German Youth Hostels Not Just for the Young Anymore

"Each bed consists of a sack tightly stuffed with straw, a pillow, two bed sheets and a wool blanket" -- that's how teacher Richard Schirrmann envisioned a possible "stopping place for the wander-happy youth of Germany" almost 100 years ago. On an eight-day hike with his class, he himself had had to seek out shelter with an accommodating farmer, or spend the night with his charges in an empty village school. Out of this experience, he developed the idea of the youth hostel.

Several years separated the birth of the idea and its realization. But in 1912, the world's first dedicated youth hostel opened in the Altena Castle in Germany's hilly Sauerland region. The facility was purpose-built: two dormitories with solid three-storey bunk beds, a sitting room, kitchen, showers and bathrooms. The hostels of today have come a long way from that first spartan concept, and in addition to smaller rooms also offer entertainment and educational programs designed with children and young adults in mind.

Unusual locations

Over the years, many hostels have set themselves apart by focusing on special areas. The individual profiles vary as much as the actual buildings.

"In Rostock, the youth hostel is part of the local meteorological station, and in Konstanz, there's one in a former water tower," said Knut Dinter of the German youth hostel association, naming just two examples of unusual settings.

While in the 1980s, youth hostels were more or less synonymous with school trips, eventually, hostels began focusing more on families, developing special offers to attract this target group. In addition to branching out their customer bases, this also solved the problem of empty youth hostels during the school vacation periods. In recent years, hostels have also begun developing programs to attract clubs and associations, who can have seminars or meetings and combine them with leisure activities.

Appealing to international guests

According to Dinter, the latest initiative on the part of German hostels is aimed at attracting a more international clientele.

"The individual backpacker is the focus," he said, adding that staff members are being trained so that they can welcome guests in English or French, as well as German.

With almost 600 youth hostels nationwide and 1.7 million members, Germany has a vast hostelling network. Membership is obligatory to take advantage of the facilities, but it's not expensive. Juniors (up to 26 years of age) pay 12 euros ($15) for a year's membership, while family and adult memberships cost 20 euros.