Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOSTELS
Most hostels in Eastern Europe are part
of the national Youth Hostel Association
(YHA), an arm of Hostelling Interna-
tional (HI) (www.iyhf.org), but you don't
have to be young to use them. Hostels
provide a bed in a dorm-type room, the
use of a communal bathroom, and some-
times the use of kitchen facilities. Hostels
vary widely in quality and amenities and
some even accept reservations.
HOTELS
Eastern Europe rates its hotels via the star
method, though there is little consistency
within the method or within any given
country. A three-star hotel in Slovenia is
likely to be much more luxurious and com-
fortable than a three-star hotel in Bulgaria,
for example. Ratings sometimes are
ambiguous between cities in the same
country, too. However, a few generaliza-
tions are possible. Hotels in Eastern
Europe almost always include breakfast in
the price; single rooms can cost as much
as a double because guests are charged by
the room, not the number of people and
some hotels do not book “singles”); many
hotels require multiday bookings and
refuse single-night reservations, especially
during high season; and many hotels
require that you book an all-inclusive room
rate and that you take your meals there.
AGRITOURISM
Farmhouse stays are a growing trend in
Eastern Europe. In reality these are just a
rural version of private accommodations.
Usually you'll be staying on a working
farm and staying in rooms that mirror the
resident family's rooms. Often you can
help feed the animals, take a walk in the
fields, and enjoy a huge farmer's breakfast
made from the earth's bounty. That some-
times means getting up with the chick-
ens, too.
Note:
If you stay on a farm in Eastern
Europe, you have to identify yourself to
Customs when you return to the U.S. to
avoid transport of dangerous bacteria.
For apartment, farmhouse, or cottage
stays of 2 weeks or more,
Idyll Untours
(
&
888/868-6871;
www.untours.com)
provides exceptional vacation rentals for a
reasonable price—which includes air/
ground transportation, cooking facilities,
and on-call support from a local resident.
Best of all: Untours—named the “Most
Generous Company in America” by New-
man's Own—donates most profits to pro-
vide low-interest loans to underprivileged
entrepreneurs around the world (see web-
site for details).
SAVING ON YOUR HOTEL
ROOM
The
rack rate
is the maximum rate that a
hotel charges for a room. Hardly anybody
pays this price, however, except in high
season or on holidays. To lower the cost
of your room:
•
Ask about special rates or other
discounts.
You may qualify for cor-
porate, student, military, senior, fre-
quent flyer, trade union, or other
discounts.
•
Dial direct.
When booking a room
in a chain hotel, you'll often get a bet-
ter deal by calling the individual
hotel's reservation desk rather than
the chain's main number.
•
Book online.
Many hotels offer
Internet-only discounts, or supply
rooms to Priceline, Hotwire, or Expe-
dia at rates much lower than the ones
you can get through the hotel itself.
•
Remember the law of supply and
demand.
Resort hotels are most
crowded and therefore most expen-
sive on weekends, so discounts are
usually available for midweek stays.
Business hotels in downtown loca-
tions are busiest during the week, so
you can expect big discounts over the
weekend. Many hotels have high-
season and low-season prices, and
