Balmer's is one of the most well-known fun/party hostels in the world, and it lives up to that reputation. It holds about 350 people, in two main areas -- a cabin area and a tent area. There didn't seem to be quite enough bathrooms and showers for everyone, yet somehow there was never a wait. Rooms range in size from two to thirty-six beds in a room, so be prepared to be in a crowded space. There are, however, many common areas so people are mostly in their rooms only for sleeping.
Outside the rooms, there is quite a large area with picnic tables and lounge chairs. There is also a giant chess board, a ping pong table, and a pool table available. There is a resteraunt with a limited menu, or if you feel like cooking there is a functional kitchen available for rent (1 euro for 20 minutes), and a dining room attached, where they show a movie nightly. Nearby, another room has laundry and internet facilites. And of course, downstairs is a bar that can get pretty rockin'.
The highlight of Balmer's is the activities that are available. They offer skydiving, paragliding, white water rafting, canyoning, hikes, and more. Prices are not the cheapest (Switzerland as a whole is expensive), but worth it for a great adventure.
The staff are very helpful, and they even offer shuttles to and from the train station for free. Breakfast is free in the morning, consisting only of a couple pieces of bread and some jam, and some coffee and tea. They do, however, have more extensive breakfasts available for purchase.
If you're looking to have a good time at a social hostel, this is definitely a good choice.
— Exklusive Hostelz.com Übersicht
September 2004
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