<p>My S will be studying Spanish and Art History in Spain this summer and we are going to tack 4 days in London onto the front end and 4 days in Rome onto the back end of his travels. Does anyone have any recommendations for hostels that their kids may have stayed in, in the past. I have looked at hostelz.com and studentuniverse.com, but would really like to hear about any personal experiences. He is an independent, easygoing, experienced traveler but will be traveling alone for the first time. He has never been to either city so will want to do the main tourist attraction kind of stuff. Any definite DOs or DON’Ts will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>We were warned by website to stay away from the train station…well we stayed at a hostel one block from the station, and it was fine, so much security around, we felt very safe, we walked around till 11 at night, weren’t bothered (and I had two very pretty teen girls with me)
we found great cheap places to eat</p>
<p>I would recommend taking one of the double decker tour buses at the train station to go around Rome…it gave us a great feel for the city, and we saw things we might not have been able to get to by foot, we walked everywhere, saw almost everything, </p>
<p>Our favorite excursion was looking for this little theater ride thing that gave the history of Rome in 30 minutes, it was pouring rain, i mean to the ankles, we got drenched, saw the show, it was sunny when we came out, and while walkng, looking for food, voila, Trevi Fountain!! That is how Rome was, something great around every corner…</p>
<p>i will find where it stayed, it was great…we actually stayed in a satellite facility about three blocks from the main hostel, which we used for cooking, etc</p>
<p>Very pleasant</p>
<p>Rome was HOT, but not awful…we would tour in the mornings, about two, go back to hostel, nap, shower, pick up, and then go out again around 5 till late</p>
<p>He willhave a great time</p>
<p>I agree to stay away from the train station in Rome. I’m originally from Rome and my nephew worked at the homeless shelters around the station in place of Army duty. And I can tell you it is a seedy area and the hostels probably have quite a few transients that frequent in or around them. Don’t do it! Lots of drugs and crime. Very sad.
How about some sort of student housing through another university? Sometimes they do have room for other students. OR a religious pensione? usually run by nuns, they are extremely clean and albeit a bit strict with curfews at night though (sometimes they can close up the front doors at 11:00PM!) But you can check that before you commit.</p>
<p>The train station area was FINE!! That was my point…it was very busy, lots of tourists, and we were three females traveling alone…just put the wallet in the front pocket, wear a money belt</p>
<p>The station was a few blocks from some very nice hotels, the police were to be seen, with 9-11 the train stations had lots of security around, inside and out, cabs were easy to come by, and we were pleasantly suprised that it didn’t feel unsafe</p>
<p>Maybe its because I live in a city that has its own problems</p>
<p>The seedy area was just a few blocks, and with restaurants open very late, tourists everywhere, believe me, its was fine</p>
<p>My H was worried, good thing we didn’t tell him about getting lost in the rain at 1130 at night and trying to find out way home…but that was FUN!!!</p>
<p>City… I grew up in manahattan, I know seedy. For Rome, the train station area is pretty seedy. Perhaps, I’m spoiled because my family is from Rome. But I would never let my son stay in a hostel there. Just my opinion. Sorry I misunderstood your post…</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I had no idea there were so many hostels until I started looking into it. H did the whole backpack thru Europe trip one summer back in the dark ages, so his memories of the hostels are pretty far removed. LOL S is really looking forward to the whole trip and I am having a ball doing some research for him.</p>
<p>CGM-I would love the name of the hostel if you find it. It sounds like you had a great time with your girls.</p>
<p>Mammamia-Is there another part of the city you would recommend?</p>
<p>My S1 lived in a hostel for a few weeks in London. He chose it because it was big (lots of kids to meet) and it had a lounge/bar (place to meet kids.</p>
<p>It’s in a central bustling location, with easy walks from the trains and tube.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.londonnethotels.co.uk/Leinster_Inn.htm[/url]”>http://www.londonnethotels.co.uk/Leinster_Inn.htm</a></p>
<p>Another location with a FABULOUS indian restaurant, btw, is the Indian YMCA. <a href=“http://www.indianymca.org%5B/url%5D”>www.indianymca.org</a>. It’s more on the quiet side, however, which is why S1 rejected it. :p</p>
<p>He’s never stayed in Rome on his own. We always rent an apartment. But here are a few listings from Tripadvisor…<a href=“http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g187791-c3-Rome_Lazio-Hotels.html[/url]”>http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g187791-c3-Rome_Lazio-Hotels.html</a>.</p>
<p>I love Rome!</p>
<p>Check out Tripadvisor.com for london hostels: <a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g186338-c3-London_England-Hotels.html[/url]”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g186338-c3-London_England-Hotels.html</a>. My son swears by the Harvard Let’s Go guides. They also have an online sight.</p>
<p>I cannot recommend the Let’s Go series of travel books enough for the study abroad student looking to do some traveling during or after their program. It is made specifically for students and in my experience (extensively traveling in both Italy and Spain) all of the recommended hostels were great and exactly as they were described in the book. It has all different types of hostels- including those that are more private (sometimes a room in someone’s house) to the more typical dorm style. They have both country specific books and books on regions (Let’s Go Europe)</p>
<p>The thing to remember when traveling is that while a lot of people don’t look for a hostel until they arrive in the city, depending on when you are traveling it is possible to reserve a bed before you arrive. This is what I did, so I wouldn’t have to be wandering around looking for a place to stay.</p>
<p>My3sons-</p>
<p>Anywhere central in rome is good. There is also the outskirt neighborhoods like Parioli or up via della farnesina (there might be a pensione, but it’s a pretty swanky 'hood!) is a 15 min. bus ride. Email me if you have something in mind. There is also Trastervere, which is the old historic area across the tiber from the Corso.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the suggestions. It’s funny, when I mentioned the Let’s Go books to H, he said he thinks that’s what he and his friends used when they backpacked in 1980. I’m off to Barnes and Noble.</p>
<p>Are you going too? I couldn’t tell from your post.</p>
<p>Anway, since people who travel to hostels are a special bunch, he will probably get the best scoop from the hostel forums. These are the popular ones:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.hostelz.com%5B/url%5D”>www.hostelz.com</a> (I guess you’ve tried that)
<a href=“http://www.bugeurope.com%5B/url%5D”>www.bugeurope.com</a>
<a href=“Thorn Tree is coming to an end - Lonely Planet”>Thorn Tree is coming to an end - Lonely Planet;
<p>As a kid he will probably most like Campo de Fiori or Trastevere areas. Other central areas are good too (Piazza Navona, Pantheon). Probably don’t want to stay near the Vatican (it’s sort of a boring neighborhood) and, yeah, I wouldn’t choose the train station area but kids might not care.</p>
<p>For good advice go to slowtrav.com… I think right now they have the best people on line. Fodors.com used to be good, but it is slipping.:
<a href=“http://slowtalk.com/eve/ubb.x[/url]”>http://slowtalk.com/eve/ubb.x</a></p>
<p>I just noticed a whole thread about Rome hostels:</p>
<p><a href=“Hostels In Rome - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums”>Hostels In Rome - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums;
<p>my-3-sons, my son has stayed several times at the Generator in London. It was recommended by his high school art teacher (who often takes groups of kids on European tours). I haven’t been myself so I can personally vouch though. It’s centrally located for touristing and has a range of accommodations from private to dorm style. Large, but well run.</p>
<p>I know that it has its own website, but I couldn’t find it. This one will give you an overview:
<a href=“TravelStay.com: Page not found”>TravelStay.com: Page not found;
<p>I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Rome and it just might be my favorite European city (tied with Florence). The last time I was there I went on a Caravaggio pilgrimage and tried to all of the many works that are in museums, galleries and churches throughout Rome. Something like 20, I think. It was a good way to see a lot of Rome at the same time.</p>
<p>I always stay at a mid-range hotel overlooking the forum, called, appropriately, The Forum. It’s definitely not in the hostel category, but I’d still recommend the forum/coliseum area for proximity to attractions and wonderful neighborhood restaurants.</p>
<p>My D has stayed at the Generator and liked it.</p>
<p>SHe also stayed at a hostel in Rome that didn’t have towels and was on the seventh floor and hard to find… I’ll try to find out the name.</p>
<p>All great suggestions, thanks.</p>
<p>Weenie-We would love to try to go meet him somewhere along the way, but we are also trying to plan college visits with #3 this summer, so I’m not sure it will work out.</p>
<p>The Generator definitely caught his eye and I’m glad to hear kids have enjoyed it. I think that will probably be his London choice. </p>
<p>He was actually very intrigued when I mentioned staying in a convent in Rome and wants to look into it, although he wants to make sure it wouldn’t be too quiet. He’ll be alone, so he really would love to interact with other kids. He is a big “Angels and Demons” fan and I think the book was his inspiration for choosing to visit Rome. He is so excited to see it all in person. When we were going over all the info on the phone last night, I could barely get a word in edgewise.</p>
<p>We loved the International Youth Hostel (<a href=“http://www.hihostel.com%5B/url%5D”>www.hihostel.com</a>) St.Paul’s hostel in London. It is just a few steps away from St. Pauls cathedral, and has its own little cafeteria. Very safe and very nice. I believe you can book online. We like all the HI hostels (just look for the blue triangles)- meet great people along the way. In Rome, 4+ years ago, we stayed at the “colors” hostel - up 4 flights of stairs, small and very cheap and friendly. I don’t know if it is still around, but it was great.</p>
<p>My S went to London for spring break and stayed 6 nights in the Holland Park youth hostel. He seemed to like it; at least, I didn’t hear any horror stories.</p>
<p>Thanks guys, this info has been a big help.</p>
<p>Be sure he joins the International Hostelling Association <a href=“http://www.hiusa.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.hiusa.org</a> before he goes. The hostels might want him to show proof of membership for a reduced rate. We booked the Holland Park youth hostel through this website. We had read nice things about the hostel near St. Paul’s, but thought the area might be deserted at night because it is in the financial district and clears out after 5 p.m.</p>