Frequently Asked Questions

General question about hostels and the Amstel House

WHAT IS A HOSTEL LIKE?

Hostels are a fun and cheap type of accommodation. They offer beds in shared dormitories and – in many cases – private rooms as well. Popular among young people – but recently attracting all kinds of travelers – its common areas provide the perfect atmosphere for socializing and meeting people from all around the world. At Amstel House: The Amstel House is not just a hostel, it is the best budget accommodation in Berlin. We offer modern facilities, original designed common areas and a variety of inexpensive beds and rooms. Take a look at our room types, hostel photos and range of services to get to know us better.

WHAT'S A HOSTEL ROOM?

The shared rooms are what defines the classic hostel concept, in which guests pay for a bed and not for whole room. The classic hostel dorms are usually equipped with 2 to 6 bunkbeds. Very often however, hostels offer private rooms as well, as it is the case at Amstel House. At Amstel House: we offers a great range of hostel room types. Single and twin rooms with bathroom inside as well as twins with bunk beds and shared facilities. We also offer 4 people dorms with and without bathroom and – of course – the classic hostels dormitories. Family rooms and female only are also part of our offers.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO STAY IN A HOSTEL?

The average price for a hostel overnight stay varies from city to city, as well as according to room categories and seasons. However hostesl are most often among the cheapest accommodation options one finds in cities all around the world. At Amstel House: We are the best cost benefit in Berlin. Our rates vary daily and according to the room category. To know our prices and availability please click on the blinking button on the right “book here / pay less”, enter the wished dates of arrival and departure and choose a room type.

DO I HAVE TO SHARE THE ROOM WITH PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?

Not necessarily. Many hostels offer dorms for women only, as is the case at the Amstel House.

ARE THE BATHROOMS SHARED IN HOSTELS?

Not always. In addition to the classic dormitories with shared facilities, many hostel offer rooms with private bathrooms as well. The Amstel House for example provides different kinds of rooms with private bathroom.

HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN A HOSTEL?

It varies a lot from hostel to hostel. At the Amstel House we have a maximum stay of seven nights.

DO HOSTELS HAVE A CURFEW?

Mostly not. However, it is common to have limited reception hours. To check it out before arrival. At Amstel House: A curfew in Berlin? With fun parties everywhere? Off course not. Our bar and reception are both open 24/7.

HOW TO FIND THE BEST HOSTEL?

A few criteria can help you find a good hostel. Central location, lively atmosphere and, of course, good online ratings can give you a hint if you're about to book the right hostel. At Amstel House: Looking for a great hostel in Berlin? The Amstel House Hostel Berlin has your back! A mix of fun events, pretty decor, and the friendliest staff, the Amstel House Hostel Berlin has one of the highest review ratings in Berlin and fits into any budget. Take a look at our rooms and pick your favourite. 

Age restriction

AM I TOO OLD TO STAY IN A HOSTEL?

Hostels have long understood that youth is not necessarily a matter of age, but rather of spirit. Nowadays hostels with a maximum age limit are very rare. At Amstel House: Travelers of all generations are welcome to indulge in the hostel experience and unique hospitality of the Amstel House.

CAN I STAY WITH MY KIDS IN A HOSTEL?

Many hostels welcome families nowadays. Some even offer rooms especially for families, as is the case at Amstel House. At the Amstel House: we offer special Family rooms ensuite with single and bunk beds, as well as special children rates. Babies up to the age of three stay for free and kids up to the age of 12 pay only half the daily rate.

ARE MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ALLOWED TO STAY ALONE THE HOSTEL?

Mostly, yes. But parental permission is required. At Amstel House: as in most European hostels, teenagers coming alone must bring a written authorization from their parents containing dates of arrival and departure, as well as a copy of the ID of the parent authorizing it. They are also only allowed to stay in private rooms – and never in shared dorms.

CAN I BRING MY DOG, CAT OR ANY OTHER PET TO THE HOSTEL?

It varies from hostel to hostel. At the Amstel House: due to hygienic reasons, animals are not allowed.

CAN I SMOKE IN THE HOSTEL?

No smoking is allowed inside our building. You can smoke outside in our pretty courtyard.

Hostel Safety

ARE HOSTELS SAFE?

Yes. Hostels are generally quite safe places. But, as paying attention to ones belongings is part of any traveler's daily life, it wouldn't be any different in hostels. Make sure to keep your valuables in safe places and things should be just fine. At Amstel House: Berlin is over all a pretty safe city. So is our neighborhood Moabit. Just to make sure only hostel guests get into the hostel at night our electric door closes after 10pm and can only be opened either by our reception – which is open 24h – or by our guests themselves with their own key-cards.

WHERE CAN I KEEP MY STUFF?

A typical hostel thing are individual lockers, usually placed next to the dorm bed. At the Amstel House: every guest staying in shared dorms has its own locker. Guests can bring their own padlock or acquire one at the reception desk at extra costs. Private rooms are equipped with wardrobe. We also offer a free safe service at the reception for valuables, as well as a luggage room.

CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE?

Most hostels offer a luggage room, where guests can keep their bags before checking in and after checking out. The Amstel House offers this service for free.

What should I bring to a Hostel?

DO I NEED A YOUTH HOSTEL CARD TO STAY IN A HOSTEL?

No. A youth hostel card is not necessary. You must have however a valid ID or passport to check-in.

DO I NEED TO BRING BED SHEETS AND TOWELS?

The vast majority of European hostels offer bed linen and towels. At Amstel House: sheets are included in the daily rate and towels can be rented at the reception.

DO YOU OFFER TOILETRIES?

As a low budget type of accommodation, amenities such as toiletries are usually not available in hostel bathrooms. At the Amstel House: liquid soup are available in the private bathrooms. All kinds of hygienic products – such as shampoo, toothbrush and tampon – can be bought at the reception.

What do hostels provide?

IS BREAKFAST INCLUDED?

It varies from hostel to hostel. At the Amstel House: breakfast is offered at extra costs and you can spontaneously decide for our all-you-can-eat buffet. It includes fruits, salads, yogurt, cold cuts, cheeses, vegetarian and vegan options, scrambled and cooked eggs, different kinds of bread, cereals, honey, jellies and many more. Coffee, different types of tea, juices and hot chocolate are also part of our table and included in the price.

IS THERE FREE WIRELESS INTERNET / WI-FI?

Nowadays most hostels offer free internet. At the Amstel House: Here Wi-Fi is free and available throughout all the hostel facilities, whether in the rooms or common areas.

IS THERE A GUEST KITCHEN?

Communal it’s a very typical hostel attribute. But not all of them offer it. So if you're planning to save some money by cooking at the hostel, it's best to check this out before booking the bed. At the Amstel House: we offer a fully equipped guest kitchen with fridge, oven, stove, microwave and all the kitchen utensils open daily until 11 p.m.

DO YOU OFFER LAUNDRY SERVICE?

Depends of the hostel. At the Amstel House: Yes we do. At the Amstel House you can just give us your load of laundry and we will wash and dry it for you at extra costs. Check all our other services here.

DO YOU HAVE GAMES ROOM?

At the Amstel House Hostel Berlin we have a pool table and we have a complete play room with fuzzball table and ping pong table. We also have fun board games available at the reception.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD AND DRINK OPTIONS DO YOU OFFER?

We serve a nice breakfast buffet Mon-Sat from 7.00-11.00 am and on Sundays and holidays 7.00 – 12.00 o’clock. On Fridays during summer season, we serve one of the best burger BBQ in town. And in our little culinary neighborhood, we have a zillion options to tingle your taste buds. Just let our friendly staff know what you are looking for and we will point you in the right direction. For groups, there are several catering options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Please contact [email protected] for questions regarding group bookings

DO YOU HAVE PARKING SPACES?

Yes. We provide parking space in our courtyard for an additonal fee/ night. Limited space available. So please book in advance. Maximum car length / width / height 4650/1900/2000 mm.

DOES THE HOSTEL OFFER FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS?

Yes. We have an elevator as well as some rooms and bathrooms that give access to people in wheelchairs.

DO YOU OFFER HOSTEL PARTIES & SOCIAL EVENTS?

Yes. During summer we have almost every weekend a concert either in our backyard or at our bar. Also From April to October we offer weekly an all-you-can-eat Burger BBQ.$ Get to know all our hostel services.

How to get to the hostel?

HOW DO I GET TO THE HOSTEL FROM THE AIRPORT?

Detailed descriptions of how to get to the hostel from BER you will find on our location page.

HOW TO GET TO THE HOSTEL FROM THE CENTRAL STATION?

We are also very close to the Hauptbahnhof (Berlin central station). Only a few stops by bus. For more details on how to get to the hostel from the central station please check our location page.

DO YOU OFFER TRANSFER PICKUP SERVICE FROM THE AIPORT TO THE HOSTEL?

No. But berlin has one of the best connected transport systems in the world. Getting to the hostel from any airport is simple. Take a look at our location page for a detailed explanation of how to get to the hostel.

I'M COMING TO BERLIN BY CAR. DO I NEED AN ENVIRONMENTAL STICKER?

Yes. The Berlin center is an environment zone and therefor an environmental sticker is required. Since the Amstel House is located inside this area, if you are coming with your car, you should get one environmental sticker as well.

DO YOU HAVE PARKING SPACE AT THE HOSTEL?

Yes. We provide parking space in our courtyard for an additonal fee/ night. Limited space available. So please book in advance. Maximum car length / width / height 4650/1900/2000 mm.

Hostel check-in and check-out

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-IN?

Check-in starts from 3 p.m.

IF I ARRIVE BEFORE 3 P.M CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT THE HOSTEL?

Yes, we offer a luggage room free of charges for before the check-in and after the check-out.

MY FLIGHT ARRIVES LATE IN BERLIN: WILL THERE BE SOMEONE TO CHECK ME IN?

Yes. Our reception is 24h open and there will be always someone to welcome you in.

WHAT TIME IS CHECK-OUT?

Check-out has to be done until 11 a.m. We also offer a late check-out possible up until 1p.m. for an additional fee per person.

Hostel Payment

CAN I PAY THE RESERVATION WITH CASH UPON ARRIVAL?

No, we only accept cards. However, it is only possible to check-in at the Amstel House with a reservation, which can only be made online. To make a reservation you will need either a PayPal account, so that payment is made immediately, or a credit card.

DO YOU TAKE CREDIT CARDS?

Yes. We accept V-Pay (EC), Visa, MasterCard and America Express.

CAN I PAY WITH PAYPAL?

Yes. It is possible to make the booking online with a PayPal Account on our own website, only.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

Prices at the Amstel House Hostel Berlin always include the bed you booked, free wifi and free bed sheets.  

HOW DO I CANCEL MY RESERVATION?

You can cancel your private reservation by sending us your reservation number and full name to [email protected]. Cancellations made more than 24 hours before date of arrival are free of charge. Cancellations made later and no shows are charged at 100% for the first night.  Other cancellation terms apply for bookings for New Year’s Eve, Marathon Weekend and group bookings.

HOW CAN I CHANGE MY BOOKING?

To change your booking, please e-mail us at [email protected] with your reservation number and name. Please note that booking changes depend on availability and prices may vary depending on the daily rate. If you wish to cancel a booking, please note that you have to do so no later than 24 hours before the arrival date.

Free or Cheap Stay

HOW DO I GET FREE ACCOMMODATION?

It belongs to the Hostel culture a sense of collectivity and exchange. Hostels are usually the most open hosts for bed & service exchange negotiations. At Amstel House: if you have a special talent and some followers you have a chance to stay for free at our hostel. Take a look at our free stay options.

DO YOU ACCEPT VOLUNTEERS IN EXCHANGE FOR ACCOMMODATION?

We don’t work with voluntaries. But we do offer free accommodation in exchange for live music, photograph shoots, cooking classes and other fun staff made by talented people. Check it out.

DO YOU OFFER SPECAIL TRAVEL DEALS?

Yes. We have a whole range of special travel offers. Family rooms, marathons specials, weekend deals, friend’s special and more.

DO YOU OFFER SPECIAL RATES FOR GROUPS?

Yes, we offer special rates for groups with 12 people or more. Prices vary according to season. For more information please contact our group department directly at [email protected].  If the Amstel House FAQ did not answer to all you questions, please contact us per email at [email protected]