Accommodation Recommendation

Over the course of these seven and a half weeks of travel, we've experienced a wide range of accommodations. While this blog is primarily our travel journal and family/friend update, we also hope it can be helpful to anyone planning their own visit to Europe some day.

Below is a list of each city we stayed in, along with whether we would recommend the accommodation (Y=yes, S=sure, N=no) and a brief explanation of why or why not (from what sticks from the experience). Hope it's helpful!

• London, England - Alan's Godparents Home - Y - very hospitable, made us feel at home, Celia even said our friends could stay here as she loves to support young travellers, obviously we loved staying here!
• Annascaul (just outside Dingle), Ireland - Paddy's Palace - Y - cheapest hostel of whole trip, free breakfast, check in all hours, although outside of Dingle (15min) it's super close to a hidden gem...a lake with two mountains and hiking trails which we thought made it SO worth it because it felt so Ireland
• Doolin (just outside Cliffs of Moher), Ireland - Burren Hostel - Y - 10mins driving to cliffs, used to be a nice hotel so bathrooms, kitchen, games rooms are super nice, favourite part was the nearby delicious restaurant, Wild Honey Inn, and the traditional Irish pub with authentic music and locals both in three minute walking distances
• Dublin, Ireland - Four Courts Hostel - N - to be honest, Dublin was one of our least favourite cities because we think the best part of Ireland is driving the green hills, hiking and enjoying actual traditional Irish music... Dublin is way more touristy but if you do stay there, this hostel wasn't terrible it's just that we were in a 16 person room (that's a lot of people going in and out, sleeping at odd hours, etc) and I felt uncomfortable about the showers (busy coed space, curtain only, tiny with no place to hang anything so you have to leave your clothes outside the bathroom)
• Brugges, Belgium - Y - Snuffel Backpacker Hostel - great location in little Brugges, they rent bikes for you right there, helpful advice at desk with great maps, free breakfast, rustic place, super small spiral staircase up to rooms which is fun ha - one negative, which I think brings down their ratings and keeps their prices low is that the showers are down the stairs, through the lobby/bar area and out the back door but its not a big deal at all, in our opinion ha
• Amsterdam, Netherlands - MPS Noorderzon - Y - this is a canal BOAT super close to the train station!, we booked here to avoid the notoriously wild, party hostel situations we'd heard of and this turned out to be a fantastic plan, super kind older local couple run this hostel boat and have at least eight rooms, we had our own room with bathroom, larger room than expected for a boat, great map and advice, rent bikes from macbike at station and then just bike backpacks 5mins to the boat before heading out for the day, get healthy breakfast and wifi from top floor city view of brand new library within 5mins of boat
• Berlin, Germany - S - trouble finding it from train station but it was late at night, decent location, the decor is super hip and chic with funky chairs and couches, fee for breakfast but worth it, it feels like a party waiting to happen but you don't hear any of the bar stuff from the nice rooms
• Prague, Czech Republic - Michaela's "newly reconstructed cozy room" AirBnB - S - I feel bad giving it a sure because Michaela was extremely kind and hospitable, however the location was at the very least a thirty min walk to the old town and river, walking to her place from the station was exhausting as it was a very steep 20 min walk with our packs, I'd recommend using public transit if you stay here (Michaela is the best host and gives fantastic local eating and doing advice) or finding something closer to the old town because of all the steep streets in Prague
• Krakow, Poland - Overnight trains - Y - we arrived in Krakow at eight am, did a full day Auschwitz tour (which made all the extra costs and time of going to Krakow very worth it for the chilling exposure to the reality of the Holocaust... if you can't get here, go to Dachau in Munich, Germany because a train friend who went to both said they are different but both very impactful) and then hopped on another train at nine pm, sleeping on an overnight train killed two birds with one stone (p.s. Eurail pass does not get you into Poland, we had to buy these tickets separately) and was just cool to do for the experience, we were in "couchettes" so there were six in our room total, it's extremely tight, hot and difficult to sleep with abrupt train stops but still hilarious and fun!
• Vienna, Austria - Wombat's City Hostel - Y - great hostel, very new and hip with their decor, however if you have to choose one city in Austria definitely go to Salzburg and forget Vienna
• Budapest, Hungary - Akos' "Blue and red next to the Parliament" AirBnB - Y - great location for walking along the river and seeing both sides, Buda and Pest, free breakfast, nice host to chat with - however, just to inform in case this isn't your style, you sleep on a mattress on the floor and he doesn't have maps or specific tourist advice
• Salzburg, Austria - YoHo International Youth Hostel - Y - definitely stay here and book your sound of music tour with them when you arrive so you get their discount, breakfast is a fee but decent so most guests get it, very helpful people at front desk, nice rooms and beds, blow dryers in women's showers (very rare ha), 5min walk to Die Weiss restaurant which gives big portions and is full of locals, 10min walk to river and old town, voted one of Europes famous hostels, note: very, very few places are open on Sundays in Salzburg
• Munich, Germany - Euro Youth Hostel - Y - great location, walking distance to Haufbrauhaus is about 10min through pedestrian only streets, electrical outlets, lights and curtains at comfy bunks, big room of 12 beds didn't feel large somehow, breakfast is a few but we recommend it, hip place with really helpful front desk people and tour bookings, we did Disney Castle and thought it was worth it
• Venice, Italy - Martina's "MatyMarty's W. Central Room WIFI" AirBnB - Y - even if you are not sure about trying AirBnB just give this place a try!, we loved our experience here, Martina met us across the bridge from the train station and walked us to her place in 7mins tops, it really helps to have someone guide you to your accomodation in Venice (believe me, so many people were lost and frustrated with their heavy luggage), ask her about the local pizzeria, grocery store and wine shop in the nearby square - all awesome, room is very spacious with two big windows on third floor opening up into classic Italian street views, washing machine wasnt working so she insisted on doing our laundry for us!, you share the bathroom and kitchen with one other double bed room which is great to have other travellers if you want to make friends, important note: you will find cheaper accomodation on the shore, near Venice, but it is so worth it to pay the extra little bit and be IN Venice so you don't have to worry about catching buses out, etc., it's just so awesome to walk back to your flat and feel like a local!
• Rome, Italy - Hotel Colloseum - Y - this place is not for the budget-youth-conscious but we had the privilege of staying here one night thanks to Taylor & Leanne, it's wonderful in all regards... location, beds and room, complimentary breakfast, elevator, free maps and especially their rooftop terrace with amazing city views, 10min walk to main train station, it's a whole in the wall but I'd consider it a hidden gem!
• Civitivecchia, Italy (the cruise port for Rome, one hour train out of city for only five euros) - B&B Casamica - Y - we found this place on hostelworld and it was perfect, host is a lovely woman who lives with her young family below the rooms, private room and bathroom, excellent breakfast for a little fee that's usually set up on the deck that views the ocean, tvs in room, plus she drove us and our big packs to the cruise boat docks the next morning!
• Mediterranean Cruise - Celebrity Equinox - Y - this was our splurge so it's not at all a great budget choice but we loved every bit of the cruise!, we also thought it was the best way for us to see Greece and Turkey as we have heard the Mediterranean boat/ferry schedules can be very inconsistent and frustrating, we both agree that Celebrity cruise line has the best quality food, accommodation, entertainment and ports either of us have experienced - I tend to enjoy reading through tactful marketing schemes but I honestly believe that it's Celebrity's commitment to being the best that makes them the best (I can hear the smirks, but see it to believe it haha) as all employees are super kind, fun, work their best and constantly seek constructive feedback
• Rome, Italy - Mario's "Blue room in Trastebvere Area Rome" AirBnB - Y - Mario is super friendly, goes out of his way to help sort out plans and give directions, free breakfast with fruit! (huge rarity when free), our own room and bathroom, he has two or three other rooms so there's an opportunity to meet fellow travellers, location is good in this large city but we'd definitely recommend getting a day transit pass for six euros each to get around easier, go to Rome Baptist Church by bus if there on a Sunday, ask Mario about the pizzeria he recommends close to the apartment... three euro pizzas, really cool walk through busy squares to get there
• Florence, Italy - Camping Michaelangelo - Y - super cheap, sleep in three person permanent tarp tent that feels like a cabin, bus takes you straight there from the train station for about one euro each, right next to the best view of the city especially at night, Olympics were shown on a huge screen, restaurant/bar and grocery store on site, bathrooms and showers kept impressively clean - if you don't like the camping style of things (walking to the bathroom in the dark, being in a hot tent during the day, etc.), don't stay here haha because you are camping!
• Cinque Terre, Italy - Mar-Mar Riomaggorie - Y - great place to stay, private room and bathroom, mini fridge and table to eat at by window, reception office really helpful and accommodating, it's like a hotel but seems like apartments are in a bunch of different buildings nearby, grocery stores with fresh fruit and veggies on way up street to here, no wifi but there is at bar directly across the street (which can be loud at night but stops at one am and isn't heard with window closed and fan on), awesome window to people watch from and hang laundry out
• Nice, France - Villa Saint Exubery Beach - Y - this hostel is awesome, definietly one of the best we stayed in, chef Daniel made us the best chicken salads we've ever seen or tasted for six euros each, during free breakfast they had one staff person stopping at tables helping people plan out their day and giving awesome tips (this was so original and actually so helpful even though we were just going to the beach), umbrellas and beach mats can be borrowed from the hostel, they do your laundry for you for a small fee, 6min walk to beach and you are even closer to the old town and flower market, voted one of Europe's famous hostels
• Montreaux, Switzerland - Montreux-Territit Youth Hostel - Y - location is fantastic as its right on the lake and situated between the train station and famous castle, free breakfast, chef makes affordable and filling three course dinners, very clean, only slight thing is that it's right next to the railroad tracks so you may need ear plugs if the louder trains bother you
• Interlaken, Switzerland - Balmer's Herberage Hostel - Y - this is also one of the best hostels we stayed in, voted one of Europe's famous hostels, classic Swiss lodge feel, free breakfast, free bus pass during stay, amazing front desk with knowledge about tours, bus times, restaurants, etc, great atmosphere of travellers, kitchen facility with large fridges is great when trying to eat cheap in expensive Switzerland, I think they also have private rooms, stay here!
• Lucerne, Switzerland - Lion Lodge Hostel - S - nothing stands out about this place, it was a good place to sleep for one night as the showers and bedrooms were very clean, 15 minutes walking distance to lake and old town
• Paris, France - Bertrand's "Charming Studio Champs Élysées" - Y - fantastic place to stay, you get the whole apartment to yourself which has a bed, mini stove, mini fridge, kitchen supplies, bathroom, great shower, tv, wifi, etc., location was excellent, ten minute walk to Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triumphe, 2 minute walk to groceries, 1 minute walk to metro line, host is super helpful upon arrival and has such a wealth of helpful tips for planning your time in Paris, if we ever go back we'll stay here again

The "Y"'s mean we DEFINITELY recommend the place. We were fortunate to have great experiences with practically all our accomodations. If you ever have questions about these accomodations or the cities we stayed in, believe me when I say I'd be more than happy to chat! I love trip planning and would thoroughly enjoy helping with your trip.

- Julia