FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a hostel?
A hostel is a lodging-house that, according to international principles, emphasizes inexpensiveness, unreservedness, cleanliness, and security.
What kind of rooms are there in hostels?
Room sizes in hostels around the world vary from single rooms to dormitories for 6–8 persons. Most of hostels, especially new ones, also have rooms for 2–4 persons. Showers and toilets may be located in the corridor.
What about other facilities?
Hostels normally have a self-catering kitchen and clothes washing facilites and luggage rooms / rental lockers.
Are hostels open all year round?
Some are, while some are not. In addition to all-year hostels, there are many summer hostels which operate as student houses or are in other use in winter. Therefore it is advisable to check whether the hostel is open before you start your trip.
How much does accommodation cost?
The cost of accommodation is naturally affected by several things: the general level of prices in the country, the location of the hostel, the standard of the hostel, whether it is a bed in a dormitory or a smaller room, and so forth. The average price for a bed in a dormitory is approximately 17 euros, while the accommodation price in smaller rooms is higher.
Are there any age limits?
People of all ages can accommodate in hostels.
Can I use a sleeping bag in a hostel?
Using a sleeping bag is generally forbidden in hostels for hygienic reasons. If its use is allowed, you will still need a sheet under the bag! Instead of a sleeping bag, you can take with you your own bedlinen or rent/purchase them at the hostel.
Do you need an advance booking for hostels?
An advance booking is always recommended, especially during summer and high seasons.
How much beforehand do I need to make a booking to a hostel?
It is advisable to make your bookings well before the trip. Hostels in European cities can be fully booked several months beforehand during high season.
How can I make a accommodation booking to a hostel?
On this website you can make a booking for Finnish hostels. For those domestic hostels that are not yet bookable online, you have to make your booking directly with the hostel – either by phone or by email. You can book hostels overseas at hIhostels.com.
Do hostels only have large dormitories?
More and more, hostels also have small rooms for 2–4 persons, and there are even single rooms. There are cheaper dormitories, too.
Can you stay at a hostel with your family, too?
Yes. Nowadays nearly all hostels have family rooms, as well.
Do hostels have conveviences?
Yes. Showers and toilets are often shared with other customers. The facilities are separate for women and men.
Is it safe to keep your belongings in shared rooms?
Almost all hostels have lockable lockers or similar storage facilities either in the rooms or elsewhere in the hostel premises. It is often possible to keep valuables, passports, money and such like in the reception safe or like.
Do I need a hostel card at hostels abroad, if I am a member of a member organisation of SRM?
You will get a discount with a membership card of one of SRM’s member organisations at domestic SRM hostels. When you stay at a hostel abroad you need an international hostel card. The members of member organisations get a 5 euro discount for the price of the card.
How much discount will I get with a hostel card?
You will get a discount of 2,5 euros with the international hostel card for one night’s stay in Finland. Abroad, the accommodation price shown is usually the price for members. The card, or membership, is either obligatory or non-members have to pay an additional charge that varies by country.
How do I benefit from a hostel card? Is a hostel card obligatory?
Hostelling is connected to the hostelling organisation of each country and their membership. In many countries, a national or an international hostel card is obligatory. In those countries where the card is not an absolute requirement, you will still always have to pay an additional charge for your accommodation.
Where can I acquire a hostel card?
It is recommandable to acquire a hostel card from a member organisation in your country. In Finland, you can buy your card at the HI Finland office in Helsinki and at certain hostels.
Is it enough that one member of a group/family has a hostel card?
All members of the group over 4 years of age have to have a hostel card of their own.
Is there a family card?
No, all family members have to have a card of their own. The family’s children under the age of 17 get the card for 2 euros when at least one of the parents buys a card at the same time.
Do you need a photo for the card?
No, your name, address and date of birth (day, month, year) are enough. In order to get the card at a cheaper price you will also need a proof of your membership in a member organisation of SRM.
Miten todistan kuuluvani SRM:n jäsenjärjestöön?
Jäsenyytesi voit todistaa esittämällä jäsenkortin, jäsenmaksukuitin tai järjestön antama todistuksen.
How do I know at which hostels I will need a hostel card?
Hostels belonging to the Hostelling International chain require a hostel card. You can recognise the hostels belonging to the chain by the triangle logo, with a hut and a fir tree inside.