Vaud Hostels

I backpacked around Europe for six weeks last year with a friend, and Gryon was by far our favourite place. Even if you plan on staying there a day, you will stay for a week.

If you are in Lausanne, go see the Olympic Museum. It is awesome.

Lausanne is a beautiful city, filled with young people, mostly university students. I definitely recommend going there, and the nightlife is fun as well.

Leysin is the best place in the world -- a wonderful little place to be.

Gryon … Its an awsome place. If you plan to stay for a couple of days watch out... it will suck you in for weeks!

Gryon … Gyron is amazing -- not to be missed, in fact. It's one of the Swiss gems.

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … I have missed it terribly since I left 4 years ago and many of the other backpackers whom I met there have all kept in contact with each other. It is a great place with an amazing vibe.

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … After a 4 1/2 month trip through Western Europe and Prague, this hostel ranks #1. (Close runners-up are the Ballybeag Hostel in Ventry, Ireland (Dingle Peninsula) and the Circus Hostel in Berlin.) This hostel is truly the homiest, cosiest, cleanest, and most beautiful hostel I stayed at in all my travels. Not to mention VERY reasonably priced at 12 Euros per night. You will not regret coming to peaceful and beautiful Gryon, Switzerland and staying here. The town of Gryon is very small, but the hostel itself has a great social life, especially on the sundeck and around the fire at nights :-)

Lausanne Guesthouse & Backpacker in Lausanne … This hostel is an excellent place to stay at. It has a great location near the train station, and has a great kitchen and internet access, and superb toilets! The place itself is beautiful and spotlessly clean. There are nice views from the room. My only complaint is that it gets noisy when the train passes by!

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … I spent a week there in November. It's like Hotel California, you never want to check out. Don't miss the hot baths trips.

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … This is by far the best hostel I have ever stayed at! You cannot come to Switzerland and not stay at this hostel! I was only planning on staying two nights and I stayed for a week because I just never wanted to leave. The atmosphere is what makes it so great. It rained the whole time I was there and I still loved it. The people I met were like my family. There is so much to do, even though the town is so small. It is also so reasonably priced. I just left there and I already want to go back. If you never stay at this hostel you are missing out. I will definitely be back to the Swiss Alps Retreat!

Yoba Riviera Lodge in Vevey … Maybe it was the time of year (Nov. '02), but this hostel was awesome. It was almost empty, and we got a big old room with a fantastic view of mountains and the lake and the market across the street. It has great 70s futuristic furniture in the common area, and a great, small winter mountain town feel, great for us Canucks! The country is ridiculously expensive, so take advantage of their coupon book, and supermarket wine and beer. The staff are tremendously helpful and kitchen has everything you need. There's Internet, too. HINT: the Swiss love chocolate. There's a not-well-guarded bowl at reception. Enjoy.

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … Well what can I say. Although I've neglected Chalet Martin for the last couple of years, I have a lot to thank it for. I've had so many great times in Gryon and met so many fantastic people -- including one unlucky Australian who I'm now planning to marry. The place is more relaxing than you can prepare yourself for, and seems to attract a good mix of people. I'm now old (read 26) and well out of the backpacking lifestyle but that won't stop me going back -- it's more like a second home than a hostel.

Yoba Riviera Lodge in Vevey … We wanted to go to Montreux for just a night during the Jazz Festival, and most places were full but we called Rivera Lodge the night before and they had space. We were very surprised at how nice this hostel was. You get a Rivera card which gives you free buses, trams, and other transportation as well as discounts (we used it to get an amazing price on Chateau Chillon). Good location, clean, very nice.

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … I traveled Europe for 3 months -- Chalet Martin was BY FAR the best memory of my friends and I! We're still in touch with some of the friends we made and miss relaxing on the porch!

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … I stayed here 1.5 years ago, and had an amazing time. One of the most memorable experiences of a 2 month trip. I've sent my brother and a another friend that way, and I am going back myself in a few weeks. An incredible, unspoiled, gorgeous place. Do everything you can to make it here!

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … BEST EVER HOSTEL! We booked for two nights and stayed seven! The only reason we left is because we had little money left, and we needed to get home! The people here are REALLY nice, and the scenery is incredible. If you want to meet other travelers then come here. Even the shyest person will make many friends. After just a few days, we made some friends whom we are already arranging to meet again. It's just that kind of place. Its a definite must-do thing!

Swiss Alps Retreat (Chalet Martin) in Gryon … One of the most amazingly scenic places I've ever been! Stayed here when I was backpacking in 1993. We saw the flier for it when we were in hostel in Geneva and thought, why not? When we arrived it was December and it was in the middle of a white-out blizzard. We walked down a tiny snow-covered street to this cozy hostel. When I awoke the next morning, the view out the window next to my bunkbed was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! We were only going to stay one night and instead stayed three. We spent our days walking around and taking pictures of the lovely little chalets and the snow-covered mountains. We also made our way over to the small ski town of Villars. It is still one of the highlights of all of my travelling. Don't miss this experience!