Jugendherberge Montreux-Territet

Good quality youth hostel beside Lake Lausanne

As frequent travellers will have come to know and expect pretty much everything in Switzerland runs to time and efficiency and this moderately sized 112 bed Youth Hostel is a typical example. Clean and functional, in a nice spot beside the lake and easily accessible by bus No 1 or a pleasant 20-30 minute walk along the lake from the Train station or Tourist Office.

Breakfast is included and evening meals are available if booked by a certain time late afternoons. As with all the Swiss youth hostels Ive stayed theres a good little shop with souvenirs such as T-Shirts, cups, caps and wallets and the essentials such as comparatively priced selection of Swiss Army knives.

I tend not to book in advance but if you have a festival or special event that youre heading for its a good idea to book in advance or at least call to suss out how bookings and dates are looking. If you do know the dates you need then defiinitely book, if youre not sure then at least phone the day before to let them know you thinking of coming and at least the morning of the day youre wanting to stay, preferably not though if its a Friday or Saturday as weekends are popular with school groups. Unless its during the week its best not to assume you can just rock on up in the afternoon or evening to get a bed as usually by then its too late!

For a popular travel destination as Switzerland and with its year round attractions and acitivities it doesnt cease to surprise me why many of the youth hostels actually have a 2 to 4 month closing period over the winter. This youth hostel here in Montreux generally closes from mid November to mid February - which is a bother for not being able to use the place to stay at when heading for the popular Hot Air Balloon festival each January in Chateau d'Oex (which does have a youth hostel but only 50 beds).