The Real Deal on Youth Hostels in Italy
These days, youth hostels in Italy are providing 2, 3 and 4-room suites in locations as diverse as re-furbished castles and old farmhouses. Youth hostels in Italy are some of the most interesting and varied in the world. Romantic villas that date back to the Renaissance, fantastic fortresses and old castles, enchanting ancient buildings and ultra-modern buildings. Additionally, many cities in Italy offer campsite accommodations as an alternative to staying in a hostel. But what’s really groundbreaking is that these days Youth Hostels are tasking in entire families and not just single backpackers and more often than not, those families are Italian and not foreigners.
Director of Southern Italy’s Youth Hostel Network Giuseppe Perra couldn’t be more pleased. “The ratio more often than not is 60% Italian travellers aged 18 to 35 years old, compared with 30 years ago when the ration was 18 to 26 years of age and mostly travellers from out of the countryâÂ?¦”
Youth Hotels have a come a long way from the first establishment – established back in and used to provide cheap rooms for youth groups on vacation. Com to think of it, maybe Youth Hostels haven’t changed THAT much.
It’s been said that “hostelling” in Italy is a bit different from hostelling in any other European country. I have found that the operative word shouldn’t be “different” as it should probably be “laid back”. Hostels tend to run the gamut from small guesthouses to mid-line hotels. It’s rare to find a hostel that occupies an entire building, although in some cities such as Naples and Brindisi you’ll find it’s just the opposite. To a “T” all are staffed y friendly English-speaking hosts who do their best to provide more than just a place to hang your hat. Most hostels offer bus service to and from train stations, have internet access and have hot showers.
You can book a room at virtually any Youth Hostel in Italy (and all over the world for that matter) by using what is arguably the best resource on the internet for Youth Hostels: WWW.hostels.com. Go to the pull-down menu for “Hostels Worldwide” and you’ll have the pick of the litter. Fortunately in Italy you can have your pick of hundreds of Youth Hostels.
I’ve written quite a bit about the city of Brindisi and I’ve probably been remiss by not mentioning the city’s wonderful “Carpe Diem – Ostello della GioventÃ?¹” facility (Via Nicola Brandi # 2). If your train comes in early in the morning (and most of the ferries depart in the late afternoon or early evening) the YH can offer you transport to and from the hostel/train station/port/beach. A stay also includes hot showers, bed (clean sheets included), luggage deposit, and anything else a weary traveller would need for their day stay in Brindisi. The day stay rate is 6.00 Euros all inclusive. For prices like that I may just take my family there for the weekend.
The staff t the Brindisi YH is young and speaks English and does a great job of providing a warm, welcoming, international, and relaxed atmosphere. The building itself is open, spacious and airy, and there are places to relax, read and enjoy the sun. They are also close to the beach and Port of Brindisi and provide daily trips to the beach, including drop off and pick up in time to catch the ferry.
Meanwhile over in sunny Naples sits one of the finest and newest hostels in all of Italy: La Controra (Piazzetta Trinit� alla Cesarea, 231). Deep in the heart of downtown Naples, La Controra is a historical building that has now been transformed into a hostel , open to everybody, a place where you can enjoy freedom and respect, a place to relax while watching the bustling town around you . Built as a hunting lodge in the 17th century,
La Controra has now been completely refurbished to look like a grand Spanish green patio, where guests can enjoy Naples, its unique arty set up, its night life: a 24 – hour reception service will allow you to enjoy your evening out to local restaurants, bars and clubs, assured that you will always be able to get back into the hostel. And all for about 25 euro a night. A little more upscale than most, but still a bargain and in Naples that’s saying a lot.
Farther North in the heart of the Renaissance city of Florence sits The DAVID Inn (Via Ricasoli, 6 ) and one of 12 Youth Hostels in Florence that are offer a special rate of 100 Euro for one week during 2006. The David Inn is 50 metres from the Duomo, 20 metres from the Modern Art Museum; the resting place of Michelangelo’s David, and a five minute walk from the train station. It is not among the usual hostels and hotels of the Via Nazionale right near the train station. It is just as close, but in a safer location, right in the heart of the old-town.
Those are just a few of the cities close to m heart, but when you long on to www.hostels.com, you’ll be amazed at how many hostels are available, what the accommodation really look like and how incredibly inexpensive they really are.
Youth Hostels in Italy – suddenly travelling abroad just became a whole lot more fun.
