Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATIONS
USA
1 301 495 1240,
hiusa.org
.
Canada
613 237 7884,
hihostels.ca
.
England and Wales
0800 019 1700 or 01629 592 700,
yha.org.uk
.
Scotland
0845 293 7373,
syha.org.uk
.
Northern Ireland
028 9032 4733,
hini.org.uk
.
Australia
02 9218 9090,
yha.com.au
.
New Zealand
0800 278 299 or 03 379 9970,
yha.co.nz
.
South Africa
hisouthafrica.com
.
Hotels and pensions
With
hotels
you can really spend as much or as little as you like. Most hotels in Europe are
graded on some kind of star system. One- and two-star category hotels are plain and simple
on the whole, usually family-run, and rooms often lack private facilities; sometimes break-
fast won't be included. In three-star hotels rooms will nearly always be en suite and prices
will normally include breakfast. In the really top-level places breakfast, oddly enough, isn't
always included.
Obviouslypricesvarygreatly,butyou'rerarelygoingtobepayinglessthan€26forabasic
double room even in southern Europe, while between the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the
British Isles the average price is around €77. In some countries a pension or
B&B
(also
variously known as a guesthouse,
pensão
,
Gasthaus
or numerous other names) is a cheap-
er alternative, offering just a few rooms of simple accommodation. In some countries these
advertise with a sign in the window; in others they can be booked through the tourist office,
which may demand a small fee. There are various other kinds of accommodation - apart-
ments, farmhouses, cottages,
gîtes
in France, and more - but most are geared to longer-term
stays.
