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Youth Hostels (YH) are hostels of the Regional Associations of the Deutsches Jugendherbergswerk
(DJH) or other organizations associated with DJH.
The prerequisite for admission in a YH is membership in the DJH or in another organization of the International
Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). It can also be acquired on-site in the Youth Hostel.
Youth Hostels are primarily aimed at young people and families.
Children and young people�s groups must be accompanied by at least one person responsible for
their supervision.
1. Reservations
1.1 Guests can reserve their stay in person, by telephone, by fax, by mail, by e-mail or online.
1.2 The reservation inquiry should include the following: name, address, dates of arrival and departure,
number of persons stating the gender, date of birth, membership number (if available), and
for families, the age of the children, and meal requests.
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 the occupancy situation permits it.
2. Payment
Payment for a stay in the Youth Hostel is due at the latest when leaving. A deposit may be required.
Full particulars are regulated by 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 date as long as nothing
different is 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 For cancellations of reservations made within the eight-week period before the arrival date, the
regulations outlined in the next chapter under �Cancellation Payment� will be applicable 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 reduction by at least ten percent
with respect to the guests who were booked and those who arrive, or if guests do not arrive
at all, a compensation of fifty percent of 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 Association).
6.2 Individual guests up to 26 years old are given the Junior Card. For individual guests who are older
than 26 and for families there is the Family/27 Plus membership card (FAM/27 Plus). Non-married
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 who are of age require
their own membership.
6.3 Family membership cards (FAM/27 Plus) entitle cardholders who are of age to bring with them
their own minor children or minor children who are friends.
6.4 Foreign guests who are not members of an affiliated IYHF organization can obtain the �International
Guest Card� (Welcome Stamps) in the Youth Hostel.
7. Membership of Organizations
7.1 Schools, youth-groups, clubs, associations, foundations, firms, corporations, and other organizations
acquire the corporate membership and thereby receive group membership cards. For admission,
the designations regulated by the charter of the DJH and of the DJH Regional Associations
are applicable.
7.2With the group membership card, the group leader can stay overnight in a Youth Hostel with a
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 members including 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 organize
participation in travel on a commercial basis. Also for reservations made through an agent, the
travelling group 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 of receipt of the reservation inquiry, as long as no 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, through their own fault, incur damages on buildings or inventory will be held liable for
damages according to the legal regulations (educators and organizers included).
9.2 Liability for the loss, theft or damage of valuables can only be claimed if the Hostel leaders or their
representatives were expressly entrusted with their safe-keeping, unless the DJH, its agents or
servants have caused the loss or damage as a result of gross negligence. In this case also the legal
regulations are applicable.
9.3 For damage to motor vehicles (contents included) and bicycles on Youth Hostel grounds, the
Youth Hostel will not be liable as long as the damages were not caused deliberately or through
gross negligence on the part of the DJH or its agents or servants.
These conditions of use / general business conditions for Youth Hostels were adopted by decision of the General
Assembly on 19 November 2005 in Hannover.