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Youth Hostels (YH) are the hostels of the Regional Associations of the Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk (DJH) or other organisations associated with DJH.
The prerequisite for admission to a YH is membership with the DJH or any other organisation of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). Membership may also be acquired on site at Youth Hostels.
Youth Hostels are primarily aimed at young people and families.
Children and groups of young people must be accompanied by at least one person responsible for their supervision.
1. Reservations
1.1 Guests can reserve their stay personally, by telephone, by fax, by mail, by email or online.
1.2 The reservation inquiry should include the following information: name, address, dates of arrival and departure, number of persons (stating their gender), date of birth, membership number (if available), and for families, the age of the children, and any special requests regarding your meals.
1.3 The reservation becomes binding for both parties upon written or verbal consent and/or the signing of a written occupancy contract.
1.4 For families, groups, or for longer stays, a written occupancy contract will be signed.
1.5 Guests without reservations may only stay overnight if vacancies permit the stay.
2. Payment
Payment for a stay in the Youth Hostel is due upon departure at the latest. A deposit may be required. Full particulars are set forth in the occupancy contract which has been signed.
3. Cancellation
3.1 Guests without a written occupancy contract may cancel their booking by telephone. The cancellation must be received by the Youth Hostel before 6:00 pm of the day previous to the planned arrival day.
3.2 Guests with a written occupancy contract must cancel in writing. The cancellation must be received by the Youth Hostel at least eight weeks before the planned arrival unless otherwise stipulated in the occupancy contract. A change in the number of guests must also be communicated in writing at least eight weeks before the planned arrival date.
3.3 The terms for cancelling reservations made within an eight week period before the arrival date are outlined in the next chapter under “Cancellation Payment”. They apply in all cases.
3.4 With respect to guests who have made a reservation, Youth Hostels reserve the right to withdraw from the reservation consent or, respectively, from the written occupancy contract for reasons of unavailability of the services agreed upon and/or stipulated up to four weeks prior to the arrival date. In such a case they are required to inform the booked guests immediately of the unavailability and to reimburse any payments already rendered. Affected guests will receive help in the search for replacement lodgings.
4. Cancellation Payment
4.1 If the cancellation period has not been complied with, or if there is a difference of at least 10 percent between the number of guests booked and the number of guests that actually arrive, or if guests do not arrive at all, a compensation of fifty percent of the fees for all stipulated services per person and day will be claimed by the Youth Hostel, unless the guest proves that a lesser damage or no damage has been incurred.
4.2 If the costs incurred to the Youth Hostel through the withdrawal are shown to be higher than this lump sum, the guest will owe the calculated sum.
4.3 The compensation will be forgone if other guests occupy the stipulated services.
5. Membership
The presentation of a valid membership card is a prerequisite for the use of a Youth Hostel.
6. Membership of Persons
6.1 The membership card can be obtained by all persons with a permanent residence in the Federal Republic of Germany at all DJH membership card issuing offices (also at Youth Hostels and business sites of the DJH Regional Associations).
6.2 Individual guests up to 26 years of age are given the Junior Card. Individual guests above the age of 26 and families receive the Family/27 Plus membership card (FAM/27 Plus). Unmarried couples will be treated on a par with married couples if they share the same place of residence. Each family member can be issued his/her own membership card. Children at full age require their own membership.
6.3 Family membership cards (FAM/27 Plus) entitle cardholders of full age to bring their own or friends' minor children.
6.4 Foreign guests who are not members of an affiliated IYHF organization can obtain the “Interna-tional Guest Card” (Welcome Stamps) in the Youth Hostel.
7. Membership for Organisations
7.1 Schools, youth groups, clubs, associations, foundations, companies, corporations, and other organisations may acquire a corporate membership and will then receive group membership cards. For admission, the conditions stipulated in the DJH charter charter of the DJH Regional Assosciations apply.
7.2 With the group membership card, the group leader is entitled to stay at a Youth Hostel with his/her group. The group membership card does not replace an individual membership. It is not transferable to other institutions or persons.
7.3 A group consists of at least four participants including the group leaders. Group leaders must be at least 16 years of age.
7.4 Group membership cards will not be issued to travel agencies or other businesses that organise travel on a commercial basis. Consequently a group that has made a reservation through an agent requires its own membership.
8. Prices
The basis for the prices is the current price list of the respective Regional Association and/or the Youth Hostel at the time the reservation inquiry is received, unless other prices are stipulated in the occupancy contract. Price lists are available at the DJH Regional Associations and at Youth Hostels.
9. Liability
9.1 Guests who incur damages to buildings or inventory through their own fault will be held liable for damages according to the legal regulations (including educational staff and organisers).
9.2 Liability for the loss, theft or damage of valuables can only be claimed if the Hostel managers or their representatives were expressly entrusted with the safekeeping of valuables, unless the DJH, its agents or servants have caused the loss or damage as a result of gross negligence. In this case, the legal regulations are applicable.
9.3 The Youth Hostel cannot be held liable for damages to motor vehicles (contents included) and bicycles on Youth Hostel grounds, unless the damages were caused deliberately or through gross negligence on the part of the DJH or its agents or servants.
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These conditions of use / general business conditions for Youth Hostels were adopted by decision of the General Assembly on 19 November 2005 in Hannover.
