal cuisine in the glass atrium kitchen. The Hostel Villa Saint Exupéry even has a second location on the beach.
Sunflower Beach Hostel, Rimini
Would you rather spend your time in Rimini partying? Or chilling out on its famous beaches? Known as the “Best Party Hostel on the Beach,” the Sunflower Beach Backpacker Hostel makes it easy to do both. Just 200 metres from the surf and sand, this Adriatic residence is also right in the centre of all the restaurants, pubs, cafés and night clubs, and the historic city centre with its landmarks, train and bus station are only a short bus ride away. This allows you to explore both the vibrant city and its surrounding medieval towns. Here you can enjoy private bathrooms, a 24-front desk and showers, a big communal kitchen, a free continental buffet breakfast, free Internet, both wired and wireless, a pool table, ping pong, a 24-hour bar… and of course the big funky parties which put the Sunflower on the map! Pizza parties, pasta parties and beach parties are what you get, along with a TV Room with a MAXI Screen, satellite and sports programming and DVDs. The hostel even offers language classes in both Italian and English.
Avalon House, Dublin
How many hostels can claim George Bernard Shaw as a past resident? I’m guessing one. The Avalon House occupies a classic 19th century school building that boasted the playwright as a student. Now famous for its friendly international staff and its warm and homely atmosphere, the Avalon House puts you within easy walking distance of Temple Bar, Grafton St, the beautiful park at St Stephens Green, Dublin Castle, Trinity College and the National Museum and Gallery. Your day begins with a complimentary continental breakfast and continues with such amenities as bicycle rental (and storage), a games room, Internet access, ticket sales for all major tours and bus services and a complimentary hostel booking service for that sad day that you’re ready to move on. There’s also a fully equipped kitchen and a reception desk that never closes.
AthenStyle Hostel, Athens
The AthenStyle Hostel is perfectly located for you to make the most of modern and historical Athens. With the ancient Monastiraki at your doorstop and the traditional tavernas, sophisticated chill out bars and lively clubs of Psyrri right around the corner, you won’t have to go far to see either. The hostel itself is a blend of old and new, as it opened in June 2008 in a recently renovated historical building. The eclectic atmosphere is due to the fact that the rooms and apartments were decorated by a variety of artists from around the globe. And that view of the Acropolis from the rooftop bar is something you’ll never forget. While the Parthenon and museums are nearby, AthenStyle introduces you to a whole other side of Athens by working in cooperation with the Athens Art & Culture Association to give you the scoop on all the music, art, street culture, events and exhibitions going on in the city.
Seven Hostel SantAgnello
If you thought you had to stay in a five-star luxury hotel to enjoy breathtaking views of the Bay Naples, think again. The Seven Hostel SantAgnello provides the same views while leaving you with money to enjoy the city. Set in a gorgeous building from the 19th century, the sophisticated surroundings and light and airy atmosphere are not what you would associate with a hostel. Yet here it is. In the daytime, excursions can be booked through the hostel to nearby Pompeii, Capri and Herculaneum. Then as the sun dips into the Mediterranean, you can take advantage of the panoramic views from the terrace bar. Or take in the love music at the café bar. Both places provide a friendly and fun atmosphere to meet your fellow travelers. If you’d like the privacy of a hotel at the prices of a hostel, the top floor is set aside for double bedrooms. A partial list of services: 24-hour reception, wireless Internet, CD and DVD burning facilities, a games room, a common room, a solarium with loungers, air conditioning. You get the picture.
