Finding cheap hotels and hostels in Europe?

I am planning a trip to Europe in the fall and I was just planning on finding cheap hotels and hostels along the way. How hard would this be if I didn't have anywhere in mind before I visited cities?

I thought I heard something about needing some type of membership to stay at hostels in Europe - is there any truth to this?

Any general suggestions?

I've had it go both ways for me. I pull into a train station, and go to the booth and get a great hotel for a reasonable price, or it goes the other way. The room is far from downtown, very small and very expensive.

If you are leaving at the end of September or later, you are probably OK.

Go to http://www.hihostels.com

Great value. Usually about £15 per night. They have hostels in most of Europe. You can book on line and view pictures of them. You need a credit card as a deposit of 5% is required when you make the booking, you pay the rest on arrival

All the ones I have used have been clean and well run. They do have a membership scheme but you can join at your first visit.

Ian M

You can find cheap hotels and hostels here:

http://www.hotelscombined.com?a_aid=781bc64c

Alternatively use a Let's Go or Lonely Planet guidebook. I've always heard Let's Go is best for Europe. Or you could look at hostelbookers.com, etc.

Hosteling International Hostels http://www.hihostels.com/ and STA http://ibs.statravelgroup.com/B2cus/AniteXmlGateway.aspx

Quick and easy to book.

best prices

http://europe-airtickets.com/

Part of Asian Airfares Network

for the hostel try hihostel.com

for the hotel try booking.com

If you want good deals on hotels, I recommend going in the off season

try rates to go for cheap last minute hotel deals

http://www.ratestogo.com/

Yes, for the International Youth Hostels, there is a nominal membership fee. You pay it the first time you go to check into one. And I'm not sure, but you used to HAVE to wait until that day to check in. No such thing as reservations, but I don't think that's true any more.

As for the Hostels, Hostals, and Pensions that work much like motels in the US, I paid two to three times as much on the internet as I think someone walking in would pay...I had to do a walkin once on my last trip, and I didn't even NOTICE paying for it, whereas, all the other places I paid almost $100US a night! And in the Fall, you should have NO TROUBLE finding a room!

The thing to do is just look for the signs...they are easy to spot, walk in and book a room...for IYH, get the book. Can't remember if that comes free with the membership or you pay more for it. And if you are doing the cheap route, get a copy of Let's Go Europe! It's a bible! It has everything you need in it!