Escape to myself

Hostels

So far this has been a great experience. All the hostels bar one have been clean, friendly, great roommates and wonderful facilities. Varied in price and obviously Paris and Rome have been more expensive but between €35 and €50 per night … some with breakfast included. My only real gripe is that Paris had curtains around the bunks for privacy (thank goodness in that case!) while the others have all been open. Staff have been helpful and friendly.

Paris

Quite a buzz here. Clean, great bar, chill out rooms and great roommates and helpful staff. Situated about half a mile from Ile de la Cite in The Marais I loved my stay here.

Milan

A quieter place. Shared with two Australian girls and one American. Nice bar, could leave bags for free after checkout. Cheap breakfast which was good value.

Genoa Hostello Bello

Great hostel with a really easy vibe. Staff ok, clean, with laundry and free excellent breakfast to set you up for the day. Noisy bar but guests friendly … quite a few families staying as well as a younger crowd. Only minutes from the station and the centre of the city and very near some of the main sights and palazzi. A great stay … I’d go back.

Pisa … Pisa Tower

Well this didn’t help my admiration of Pisa as a city. It’s main recommendation was that you could get to the Tower in five minutes. It was clean and friendly but room was tiny. Older people and a family while I was there. Cheap but a poor kitchen and few facilities … but it had a garden of sorts and a delapidated table tennis table and a TV room. Staff rarely available and I had ti ring them up to get in when I arrived. Full of dos and donts with lots of (un)amusing signs stick everywhere. Cheap but not cheerful and a walk to get groceries for breakfast.

Rome …

Not cheap but like a swish hotel. Extremely clean with bar and restaurant attached . Laundry room, Common room, outside area and room was spacious. Great, chatty roommates. The hostel offers walking tours by staff and cookery demos and dinners. Well organised with mainly younger guests but a few older. The staff here were the most helpful so far and really friendly. It may be one of the most expensive but well worth it for comfort. Breakfast not included but good and in the bar each morning. Not a party hostel.

Connecting

I’ve met some really nice younger students not averse to chatting with an older guy. Of course in Paris C was around but my roommates were tolerant (if amused). Two Canadians who were great. In Milan the girls were sweet and on their way to Greece and as I only stayed one night not much chance to make a real connection. In Genoa I met Chris the American med student. Earnest and sweet he was travelling solo too. We had some great chats about life, politics, our families and a lot more over dinner in a great little restaurant. most of the Americans I’ve met seem anxious and unhappy about the state of their country. In Pisa chatted to my older roommate who was one of the dullest people I’ve met! Maybe I scared him but I doubt it. Look like he was a trainspotter. In Rome I met Jan a German student from Hanover. We had some really great chats and covered a lot of ground; politics, the Holocaust, travel, family, lockdown and a lot more. He was very serious but very engaging and thoughtful. While in Rome I also mentioned the American/Jamaican/British Paulette and her family. She was enthusiastic and great fun to wander around with. She shared photos of her brothers who still live in the UK. We enjoyed the Colosseum together. So all in all it’s been a great trip so far and I’m not too bothered about being on my own a lot if the time. I’ve had more than enough to occupy myself with. Oh! Of course there are people in shops particularly women who live a bit if flirtatious chat in broken English/Italian. It’s been great talking to people from other countries and cultures and learning about how their countries work,