Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Farm Stays
A holiday on a working farm is a big hit with kids who love interacting with their favour-
ite barnyard animals and helping with everyday chores. Accommodation ranges from
bare-bones rooms with shared facilities to fully furnished holiday flats. Minimum stays of
three days are common. For details, check
www.landtourismus.de
or
www.bauernhofurlaub.com
(both in German).
Hostels
Bavaria has many hostels of both the indie and youth varieties. While dorm rooms are the
cheapest form of accommodation available (even cheaper than camping at certain times of
the week/year), private rooms can cost the same or even more than midrange hotel rooms
booked online or last minute.
» There are backpacker hostels across the region, though fewer in Baden-Württenberg
than Bavaria. This type of hostel attracts a convivial, international crowd to mixed dorms
and private rooms. Facilities usually include communal kitchens, lockers, internet access,
laundry and a common room.
» The German hostel site
www.backpackernetwork.de
lists affiliated hostels, but the best
places to start are international booking systems such as
www.hostelworld.com
and
» Most hostels offer inexpensive sightseeing and themed tours.
» Classic Hostelling International-affiliated hostels are run by the
Deutsches Jugendher-
bergswerk
(DJH;
www.jugendherberge.de
)
and cater primarily to German school groups
and families.
» Most of DJH hostels have been modernised but can't quite shake that institutional feel.
Some can be noisy with harried, grumpy staff.
» Rates in gender-segregated dorms or in family rooms range from €15 to €25 per person,
including linen and breakfast. People over 27 are charged an extra €4. If space is tight,
priority is given to people under 27, except for those travelling as a family.
» Unless you're a member of your home country's HI association, you either need to buy
a Hostelling International Card for €15.50 (valid for one year) or six individual stamps
costing €3.10 per night. Both are available at any DJH hostel.
» DJH hostels can now be booked online.
