Have you heard of hostels, and always thought you'd like to try one, but didn't know where to start? This book's for you. And it not only tells you where to start and how to start and when to start, but where to stay in 100 cities of Western Europe, all the major ones in all 25 countries, each with its own language and culture... but not so many currencies. That includes the beaches in Spain, the mountains of Switzerland, the fashion centers of France, the pub culture of England, and the forests of Germany; cities like Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Berlin, and Amsterdam, and they've all got one thing in common, besides the Euro currency, and that is: hostels. And these are modern hostels, all ages welcome (usually) and no curfew. What they DO have are kitchens, and computers, and WiFi, and lots of other people-just like you. Sound good? You haven't even heard about the low low prices yet. Accommodations ARE the most expensive part of travel, after all. Hostels have long been around, of course, at least in Europe, but those were youth hostels. These are hostels for backpackers and flashpackers, their upscale urban cousins. There's a world of difference. It's not just Europe now, either, or just youth. It includes the whole world, and it's a way of life. If it's a cool place to visit, then there will probably be a hostel there by now, in local neighborhoods and staffed by local people, all with at least a working knowledge of the English language. You can easily organize a trip and stay in budget hostels the whole way the whole time now. This book will help, with complete specs and contact info for more than 500 locations, carefully selected for their quality and standards. It will also tell you the history and major attractions of each town, city and country. C U in Helsinki, or Inverness, or Rimini, or Lisbon, or... you name it.