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Gryon, Switzerland.
Swiss Alps Retreat, Chalet Martin
This was a really neat hostel in Gryon, Swtizerland. It was right up on a mountain and is a gorgeous place with a ton of activities you can do, like taking a gondola to the top of the mountain.

Pros: It was cheap (about $25/night), they had a really neat living room area with a fireplace and a huge selection of books and magazines. Plus they had all kinds of accessories that you could use like a hair straightener and blow dryer. The hostel wasn’t busy when I was there in the summer and I shared a whole dorm room with one other person.

Cons: There were some kind of bugs that were eating the walls of the very rustic lodge at the time I was there, which was kind of freaky because you could hear them scratching on the wood and it was really loud. They may have taken care of it by now. I also, thought it was kind of weird that they didn’t lock the dorm rooms, or have lockers. Apparently in the winter the hostel is very popular and books right up during ski season.

Would I stay again? Definitely

You can make a reservation in Gryon here.




Florence, Italy.
Plus Florence.
This hostel shouldn't even be called a hostel. It was so nice. It's like a luxury hotel with a swimming pool that just happens to have dorm rooms with TVs in them and ridiculously cheap prices.

Pros: It was very cheap (around $22/night 4 bed dorm). Each room had it's own bathroom with a shower. They gave us free soap and shampoo! They organized tours such as wine tasting. There is a kitchen, an elevator and hello, there's a swimming pool and workout equipment! And the dorm rooms have TVs in them. This is not a typical hostel.

Cons: I found this area of the city (a small ways off from the train station) draining so I'd take a bus to the other areas.

Would I stay again? Hell ya baby.

If you are visiting Florence do yourself a favour and reserve a room at the Plus Florence.



Bath Spa, England.
Bath Backpackers.
I didn’t enjoy the hostel at Bath Spa very much and didn’t have a choice on staying there as everything else was full.

Pros: It was really close to the train station (less than a block away) and was fairly cheap (about $25 when I went). Same sex dorms. The staff was pretty nice.

Cons: Lots of beds (10) in a dorm. Small space. Seemed like party hostel, not in a good way.

Would I stay again? No.

You can look for other hostels in Bath here.

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