The youth hostel movement came into being in 1909, when Richard Schirrman, a teacher from Germany, wanted to help his underprivileged students become more familiar with the cities and the countryside. 

From this point onward, the movement has grown considerably. There are now 4,500 hostels in more than 60 countries, providing more than 31 million bed-nights every year. 

What are Youth Hostels?

Many people still consider youth hostels places that are not that clean, that are for young people only, places where you have to help with chores such as cleaning and washing dishes, where beds are just bunks in dormitories, and men and women have to sleep separately.

Today, however, hostels are not like that at all. Although gradually disappearing, there still are dormitories, but more and more you'll find individual rooms for one, two or several people, with private showers and toilets.  Everyone uses the hostels, including families and individual travelers, couples or large groups. There is no age limit, except in certain countries where priority might be given to young people when hostels are quite full.  Only Bavaria (in Germany) has a specific age limit (maximum of 26).  The only restriction to using the association's hostels is that you have to be member, which is really no problem. 

The majority of the hostels stay open all the year, and those located in cities are in theory open 24 hours a day. Smaller establishments may close and open for more limited periods.  In some countries, regulations require you to leave the hostel between 11 AM and 5 PM, to allow for cleaning. Usually bed linen is also provided but in some hostels you have to bring or rent bedcovers and pillowcases.  Many hostels are equipped with kitchens that can be used by travelers, and some even provide meals.  All rules and services are described in a guide put out by the international youth hostel federation (Budget Accommodation Guides are published by Hostelling International, also called Youth Hostelling International).  This guide can be bought at any national association or in bookshops.

Two interesting examples of hostel organizations

Both Israel and Australia are countries where youth hostel networks are particularly well developed. There you'll often meet people of all ages, really happy to take advantage of the unbeatable rates in these countries, and the opportunity to meet other travelers from all walks of life. 

In Israel, school curriculums require that students spend a few days each year discovering or getting to know their country, and so it's often in youth hostels that they stay during these periods.  This means that at a very young age they get used to traveling and adapting, meeting other young people and even those not so young.  Once they've become adults, they will continue to travel and use youth hostels. Note that this is a very well managed network and has obtained ISO 9002 certification, a guarantee of cleanliness and good management.  There are 31 hostels in Israel, fairly well distributed throughout the country. 

In Australia, the hostel network is quite well developed, and about 140 establishments are affiliated with the Federation.  It is not rare to find hostels that were previously hotels (even an old Sheraton has been converted into a hostel!).  Young people and not so young travelers make abundant use of the network's resources.  Practically all establishments provide rooms for 2 to 4 persons, with private bathrooms or showers and toilets.

Hostels around the whole world

There are Youth Hostels on all continents and in more than 60 countries.  Although the best are found in Europe, there are also hostels in Asia, in Oceania, in the Middle East and, of course in North and South America. Although all hostel movements share the same philosophy, the architecture, the location, the number of rooms or beds tend to vary from hostel to hostel.  Whether it's the Olympic Park hostel in Seoul (South Korea) with 967 beds, at the Kare Deshe hostel north of Tibériade (Israel) or a small 8-room hostel close to Victoria (Australia) or the 35-bed hostel in Recanto Das Andorinhas in Sao Paulo (Brazil), they all share the same goal: contribute to better understandings among travelers from different nations.

How to become member

In order to use the network, you must be a member. To do so, just contact the Youth Hostel Association in your country (check the list of the world's hostels and see whether your country is a member of the International Federation).  The card you acquire will be valid for one year, both in your country and also abroad.  Member countries of the Federation

If your country is not a member of the Federation, you'll be able to buy Welcome Stamps and temporary cards on which each stay or all you stays will be stamped).

Two examples of membership rates: a one-year membership in Australia (starting from the registration date) would cost about 49 Australian dollars for a persons 18 years and older, and $15 for those under 18.  If parents are members, membership for children under 18 is free.  In the United States, a one-year membership is free for those under 18, and costs US$ 25 for a those 18 to 54 years of age and US$ 15 for those 55 and older.

Rates

Youth Hostels rates are very affordable, but they may vary from one place to another; depending on a country's cost of living, the hostel's location, the quality of facilities and services offered, etc. Although rates do fluctuate, you should generally expect to pay US$ 10 to 15 per person, per night. 

Reservations

Since their rates are very affordable, hostels do fill up quickly, especially in the summer season.  You are thus advised to reserve in advance, and often you'll need to reserve well in advance.  You can reserve using the international network's computer reservation system (International Booking Network, IBN). This network does not however cover all hostels, in some countries you may need to contact the national association or contact a particular hostel directly. 

There is another possibility that provides you with even more freedom to go wherever you like, without having to worry about reservations: the mobile home or houseboat, letting you can travel either on road or on water. 

Member States