It`s now easier to find low-cost lodging in London. For a small fee-about $3 to $9 per person-the London Tourist Board`s Information Centres provides on-the-spot reservations for beds at six of the city`s international youth hostels.
The average cost for a night`s accommodations, in a dormitory-style room, is $18 for travelers 21 or older (no maximum age). Guests under 21 pay $15, per person. If you are not a member of a national youth hostel association, you will be required to buy a guest pass for $2.60 a night.
Bookings can be made at London Tourist Information Centres at Victoria station, Liverpool Street station, at the Heathrow Airport underground station and at in Harrods and Selfridges department stores.
Dublin 1991 choice
Dublin has been designated European City of Culture for 1991. This distinction will be celebrated with a variety of special events, including the opening of two new museums, the Dublin Theatre Festival and special exhibitions reflecting Dublin`s cultural traditions at galleries and museums. Travelers on tight budgets can find inexpensive lodgings and buy economical do-it-yourself travel packages for touring the countryside at Dublin`s 400-bed International youth hostel at Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, telephone (01) 301766.
A bonus of this one-year-old hostel is that it has a courtesy bus which is dispatched to points of entry to transport budget travelers-so keep your eyes open for it. At the hostel you`ll find a restaurant in a restored chapel, currency exchange, luggage storage and bikes for hire. Dormitory accommodations for members of the International Youth Hostel Federation (over 18 years of age) are $13, non-members are welcome at $14 a night.
Special programs-including lectures on environmental issues and archeology; and films, slide and cultural shows-are presented on Wednesdays in the conference hall.
Independent travelers can buy do-it-yourself holiday packages at the hostel, or at the Irish Youth Hostel Association at 39 Mountjoy Square in Dublin. The packages combine rail, bus and bike travel with vouchers for accommodations in any of 50 hostels.
For example, Rambler Hostelling packages include a pass for Bus Eireann and Irish Rail which is valid for travel on any eight days over a 15-day period. This package, with seven nights accommodations, costs $189; with 14 nights accommodations it`s $252. Longer transportation passes are also available.
One- to four-week cycling holidays are available from Dublin, Limerick, Rosslare and Cork. The rates for (travelers over 18) include bike rental and sleeping accommodations. One week costs $99, two weeks are $189, three weeks are $279 and four weeks are $367.
Australia hostels
One of the problems faced by budget travelers to Australia is the increase in independent hostel facilities. Some are quite good, but others don`t meet fire and health regulations, and it can be a lengthy process for the courts to close them. There have been fires and deaths at independent hostels in Sydney and Brisbane. It`s important that you exercise caution when choosing where to stay.
The Queensland Youth Hostel Association recently announced that it has ceased its association with the hostel at 390 Upper St. in Brisbane and is opening a new facility at 53 Quay St.
The new hostel will accommodate up to 80 travelers in double and four-bedded rooms. It`s a five-minute walk from the Brisbane Transit Centre and a 10-minute walk from the city center. Guests will be able to use kitchen facilities, and there will be a cafeteria and a tour booking agency.
