hostels

So you’ve always wanted to travel Europe, but unfortunately, you weren’t born into a trust fund. And while you appreciate living vicariously through your Instagram feed, you don’t just want to go to the Colosseum and the Tower of London and the Eiffel Tower; you want to see all of Europe—the lives and culture outside of the big cities. Well, you’re in luck! Here we’ve compiled some of the best hostels throughout Europe that can be jumping-off points for your vacation. These places will help you get away without giving up your budget or your dreams of exploring! So, get ready; after this, all you’ll need is a plane ticket!

A large map of the world, plastered with clusters of brightly-colored sewing pins, hangs in the home of 73-year-old Myrna Towers. Each pin marks a place that Towers, her husband, Dave, or one of their six children has visited. Myrna and Dave have traveled extensively, and have lived in Great Britain, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. What the map does not show, however, is where they have slept on their travels. A cabin on the African savanna, a chateau in the Alps, and a hut in Mexico are only a few. “If you stay in Best Westerns everywhere you go, you’ll have a very typical trip,” says Towers. They are always on the alert for rare lodging opportunities.

Sure, hostels are a great way to travel. They’re cheap, easy to find, and safer than couch surfing. But hostels can also be shady—there’s no knowing who’ll be sleeping in the bunk next to yours. That being said, staying at a hostel can still be an enjoyable, comfortable, cheap, and safe experience if you consider these simple do’s and don’ts.

Back in the day, the “Grand Tour” was the thing to do for 20-something-year-old rich kids. Young aristocrats would tour Europe searching for cultural enlightenment and a bit of adventure.