Europe Family Vacations: on a Budget

Budget travel in Europe has long been an entirely acceptable mode of vacation: Arthur Frommer, Rick Steves and others have inspired legions to boldly go forth with heads held high, having a wonderful time on limited funds. But how do families fit into this scene? Well, one way is hostels, which aren't just "youth hostels" anymore. Private family rooms, centuries-old character buildings, free hot chocolate for breakfast...

Europe Vacations: Hostels with Family Rooms

Wait a minute, you're saying--- youth hostels??

But they're not "youth" hostels anymore-- even though some do keep the name. Hostels nowadays host a diverse population of visitors: boomers, school groups, families...

Many hostels now offer private family rooms, where parents and kids can sleep for, say, $15 a bed, with breakfast thrown into the deal. Typically, a "family room" will have bunk beds and spartan decor: but kids like the bunk style; and how much time do you spend in your room anyway, with the charms of Europe outside the door?

Some family rooms offer private washrooms; otherwise, you'll share washroom facilities which you can expect to be (a) nearby and (b) clean.

You can also expect to meet congenial company over the breakfast that's usually included with your stay; some hostels also serve dinners at a reasonable price.

Take the hostel in Verona, for example: The Ostella Villa Francescatti has not only family rooms, but a whole building just for families, set inside a large walled garden. This hostel is in a palazza (palace) that dates back to the 1500's and was once a monastery. Verona itself has a Coliseum second only to Rome's, charming piazzas, and the dreamy beauty of Venice just an hour away.

Finding Great Hostels

How do you find such a gem of a hostel? Best method is to get hold of the entertaining and opinionated series of books, that includes Hostels France and Italy-- an Insider's Guide publication, by Paul Karr. I've used this guidebook (in different editions) to plan several trips; and sometimes I read the entries just for fun, because I like the straight-shooting candid style.

I also like the little touches, such as the Party Index: families can tell at a glance, by counting the party hats, if a hostel is going to be a quiet family-friendly sort of place, or party central for the youth brigades.

To see more about Hostels France and Italy: Compare Prices at PriceGrabber.com. This author has similar books for several other countries too.

For more about hostels, online:

• Hostels.com lists hundreds of hostels, with online booking capability. Note, however, that hostel descriptions are typically provided by the hostel itself.
• Hostelz.com lists: Descriptions Provided by Owners: Hostelz.com's own review; and comments from visitors--- very useful insights!!!
• Once you've sussed out the name of a hostel, do a search for its individual web site. You'll get more details, photos (often), and a feel for the hostel's ambiance.

Tips about staying in hostels:

• Sometimes your family room will have only one overhead light; bring along booklights for private reading in bed.
• typically hostels will provide bed linen for a modest fee.
• flip-flops are handy footwear for kids who need to pad to the bathroom frequently. Good for wearing in the showers, too.
• some hostels still have curfews, and (more inconvenient for families) closures during daytime hours; however, the trend seems to be moving away from these old hostel customs.
• when hostels close during daytime, there's usually some convenient way to store your gear, in a locker, probably.
• breakfast is likely to be only a croissant or roll plus coffe and (great for kids) big cups of hot chocolate.
• email seems to still be rather hit or miss in Italy: if you don't receive a reply in good time, try a phone call