Out of the dozen or so hostels we stayed at during our journey, each will be remembered for its own quirks. The non-lockable doors, the faint stench of socks, the naked guy … But the two that really stand out – in a good way – were:
Best rooms
Hands down, the best room we stayed in was at the Sunflower Hostel in Berlin. This arty hostel is buzzing with life, with colourful murals on every flat surface, from the familiar – Bert and Ernie – to random (e.g. marine theme). Our six-bed dorm was the Tintin room, warm and bright with timber bunks and an outdoor balcony.
Best common facilities
Belford Hostel, Edinburgh
The best hostel common facilities were definitely at Belford Hostel in Edinburgh. It’s housed in an ancient, drafty, gothic church. Atmosphere in spades. But more importantly, there’s a huge fully equipped kitchen, even a communal cupboard with some cooking basics and free fruit; beautiful bathrooms; a TV/game room; pool table; and bar.