Hi all! I am Niko from Greece. As I'm very careful when it comes to my money, I'm made my research before booking my hostels online. Yes, hostels.247 seems to be a good choice. Hostelz.com and Hostelmania seem quite serious as well. As for Hostelworld, it is a complete rip off. People, please read this!
Hostelworld can be very dangerous for your credit card...

Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: zoebanford @ 03:06 24th Nov 06
I have recently made a booking with hostelworld.com, the money has been taken from my account although i have no booking . I have found it impossible to log onto my account via their homepage. I have checked with the hostel and they have no record of my stay.
I have tried numerous times to e-mail using the address below and like others cannot locate a telephone number. Hostelworld have not replied or been in touch with me at all. I am e*treamly worried and $100 down.
RE: Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: neilb @ 16:55 3rd May 07
I've recently had a problem with a booking not showing up in myaccount. So I looked for some contact information to either phone or email about the problem. Forget it, I looked everywhere and couldn't find an email address or phone number. The only thing you get under 'contact us' is a FAQ. If your question isn't answered there then tough luck I guess. I've just emailed the address listed above. I sure hope that works.
RE: Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: James Riedl @ 21:46 25th May 07
I have also tried to find a phone number in order to resolve a nightmare with one of their hotels in New York. It is impossible to get in contact with anyone. I will give them through the weekend to contact me. I will then take this matter to the BBB and the internet travel community.
RE: Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: sshetty1225 @ 10:50 9th Nov 07
Yes Hostel world is a bledy rip pff....
Recently i had booked a hostel through hostel world in London, the very ne*t day i get a reply from the hostel receptionist (Melina) saying there are no bookings on the particular date i had selected.
But also at the same day i got the confirmation mail from hostelworld saying the hostel booking is confirmed.
This is just insane, the hostelworld doesnt reveal their telephone numbers and i was left nowhere.
I had paid a deposit of 5.5pounds, and now if i have to get it back i have no option without contacting them. Hostelworld is a big cheat, they are stealing money from the customers just by this way.
Finally i was forced to cancel my bookings so that atleast i get back the rest of the money apart from the deposit paid.
Even they dont reply to the queries on time.
I will suggest people not to go for bookings through Hostel world.
RE: Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: vanelic @ 18:59 2nd Dec 07
I agree with you all. Hostelworld is a real rip off. I booked a hostel in NYC, paid deposit and then several days later received an e-mail from the hostel saying that they overbooked and that I would have to find a solution on my own. I contacted hostelworld through their website and received a reply (wow!!!) saying that they contacted a hostel and that a hostel will be contacting me in the ne*t 2 days. Still no e-mail received from the hostel, and when I contacted hostelworld again (several times), no reply from them either. Very unprofessional. They stole the money and that's it. I used them for several years but no more. Goodbye hostelworld! There are better websites out there!

PS - I'll be leaving negative comments about you on all travel forums... Hope other people won't be ripped off by you.
RE: Is Hostel World a rip off ???
Submitted By: elainer @ 21:26 27th Jan 08
i've e*perienced similar problems... even though i bought cancellation protection i wasn't credited the correct amount on a cancellation. i tried several times to e*plain the problem via e-mail, but the replies i received dis****ed complete incomp****ce, and no one would provide me with a telephone number so that i could speak with a representative. i ended up losing $60.

Elainer end up loosing $60 by using Hostelword: others have lost way way more. That's what I've read. Make your own research. You'll see.