Hostels in Helsinki

This week we are taking a look at Youth hostels in Helsinki. Why? Well, Finland is awesome, Helsinki is probably the coolest name for a city, like ever, and Finnish people are generally known for being good looking and happy – so why not promote traveling in Helsinki via Hostel?? Just go, you can thank us later.

Here are a couple hostels in Helsinki to get you started:

Eurohostel has 5 floors of comfortable rooms for all different budgets. Each floor has its own kitchen (with hotplates, not stoves), microwaves, refrigerators and TVs. There are also smoking and non smoking floors available. They have a restaurant (and bar!), internet access, laundry, and no curfew. A great Helsinki hostel.

Fenno Hostel is a “tourist class hotel,” according to their hostelworld listing. Whatever that means, the place looks nice enough. They are located close to the central train and bus stations in Helsinki, making them a convenient choice for a Hostel in Helsinki. They have single and twin hotel-style rooms with kitchenettes, or you can go for the budget single economy rooms with private bedrooms and shared facilities. They even have a buffet breakfast available in their café and a BBQ restaurant and 2 saunas! That’s some sweet Helsinki hostel living!

Hostel Mekka is and old school Helsinki hostel, founded in 1936! They are located in a building from the end of the 18th century, just 2 blocks from the Senate Square. Here, you can get your fill of Helsinki nightlife with restaurants, bars and clubs just around the corner. Hostel Mekka is another great option for hosteling in Helsinki.

Next time: Hostels in Milan!

European Youth Hostels

When looking for a place to stay while backpacking through Europe, young, frugal travelers should always consider European Youth Hostels.

Hostels are pretty much ubiquitous in Europe these days. Every touristy city and every stop on the backpacker circuit will have at least a few youth hostel options for you to choose from. It can be tough to choose because, as any seasoned backpacker will tell you, hostels can range from run down shacks with prison showers to budget resorts with their own bars and restaurants. You never really know what to expect in a European youth hostel unless you do some research.

You really have three options for finding a good European Youth Hostel. You can use your guidebook recommendations, you can use a website like hostelworld or hostelbookers, or you can rely on the recommendations of other backpackers.

Being the adventurous, roll-with-the-punches, risk-taking type of guy that I am (I made an illegal U-turn today), I prefer the last option. Relying on recommendations from your fellow backpacker may not always lead you to paradise, but at least you’ll get to meet someone new, and really become a part of the backpacker scene. I’ve spent weeks at a time, drifting from hostel to hostel with groups of other backpackers who either knew, or thought they knew the best places to go. Regardless of what European youth hostel we ended up in, it was always good time.

For more on European Youth Hostels, check out Student Traveler.

Next week: Hostels in Helsinki

Find a Youth Hostel

Youth Hostels are a great way to travel on the cheap, and luckily for you, they are just about everywhere. There are many online resources for youth hostels that make it easier than ever to find a cheap place to stay, wherever you are (London hostels, Milan, Helsinki, etc.)

Most European youth hostels have regular amenities, and many offer bars on site, kitchens, and public spaces for meeting fellow backpackers. Of course, every hostel is different. Some offer private rooms, others have huge dorms. Some have bathrooms and showers in the room, others have public facilities.

If you’re the type to shy away from public showers, you can still find a youth hostel to fit your needs, you’ll just want to call ahead or check online for details.

More info on youth hostels can be found all over the web. Check out Student Traveler for more info.