The Hostelz.com Review
Backpackers Lucerne offers great accommodation, great prices, and a wonderful location. Be prepared for several rules and restrictions during your stay -- they are intended to improve everyone's stay but they can be a bit inhibiting.
The Location
Situated right on the water, Backpackers is a ten-minute walk to the train station and a thirteen-minute walk to the Old Town. The hostel is also within easy walking distance of two grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants.
Rooms and Bathrooms
This hostel has several rooms, many with a terrace, all with community showers and bathrooms. Each room is equipped with lockers with assigned keys. Be aware that the rooms do not lock and the larger bags don't fit into the locker. The beds are nice, with linens provided and towels for rent. The lighting in the room is poor with few bed lights -- if you read at night, you should bring a book light. Also, there are few plug-ins in the rooms and lobby area. If you need to charge something be sure to grab a seat early and share with those around you.
Each hallway shares two showers and one male and one female toilet, however, there is rarely a wait for either. They also have extra sinks and mirrors in the hall for you to do your quick cleaning and primping before heading out to see the beautiful city.
Common Spaces
Backpackers has two fully equipped kitchens (one oven), fondue pots, and plenty of seating. The atmosphere is very relaxed with people lounging around taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi, book exchange, or community games and puzzles. There is always someone available during the day at the desk but you may have to hunt them down while they are cleaning or doing laundry. The laundry service is a reasonable price, especially considering they do it all for you.
Since the cost of eating out is so expensive everyone tends to cook their dinners and surprisingly there never seems to be a line, everyone works well together, bringing a family atmosphere into the rooms. They have bikes and rollerblades for rent on nice days and towels to rent if you want to lay out by the water. Wi-Fi is free and they have one computer available for internet use for a small fee.
Summary
The staff are very helpful when planning your day trips and have good, money-saving suggestions for those on a tight budget. They also can offer nicer options for those who want to treat themselves to a good Swiss meal or chocolate. They prefer you pay in cash when you arrive but you can pay with a card for an extra fee.
The Location
Situated right on the water, Backpackers is a ten-minute walk to the train station and a thirteen-minute walk to the Old Town. The hostel is also within easy walking distance of two grocery stores, cafes, and restaurants.
Rooms and Bathrooms
This hostel has several rooms, many with a terrace, all with community showers and bathrooms. Each room is equipped with lockers with assigned keys. Be aware that the rooms do not lock and the larger bags don't fit into the locker. The beds are nice, with linens provided and towels for rent. The lighting in the room is poor with few bed lights -- if you read at night, you should bring a book light. Also, there are few plug-ins in the rooms and lobby area. If you need to charge something be sure to grab a seat early and share with those around you.
Each hallway shares two showers and one male and one female toilet, however, there is rarely a wait for either. They also have extra sinks and mirrors in the hall for you to do your quick cleaning and primping before heading out to see the beautiful city.
Common Spaces
Backpackers has two fully equipped kitchens (one oven), fondue pots, and plenty of seating. The atmosphere is very relaxed with people lounging around taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi, book exchange, or community games and puzzles. There is always someone available during the day at the desk but you may have to hunt them down while they are cleaning or doing laundry. The laundry service is a reasonable price, especially considering they do it all for you.
Since the cost of eating out is so expensive everyone tends to cook their dinners and surprisingly there never seems to be a line, everyone works well together, bringing a family atmosphere into the rooms. They have bikes and rollerblades for rent on nice days and towels to rent if you want to lay out by the water. Wi-Fi is free and they have one computer available for internet use for a small fee.
Summary
The staff are very helpful when planning your day trips and have good, money-saving suggestions for those on a tight budget. They also can offer nicer options for those who want to treat themselves to a good Swiss meal or chocolate. They prefer you pay in cash when you arrive but you can pay with a card for an extra fee.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2010
Their Description
Backpackers Lucerne Details
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Backpackers Lucerne Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Clean; kid friendly; great local information; wonderful owner, Marc A beautiful walk along the lake and boat docks into town -- it only seems a little far away from the center the first time then it's an easy and interesting walk. We visited with our two grandsons ages 8 and 10 and they had a great time there too. They loved the little boxes of super sugared American cereal that can be bought there for breakfast -- they live in French Switzerland and have nothing like that there. Our room had a terrace and view out over the park and the lake -- it was very chilly in January so we only looked through the glass doors but we look forward to returning in a warmer season. Yes there are rules but I loved that. No one wants to cook in a dirty kitchen or shower with a floor flooded with water -- don't understand why people would complain about this. The staff spoke amazing English and Marc (Mark?) the owner was especially nice and helpful. This was our first time traveling with the grandkids and staying in a hostel and it was a great experience. After 2 more cities -- Bern and Zurich and 2 more Backpackers the Lucerne Backpackers still gets all our stars. — Liz and Tom , USA (2011-01-26) Won't find better! This is an excellent hostel. It is very well run and well equipped. The staff are very friendly and happy and always willing to help. The dorms have lockers, the beds don't squeak, the shower has plenty of hanging space, and the entire hostel is kept extremely clean. The location is fantastic with all rooms having a balcony, the lake is straight across the road. I've never stayed in a better run hostel -- the staff and owners should be very proud. — Angela , Australia (2008-09-02) What a great place! Hands down, Lucerne and Backpackers Hostel was our favorite stop on our two-week whirlwind European vacation. The hostel has tons of rules, but they are enforced with friendly reminders and respect. After staying in many different hostels, I was relieved to find one that is so well-run, well organised, and clean. It is close to everything of interest, and one has only to step out the door to find a peaceful walk by the lake. — Robin , USA (2008-06-24) Holy moly! This hostel was amazing! what a welcomed relief after a week of staying in boring HI hostels! Friendly, informed staff, amazing kitchen facilities (even has an oven!), good size rooms with great views of the lake, clean bathrooms, large common area with games (try the puzzle of the world!), and a book exchange. Not too far of a walk from the train station, gorgeous city. The hostel just has a really great atmosphere, it seems like the workers/owners really care for the hostel. — Kathy , canada (2008-06-12) Super Hostel! If you're going to be in Lucerne, stay here. End of story. The staff is extremely nice. The place is pristine and it's relatively easy to find and not terribly far from the old city. It also does have online booking. The website is listed and is easily navigated. The place has a great atmosphere -- one of my favorite hostels in Europe. Internet is pretty cheap. No breakfast. Lockers and towels provided. — Garrett , USA (2007-07-03) This is one of the best places I've stayed at in Europe. Rooms are spotless, bathrooms and kitchens are very clean, staff are friendly and helpful and it's within walking distance of the train station and city center. Definitely the place to go if you're staying in Lucerne. — Steve (2005-10-15) I stayed at this hostel in 2000; it was fantastic! Amazing views, so clean and spotless. It sounds like it is still as great as it was in 2000. I'd stay here again, without a doubt. I don't think they have adjoining bathrooms, they are all common, but spotless. — Holli (2005-09-30) Stay at this hostel!!! It was the best place we stayed at during our 5-month trip. The place is clean, each room only sleeps 4 people, it has a handy kitchen and best of all the staff/owners are amazing! They know how to make you feel right at home and would do anything for you. So thanks guys...hopefully we will see you soon!!! — Min (2005-09-29) This place was amazing. We were planning to stay at another hostel in Lucerne, but we ended up liking this place so much that we ended up cancelling our reservation at our other hostel and stayed here instead. We were here in June 2005. We actually got into Lucerne with no place to stay, and we were directed to this place. The staff was amazing. The place was very clean. The reception is closed during part of the afternoon, but you should be out seeing the city and mountains anyway. The common room was awesome. If you go to Lucerne you should really stay here. — J Dub (2005-07-21) Great hostel with very friendly staff. One of the cleanest hostels I've stayed at. — Jean (2005-06-15) My husband and I stayed here when we were backpacking in June. Great place and really clean and nice. Friendly staff and very cozy. We could use the fridge and stove, which is really convenient for budget travelers. — Anonymous (2005-06-11)FANTASIC HOSTEL! We ran across it by accident. Lake view from the window of our room. The shower was nicer than the one at my house. Stay at this hostel! — Anonymous (2005-04-14)
I loved this hostel! The staff were very friendly and more helpful than the staff at most other hostels I traveled to. It was also in a great location, within walking distance from a grocery store, the boat docks, and the town center. — Jeanette (2004-10-17)