Booking FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
One of the main reasons why people contact us is to ask questions. Many ask us the same things, so to help you we have listed answers to these Frequently Asked Questions. Check out the links below - it is probably the quickest way to find the information you need.Questions about…
- Making a Booking
- Amending a Booking
- Cancelling a Booking
- Booking queries
- Booking Terms & Conditions
- Accessing my hihostels.com account
- Length of stay
- Membership and age limitations
- Types of accommodation you can book on hihostels.com
- Cards and Payments
- Prices
- Proof of Booking
- Website Security
- Visa Support
- Further help
Making a Booking
How do I make a booking? The simplest way to book your hostel stay is to use the ‘Book Now’ box. Select a country and destination from the drop-down menus, add the dates and number of guests and follow the instructions. Alternatively, you can select your preferred country using the ‘Country Navigator’ or the ‘Countries’ tab on the menu. To book a hostel either:- Select ‘Country map with all hostels’, browse and click on a destination
- Select a destination from the list displayed.
- Type the name of the hostel or city in the search box at the top of the page
- Select the country using the ‘Country Navigator’ - a listing of all hostels in that country will be displayed
Amending a booking
Can I amend my booking? No. Changes to bookings cannot be made on this website. You should contact the hostel direct (see hostel page for contact details) – any amendment is at the hostel’s discretion (see Booking Terms & Conditions for full details). I’ve booked the wrong type of room – can I change my booking? No. Changes to bookings cannot be made on this website. You should contact the hostel direct (see hostel page for contact details) – any amendment is at the hostel’s discretion (see Booking Terms & Conditions for full details).Cancelling a booking
Can I cancel my booking? Yes. You can do this online or by contacting the hostel direct (see hostel page for contact details). Cancellations with less than 24 hours notice are subject to cancellation charges – see the Booking Terms & Conditions for full details. Cancellation charges will be charged to the credit card used to make the booking. If I cancel my booking, will I get a refund? No. The deposit and booking fee are non-refundable (see Booking Terms & Conditions for full details).Booking queries
If you have specific queries about your bookings, please email the reservations team at booking@hihostels.com.Booking Terms & Conditions
Accessing my hihostels.com account
How do I login? Select ‘My Bookings/Cancellations’ on the home page, enter your email address and the password you set up when making your booking. Your bookings will be displayed on screen. If you have forgotten your password, simply click on the ‘forgot password’ button and follow the on-screen prompts. How do I check my bookings? Login into your hihostels.com account as described above. Your bookings will be displayed on screen. Can I change my email address or other contact details? No, this is not currently possible.Length of Stay
Is there a maximum number of nights that I can book? Each hostel has a maximum length of stay, and this may vary from country to country and from hostel to hostel. Please contact the hostel direct (see hostel page for contact details) if your desired stay exceeds the maximum permitted on hihostels.com. You are strongly advised not to make multiple bookings as they may be refused by the receiving hostel.Membership and age limitations
Do I have to be a Hostelling International Member to book hostels on hihostels.com? Hostelling International is a membership organisation; members receive many benefits in addition to staying in hi hostels. This one card opens the door to the world’s largest network of safe, clean, welcoming hostels. And you can take advantage of discounted member prices in many places, special savings and discounts. Non-members may stay at hostels if they purchase an international membership on arrival at the hostel (see below), or pay a small supplement. Have you read the Membership page? This lists the many reasons why you should join the more than 3 million members who save money and have much more fun when they travel! What happens if I make a booking on hihostels.com, but I am not a Hostelling International member? Hostelling International is a membership organisation; members receive many benefits in addition to staying in hi hostels. You should join (see below) before you leave home. Non-members may stay at hostels if they purchase an international membership on arrival at the hostel (see below), or pay a small supplement. Have you read the Membership page? This lists the many reasons why you should join the more than 3 million members who save money and have much more fun when they travel! What age do I have to be to stay in Youth Hostels? Youth Hostels are open to everyone. However age limits may apply for children in some places - check with the hostel (see hostel page for contact details). Young people may be given priority when the hostel is nearly full. In the USA, age limits may apply travellers below the age of 21 years – please check with the hostel when booking (see hostel page for contact details). I am travelling with young children – should I book beds for them? You should book beds for each person in your party. Please note that many hostels cannot accept young children in dormitories – where applicable this will be highlighted during the booking process.Types of accommodation you can book on hihostels.com
Can I book a private room on hihostels.com? Private rooms are available at many hostels; if private rooms are available, these will be displayed during the booking process. If this option is not available, please contact the hostel direct (see hostel page for contact details). Will dormitories be mixed or single-sex? This varies from hostel to hostel. If there is a choice of single- or mixed-sexed dormitory accommodation available for the dates you have chosen, this will be shown during the booking process. What is the difference between a dormitory and a budget dormitory? A dormitory is a multi-occupancy room, typically with 4 beds or more. A budget dormitory typically contains more beds and its price reflects the size and facilities provided in the budget dormitory.Cards and Payments
What currency will my credit card be charged in and when will I be charged? Your credit card will be charged in the currency you selected at the time of booking. The amount will be charged to your account within 7 working days. What will I be charged when I make an online booking? Only 5% of the total cost of your booking + a small booking fee will be charged to your card immediately, in the currency you selected. The remaining 95% of your booking cost must be paid in the currency of the hostel on arrival. (See Booking Terms & Conditions for full details). What types of card can I use on hihostels.com? You can make bookings online using either a Visa or Mastercard credit card, or a Visa Electron or Visa Delta debit card. Unfortunately we are currently unable to accept Maestro or Switch cards. Do I need to have the same name on the credit card as on the booking? If you do not have a credit card, but have a friend or family member who will let you book using their card, authorisation of the cardholder must be obtained. Please remember, that if you fail to turn up at the hostel and do not cancel at least 24 hours in advance, then the applicable cancellation fees will be charged to the credit card (see Booking Terms & Conditions for full details). How can I identify hihostels.com transactions on my credit card statement? All deposits paid to hihostels.com will be identified as follows: “Welwyn Garden City www.hihostels.com” How can I make a booking if I do not have a credit or debit card? No problem - book in person at one of our Booking Centres. You can pay in various ways (for example, cash, cheque, debit or credit card). You will be asked to pay 10% deposit at the booking centre, and the balance on arrival at the hostel – this is all detailed on your booking receipt. What is the booking fee? This fee covers credit card processing fess and general administration. For multi-stage bookings, only a single booking fee applies, regardless of the number of hostels in the booking.Prices
Are the bed/room prices ‘Member Prices’? Accommodation fees are set by youth hostels and/or National Associations. Prices displayed are member prices unless otherwise indicated.Proof of Booking
Do I need a receipt for my deposit? A receipt will be sent to the email address given when making your booking. If you are unable to print this out, or access the email account to which it was sent, please login in to ‘My Bookings/Cancellations’ and make a note of your unique booking reference number. This will help speed things up on arrival at the hostel. What do I need to take to the hostel? If you can, print out your receipt and take it with you. If you are unable to print it or access the email account to which it was sent, please login to ‘My Bookings/Cancellations’ and make a note of your unique booking reference number. I did not receive a booking receipt via email – what should I do? Some email spam filters may inadvertently redirect your booking receipts to the ‘junk’ folder – please check this folder. Alternatively, you may have entered an incorrect email address. Please login to ‘My Bookings/Cancellations’ and make a note of your unique booking reference number.Website Security
Is your website secure? We obey the latest industry guidelines and regulations and do not store your details. Our system has been certified by Security Metrics and Thawte. Please read Card Payment Security and Privacy Policy for full details.Visa Support
Do you provide visa support? No. Documentation for visa purposes is NOT provided through hihostels.com – this is purely a hostel booking system. Some hostels or National Associations may be able to assist you with this – please enquire directly with the hostel (see hostel page for contact details) or National Association before making your booking.Further Help
I cannot find the answer to my question - what do I do? Take a look at the other FAQs on this site – questions about:- Hostels and hostel facilities (who runs the hostels, costs, opening times, bedrooms and bedding, meals and cooking, smoking, other facilities, activities)
- Guests and Pets (who uses hostels, children, guests with disabilities, pets)
- Membership (why and how to join, membership types and costs, lost membership cards, using your membership card overseas, member benefits)
- Employment opportunities
- Commercial opportunities
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