General Links and Overnight Accommodation

Sleeping inside the train

Two ways of sleeping inside the train:
Try to catch a comfortable place to sleep: a lonely compartment, a wide corridor - and don't wonder if the ticket inspector wakes you up every 30 minutes.

And the official way: a sleeping-car compartment with four or six beds and approximately 15 Euro supplement (cheaper in Southern Europe)! Waking call included. Take a look at "Night Trains"!

National Youth Hostels Associations

Youth Hostels are a cheap alternative for InterRailers who don't want to sleep on a windy platform and who can't afford a hotel.

The national associations online:

• Germany: www.djh.de
• Switzerland: www.youthhostel.ch
• Austria: www.oejhw.or.at
• Belgium: www.planet.be/aubjeun
• Denmark: www.danhostel.dk
• England and Wales: www.yha-england-wales.org.uk
• Finland: www.eurohostel.fi
• France: www.fuaj.org
• Ireland: www.irelandyha.org
• Italy: www.travel.it/hostels
• Netherlands: www.njhc.org
• Norway: www.vandrerhjem.no
• Portugal: www.sejuventude.pt/pousadas/
• Scotland: http://www.syha.org.uk
• Sweden: www.youthhostel.org
• Spain: www.mtas.es/injuve/reaj98.htm

The following associations don't yet have a homepage:

Croatia:

Hrvatski Ferijalni i Hostelski Savez (Croatian Youth Hostel Association)
Savska cesta 5/1
1000 Zagreb
T. ++385/1/41 18 47
Fax ++385/1/41 17 38

Hungary:

Magyarországi Ifjúsági Szállások Szövetsége
1065 Budapest V
Bajcsy-Zsilinszky ut 31.II/3
T. ++36/1/1319705
Fax ++36/1/1319705

Macedonia:

Macedonian Youth Hostel Association
PO Box 499
Prolet 25
91000 Skopje
T. ++389/91/239947
Fax ++389/91/235029

Morocco:

Fédération Royale Marocaine des Auberges de Jeunes
Parc de la Ligue Arabe
BP No. 15998
Casa Principale
21000 Casablanca
T. ++212/2/470952
Fax ++212/2/472024

Northern Ireland:

Youth Hostel Association of Northern Ireland
22 Donegall Road
Belfast
BT12 5JN
T. ++44/1232/315435
Fax: ++44/1232/439699

Poland:

Polskie Towarzystwo Schronisk Mlodziezowych (Blish Youth Hostel Association)
ul Chocimska 28
00-791 Warsaw
T. ++48/22/498128
Fax ++48/22/498354

Slovakia:

Ubytovne Mladych Na Slovensku (Youth Hostels in Slovakia)
Prazska 11
81336 Bratislava
T. ++42/7/4172 71
Fax ++42/7/494715

Youth Hostel directories

A good starting point to get to know more about Youth Hostels: The homepage of the International Youth Hostel Federation/IYHF [www.iyhf.org].

Reservations with the International Booking Network IBN

Reservations with the International Booking Network (IBN) make things easier, especially during peak season in summer. The IBN

• ... accepts reservations up to six months ahead.
• ... lets you plan itineraries all over the world, knowing your accommodation is guaranteed.
• ... lets you avoid expensive currency conversion by paying in the local currency of the country where you make the reservation.
• ... extends over the most important destinations including Europe, Asia, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, USA and South Africa - and is still growing.
• ... lets you book from every associated Hostel an accommodation wherever you want, by direct computer link, you can reserve overnights as far apart as London and Tokyo, Munich and Melbourne, whether you are catching the next flight out or planning months ahead.

The following interrail-countries belong to the IBN network: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland (Republic), Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Take a look at: [www.iyhf.org].

The International Communication Network(ICN)

... is the first extensive communication system for members of the Youth Hostel Federation. The ICN is a new service of Youth Hostels associated with the International Youth Hostel Federation. The ICN offers an information and communiction "kiosk" in the biggest Youth Hostels. Main features are:

• international phone calls with a 30% discount
• E-mail
• Voice-mail
• Fax
• telegram service
• surf the WWW
• connect to the local tourist information
• an electronic bulletin board
• check the International Booking Network (IBN) for vacant beds in Youth Hostels.

Conclusion: a cheap first class service!

A few examples of hotels and accommodation agencies:

Oslo/Norway:

Albertine Hostel
T. ++47/22997210
www.sol.no/anker.oslo.no

Sweden:

Svenska Turistföreningen
T. ++46/8/4632100
Fax ++46/8/6781958
www.stfturist.se

Finland:

Suomen Retkeilymajajärjestö-SRM
T. ++358/9/6940377
Fax 358/9/6931349

Munich/Germany:

Hotel Einhorn
T. ++49/89/53982-666

Czech Republic:

Club of Young Travellers/KRC
T. and Fax: ++420/2/24230633, 8550013

Portugal:

Movisovem
T. ++351/1/3138820
Fax ++351/1/3535982
www.sejuventude.pt

Slovenia:

Pocitniška Zveza Slovenije
T. ++386/61/312156
Fax ++386/61/1332219

Istanbul/Turkey:

Yücelt Interyouth Hostel
T. ++90/1/5136150 and5136151
Fax ++90/1/5127628

Belgrad/Yugoslavia (Serbia a. Montenegro):

Hotel Beograd
50, rue Balkanska
(20 % price reduction for InterRailers)