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Booking hostels in advance

  • February 11, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 159 views
B

Hallo
A friend and I are going on interrail from end of June to July for around 30 days. We are planning to visit Berlin, Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana, Milano or some other city in Italy, Marseille/Lyon, Paris and Amsterdam, but we also want to be flexible and not lock anything in.

So how long should we book hostels eks. in advance? It would be nice to book doing the trip, but not end up sleeping in some extremely sketchy place.

Does anyone have some experience with this?
(I could not find any answers which was not from 2 years ago, where covid was still a large factor) 

Best answer by ralderton

All accommodation providers will give flexible prices as well as non-refundable, often for not much extra cost.

I almost never make non-refundable reservations now, unless it’s very close-in and I’m sure of my plans.

Definitely worth booking ahead for Prague and Paris if you want the nicest places, especially in summer. But even if you don’t, you’re always going to find something even if you leave it until last minute.

5 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • February 11, 2025

All accommodation providers will give flexible prices as well as non-refundable, often for not much extra cost.

I almost never make non-refundable reservations now, unless it’s very close-in and I’m sure of my plans.

Definitely worth booking ahead for Prague and Paris if you want the nicest places, especially in summer. But even if you don’t, you’re always going to find something even if you leave it until last minute.

D
Keeps calm and carries on
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  • Danhiel
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • February 11, 2025

Hello ​@BastianLyngbo 

If you want to visit museums in the big cities, it is also advisable to book tickets in advance.

 

The information I provide may contain errors and are not official responses from Eurail/Interrail.
R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • February 12, 2025

Amsterdam is also quite expensive in summer and at other busy times. So either book in advance or find cheaper alternatives close by, e.g. Leiden, Haarlem, Utrecht.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
B
  • BastianLyngbo
  • Author
  • Rail rookie
  • February 14, 2025

Thanks for the quick answers, it really helps a lot.

​@rvdborgt we have bought a pass for 10 travel days in 2 months and come from Denmark, so we need to get from Paris to Copenhagen with one stay in between. Therefore Amsterdam seemed like a good location, but I have also had trouble finding something good, but cheap. So do any of you know a nice location between Paris and Copenhagen to stay at?

T
Full steam ahead
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  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • February 14, 2025

If you'd like to stay in the Netherlands, check out Utrecht as suggested. It's as lovely as Amsterdam and a bit less touristy.

Otherwise anywhere in Germany along a mainline: Bremen, Hannover, Osnabrück or even Hamburg. Somewhere like Osnabrück should be cheap but well it isn't a tourist hotspot.

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