When going backpacking, interrailing or travelling in Europe you have a lot of choice when it comes to accommodation.
If you are on a budget then hostels are some of the best value for money places to stay, and they can also be really fun way to meet new people. In Europe there are hundreds of hostels so choosing where to stay can be tough.
Nate from the United States had one of his best hostel experiences while traveling around Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic and he decided to write this article giving a little shout out to the hostel he stayed at while on the trip: Wombat’s hostel chain.
Wombat’s City Hostels has been described as the best hostels in the world and are available to book in major European cities like London, Vienna, Munich and Budapest.
But are they really that good? And should you book a stay with them when exploring Europe?
When I travelled Europe with my friend we stayed at Wombat’s in both Munich and Vienna and I was able to get a really good feel for Wombat’s Hostels, and you can read my entire review below.
First and foremost, it was the cleanest and most professional hostel I’ve been to. Not to mention the staff were actually nice, a.k.a they liked there jobs, and were really knowledgeable about their respective cities.
Checking in was easy. In most cases, you’ll be traveling in a group and one member will have to put down a 10% deposit when booking the room online. The staff took care of the math so each person paid the same amount, and the person who put down the deposit didn’t get screwed over. It’s always nice when someone else does the work for you.
While checking in, you’ll also get your sheets, which are included, (and which come wrapped from the dry cleaners) and your key cards which will give you access to you room, locker, and all of the common areas of the hostel. View these Europe packing tips so you know what to take with you.
I would recommend getting a towel while checking in. In Munich, it cost 2 euro (which isn’t bad at all) and in Vienna, it was a 5 euro deposit which was great because you get your money back. Don’t worry about buying a lock for your locker – the locks are built in and can be locked and unlocked using your key card.
You’ll also get a free drink voucher for the WomBar (the hostel bar). If you’re traveling by yourself, it gives you some initiative to go to the bar and meet people, and if you’re in a group, then just take advantage of the free alcohol.
Beer and wine are only a euro during happy hour, so it’s a good way to save money before you go out for the night. One of the nights we were there, they just decided that all drinks were free for the entire night, so we didn’t even need to leave the hostel.
The room itself was huge, and we had our own balcony. The bunk beds were actually sturdy, the bathroom was clean, and there was plenty of room for 6 people to move around.
Unfortunately, breakfast isn’t included, however, it only costs 3 euro 70 and it’s totally worth it. They have coffee, juice and water; ham, salami, cheese, and condiments for sandwiches; different cereals and granola; yogurt and fruit; and a big assortment of breads. You probably won’t find a breakfast spread that big for that price anywhere else.
And lastly, Wombat’s is really good about finding tours of both the city and attractions nearby. They aren’t sponsored by the chain, but the tours we went on were great, and a lot cheaper than if we had found tours on our own.
If they don’t have any tours lined up in a particular city, they will be glad to hook you up with a print-out guide for sightseeing depending on the length of your stay. You could also check out these amazing European road trips for inspiration.
Wombat’s was voted the best hostel chain in the World, and I’d say it was worthy of the honour. You can book a room at Wombat’s in Berlin, Munich, and Vienna through Booking.com.