Credit/Debit Card - Booking Hostels

SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments

you will need a credit/debit card to reserve. Quite a few will want cash when you settle the bill though:
[ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux]

roryroryrory
Traveller
39 comments

Do most hostels not accept debit cards, only credit cards?

SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments

a lot of independant hostels will not accept either, especially in eastern europe. Although I have also been in a hostel in Amsterdam that was cash only

roryroryrory
Traveller
39 comments

Thanks for the info.

Last question now, do you always have to book at the hostel?
Or can I just turn up to one and get a room?

SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments

depends when and where. In the summer in popular western european cities (paris, amsterdam etc) I would book a room a few days in advance at least. Out of season and in eastern europe you can probably get away with just turning up. But with the internet making it so easy to book hostels up to the night before I usually just book the day ahead wherever i go

roryroryrory
Traveller
39 comments

The only problem is I don't have a credit card to book with.
And probably couldn't get one.

I'll get a debit card when I turn 18 in a few months and try to book with that instead. And I'll have to pay Nationwide's new 1% fee on debit card transactions abroad.

Thanks for the info.

SiDUDe
Traveller
752 comments

if you book on [ux]https://rail.shop/hostelworld[/ux] , you might be able to pay in £ and therefore avoid the fee - but the website may give you a rubbish exchange rate...

and as i said in the other thread it looks like most european countries arent included in the charge