High on Hostels, From Farmhouses to Chalets

Rachel Kaufman, Brooklyn

Editor's note: This hostel offers the free dinner for those booking in the low season, which this year is Nov. 4 to March 20.

In July my husband and I stayed at the beautiful Failte Hostel (011-35-3-644-2333, http://www.neidin.net/failtehostel ; beds from $19) in Kenmare, Ireland. Kenmare is a charming small town in the southwest, a perfect gateway to a drive around the Ring of Kerry.

Great hiking and cycling are also nearby. The Failte Hostel offers immaculately clean facilities, a large kitchen and comfortable bedrooms with a sink, and it is one block from the town square. There is an open, airy dining room, a common room with books and games, and a great patio with bike storage. We paid 38 euros ($48) a night for a private room with a double bed and shared bathroom -- although we never actually had to share!

Nicole Banister, Columbia

More than a hostel, Casa Frolaz (011-503-2440-53-02, http://www.casafrolaz.com/ ; beds from $7) in Santa Ana, El Salvador, is the home of owner Javier Diaz. The water is hot and my bed was comfortable (I paid $7 a night), but what really makes this place is Javier's incredible hospitality. The house doesn't look like much from the outside, but inside it's gorgeous. Guests have full use of the gourmet kitchen, the living room and the garden and barbecue. There are only seven beds, and guests quickly get to know one another.

I was there in January and spent a number of delightful evenings having dinner and drinking wine with my fellow travelers -- and of course, Javier, who introduced us to great music, wonderful coffee and the beautiful attractions in western El Salvador.

Lori Robertson, Washington

While we stayed in several terrific hostels during a May-June backpack trip in China this year, the hands-down best was the Shanghai City Central Youth Hostel (011-86-21-52-90-5577, http://www.hostelchina.cn/ ; beds from $7.50). At $25 for a clean and cozy double, with a functional and clean in-room bathroom, the price was right. The hostel was conveniently located near a subway stop, though we took cabs and buses to downtown Shanghai, about a half-hour away. It had a helpful desk staff, and the Western breakfasts and other meals here were inexpensive and tops in taste. The washer was free, and the outdoor drying facility was good.

We are in our 60s, and age was not a factor here or in any of the other Chinese youth hostels. Linens here and at other hostels were provided; there was no "lockout" period or limit on how long you could stay. All had Internet facilities, and tours could be arranged if you wanted them.

Neil Silver, McLean

I stayed at Chalet Martin (011-41-79-724-63-74, http://www.gryon.com/ ; beds from $20) in Gryon, Switzerland, for three nights back in July 1999, but by the looks of its Web site, the charm of the place hasn't changed. It's accessible by an old cog wheel train, which stops running in the evenings. If you're late but called ahead to reserve a room, the owners might let the train operator know you're on your way so that he'll wait. At least he did in my case, which was lucky, because it's a long uphill walk from the train station.

Chalet Martin is nestled in the mountainside with phenomenal views of the Alps, has access to all sorts of outdoor activities and is very clean. (In fact, you must leave your shoes at the door, so foot phobics be warned.) There's a fantastic communal kitchen where travelers swap stories and food, and a movie room with fairly recent films. I stayed in a large, bunk-bed-filled room and awoke to a postcard Alps scene.

The staff members are part caretakers, part activities directors. They arrange group trips for rock climbing and summer skiing or point out the best hikes. The town itself is tiny -- literally the butcher, the baker and probably a candlestick maker, too.

Karen Lee, Arlington

I arrived in Munich on a dreary day in late March 2004. After a long flight, I was looking forward to a hot shower and a bed to rest in, so I approached my final destination anxiously. From the outside, 4 You Munich (011-49 -89-55-21-66-0, http://www.the4you.de/ ; beds from $22) doesn't look like much: It blends into the local architecture and can be easily missed.

But walk through the hostel's glass door, and you immediately know you've made the right choice. My first night there I stayed in a private room at the Youth Guesthouse, on the upper two floors of the five-story building. The next night I stayed in a six-bed dorm; for the rest of my stay I found a bottom bunk in a large 12-bed dorm.

The hostel is known for its eco-friendliness. From the rubber mattresses to the organic foods at breakfast, 4 You Munich is true to its word, keeping it ecological yet not drab. And the location doesn't hurt: It's a three-minute walk to Hauptbahnhof, Munich's main train station, and 10 minutes to Marienplatz, the old city center.

Iva Yates, San Juan, Puerto Rico

During our travels in fall 2005, we stayed at Valley Hostel (011-41-33-855-20-08, http://www.valleyhostel.ch/ ; beds from $21) in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, in the Jungfrau region. We got a full room to ourselves -- one double bed and a single bed, for three people -- with an external bathroom for around $22 per person. Best of all was a window looking out on the Staubbach Falls, plus it's near the railway station. Alfred and Martha run the hostel with their kids and are helpful in pointing out different treks.

Archi Rossi (011-39-055-29-0804, http://www.hostelarchirossi.com/ ; beds from $26) in Florence, Italy, is a fantastic place that's close to the railway station. And you can add your own graffiti to the walls. We stayed in a three-person room with an attached bath for about $28 per night per person. It has an excellent breakfast, free Internet and a coin-operated laundry.

In Paris, the three of us paid around $80 (breakfast included) for a room with three beds and attached bath at Fauconnier (011-33-1-42-74-2345, http://www.mije.com/ ; beds from $39), in a quiet mansion near Notre Dame. Yes, it does have some odd hours (for cleaning), but if you use the hostel mainly for sleeping, you can't ask for much more.

Joseph Noronha, Fairfax

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