Abbreviations of Youth-Hostelling in Austria

What is Hostelling International ?
What does the IYHF do ?
What are hostels in the Hostelling International network ?
Who stays at hostels and are there any age limits ?
What do hostels look like and how many people are usually staying in the same room ?
Are hostels clean and safe ?
Do you need a hostel membership card and any other documents to stay in hostels ?
Is there a hostel curfew ?
How can I find a hostel and do I have to make a reservation to stay at a hostel ?
International Booking Network


Abbreviations of Youth-Hostelling in Austria

IYHF International Youth Hostelling Federation
ÖJHV Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband
ÖJHW Österreichisches Jugendherbergswerk

What is Hostelling International

`Hostelling International', sometimes called `Youth Hostelling International' is the brand name of Youth Hostels across the world.

The HI or YHI logo with the blue triangle, hut and tree is registered as a trademark in many countries.

Youth Hostels are run by the national Youth Hostel Association in each individual country under the auspices of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) which is an international non-governmental, non-profit making organization recognized by UNESCO.

Originally created to help young people of limited means to experience the countryside and cities of the world, hostels are now also at the heart of international tourism for a wide age group.

Today's hostellers are just as likely to be in their thirties and bring their family by car, as to arrive alone on foot with a rucksack.

Nor is hostelling an end in itself. All ages use hostels as their gateway to cultural exploration and the appreciation of nature. Hostels already provide over 33 million overnight stays a year through 4,275 hostels in more than 85 countries.

New services like the computerized Hostelling International Booking System mean that Hostelling International continues to meet the needs of this mobile and aware clientele while maintaining the unique qualities and mission that have made Youth Hostels such a global success.

Since 1909, when hostelling was born out of the excursions of German schoolteacher, Richard Schirrmann, and his pupils, it has become one of the world's biggest membership organizations for youth, with over 3 million members and a mission that has never been more relevant.

What does the IYHF do ?

Assuring world-wide standards

By 1998 all youth hostels bearing the sign 'HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL' will comply with the minimum standards as drawn up by the IYHF, offering a basic assurance of standards. These minimum standards include things like comfort, cleanliness, security, privacy and environmental consciousness. Many hostels will continue to offer a much higher standard, especially Austrian hostels all of which have already fulfilled the IYHF's minimum standard specifications.

Publication of the 'International Handbooks'

Hostelling International Guides now list over 4,500 hostels in more than 60 countries where you can get a good night's sleep in comfortable surroundings at an affordable price.

Vol.1: Europe € 8,-
Vol.2: Africa, Americas, Asia and the Pacific € 8,-

In addition, the guides give full details of Hostelling International's new Assured Standards scheme, which is continuing to be adopted worldwide and is increasing quality for travellers. The scheme will ensure consistent standards in five fundamental customer service areas for visitors to Youth Hostels anywhere in the world. Over 2.000 hostels in 20 countries are in the scheme and a further three will join. The scheme becomes mandatory for all Hostelling International hostels everywhere by the end of 1998.

Save money on everything from contact lenses to coach fares and air travel. Even more significantly, the guides give details of how you can save with a full range of travel and other discount opportunities.
(IYHF DISCOUNT DATABASE)

International guidebooks are available and will be delivered in Austria from Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband.

What are hostels in the Hostelling International network ?

Youth Hostels encourage activity and awareness. They stimulate guests to think about their responsiblity to protect nature and preserve cultural values. They promote a better understanding between people of different nations.

Youth Hostels are always at an affordable price but overnight charges depend on the cost of living, the level of facilities and services of the country where accommodation is provided. On average it will cost between US $11-15 to stay one night in a Youth Hostel in most places.

'A youth hostel is a place that offers a good night's sleep in friendly surroundings at an affordable price.'

So IYHF hostels are a perfect way to get to know a country at low cost, while, at the same time, meeting many other people with a similar attitude towards travelling and experiencing this warm and welcoming hostel atmosphere.

Who stays at hostels and are there any age limits ?

Everybody can stay at hostels. Families as well as individuals, couples or big groups. Many people travelling alone go to hostels to meet others and get the latest travel information.

No, there are no age limits at all! Except in a very few places, young people might be given priority when the hostel is nearly full. Only in Bavaria, Germany, an official age limit exists (maximum 26 years old).

Hostelling International Membership Cards

They are needed to stay in IYHF hostels, are issued by the national hostel associations and they are accepted in all other IYHF member countries. The Membership Card can be obtained at the respective national hostel association's office, or automatically after 6 nights at a IYHF hostel (6 welcome stamps have to be purchased).

Hostelling International Membership Cards are available from Associations, in Austria from Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband.

Pursuing important topics of youth policy

These are, for instance environmental protection, recycling or the provision of environmental education.

In some countries you will also enjoy discount opportunities for museum entrance, car hire and domestic (standby) airfares (IYHF DISCOUNT DATABASE).

What do hostels look like and how many people are usually staying in the same room ?

There are many kinds of hostels. Big hostels providing beds for hundreds of guests, as well as medium sized country hostels or small family-like houses with a lot of atmosphere and only a few beds. Hostels can be found in the countryside or in the cities, mostly near points of interest and important sights, with good public transport connections.

The rooms are usually dormitory style, with bunkbeds and functional furniture. In most cases, all facilities, like bathrooms, toilets, kitchen or TV room are shared by all the guests, thus creating a kind of big family feeling, where it is easy to make new friends and meet people from all over the world.

Bedding is provided but you do need to bring or hire your sheets and pillowcases or a sheet sleeping bag in some hostels.

In Austria there are only few hostels with big dormitories. Most hostels offer rooms of 2 to 6 beds with a higher standard. Double rooms are available sometimes, but you should reserve them beforehand, since they are hard to come by. Normally there is no extra charge for renting sheets and pillowcases.

Are hostels clean and safe ?

Most hostels are clean, since a great number of people uses them everyday. There may be some exceptions, but in general the sanitary standard is sufficient and the rooms are clean.

Yes the hostels are safe. Very occasionally things are stolen, but if you are reasonably careful, no harm will come to you. You just have to look after yourself and your belongings as you always should when travelling around. Remember that the people you meet in hostels are nice people, travellers like yourself, not strangers as people who have never stayed in a hostel will want to make you believe.

However, you should always be careful when meeting people at airports or on train stations who tell you they know a good place to stay and want to take you there. They might receive a commission and you might end up in a dirty hole that has no right to call itself a hostel. Trust your feelings. If a place feels unsafe, then do not stay there. You will always find another place and in order to have time to search for it, you should always try to arrive early in the morning.

All Austrian hostels are taking part in the Assured Standards Scheme, which ensures reliability, comfort and cleanliness as well as a consistent level of services and facilities.

Furthermore, Austria is a very safe place and so are Austrian hostels.

Do you need a hostel membership card and any other documents to stay in hostels ?

Yes, you need a hostel membership card. You can join your national YHA as a member, contact Österreichischer Jugendherbergsverband if you are an Austrian resident or your national office (for information click Worldwide Hostels) for detail.

Your national membership card is valid for local as well as international travel.

If your country is not a full member of the IYHF (click Worldwide Hostels to check the status of your country in the IYHF), or you are a temporary visitor of a country in which you have been resident for less than 12 months, you can buy `welcome stamps' (a temporary pass bought by the guest one stamp at a time each night of the stay, or all 6 welcome stamps at once) from the Youth Hostel in order to enable you to use the hostel facilities.

You also need a document of identification of some sort. Since many hostels offer dormitory style accommodation, proper identification is necessary, so that if there is any trouble, the hostel management knows who was staying in the room with you. Common documents used for identification are passports, drivers licenses (with photo) or state/country identity cards.

Is there a hostel curfew ?

Large city hostels are likely to be open 24 hours a day. Smaller hostels, in the countryside, may have shorter opening hours and most hostels are open all year round.

In some places you have to be inside the hostel at a certain time or you will have to sleep on the street. However, many hostels no longer have a curfew. During the day, some hostels in rural areas close for several hours to get the cleaning done.

How can I find a hostel and do I have to make a reservation to stay at a hostel ?

By using guidebooks which provide unbiased information on the hostels in question or by using the HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL BUDGET ACCOMMODATION GUIDE, which gives the location and facilities of each member hostel. Another way to find out about hostels is by asking other travellers. That way you should be able to get first hand information on the best place to stay in.

Many hostels have self-catering facilities and most provide meals, the individual hostel entries will tell you what is available.

Local customs and practices obviously vary around the world, so check the introductory section of the Guide for each country as well as the entry for each hostel.

You will find all the various facilities and prices are shown alongside each listing in the Guide so that you will know what is available before you arrive.

In big cities and during peak travel season, reserving a room ahead in those hostels who accept reservations is recommended. When using an HI-hostel, reserving a bed is very easy. Remember, you can use the computerized advance booking system to guarantee you a bed whatever time you arrive. Please look up our special section on HI. Some YH accept credit cards.

Check-In and Check-Out
You are normally able to check-in (or out) between 07:00hrs and 10:00hrs as well as 17:00hrs and 22:00hrs at all hostels. Get a Budget Accommodation Guide published by Hostelling International from the YHA in your country or any large bookshop. The entries in the Guide will show you any variations.

HI - International Booking Network

HI, which is operated by the IYHF, enables hostellers to reserve beds all over the world from booking offices or other HI- hostels.