Dublin, Spanish hostels top list of most liked

What hostels are the most well liked in Europe? Hostelworld has come up with its top 10 after asking guests to grade its hostels on character, security, location, staff, cleanliness and fun.

Three are in Dublin, Ireland: John Gogarty’s, 18-21 Anglesea St., www.olivergogartys.com; Barnacles, 19 Temple Lane, www.barnacles.ie; and Globetrotters, 46/48 Lower Gardiner St., ireland.iol.ie/globetrotters/accomm.htm, in a centrally located historic home. All three provide free breakfast.

Three others are in Spain: In Madrid, Barbieri International Hostel, 15 Calle Barbieri, www.barbierihostel.com. In Barcelona are Itaca Hostel, 21 Calle Ripoll, www.itacahostel.com, across from the cathedral, and Hosteria Grau, 27 Calle Ramelleres, www.hostalgrau.com.

Finishing the list are Gulliver’s House, 36 Via Palermo, Rome, www.gullivershouse.com; Amsterdam’s Flying Pig Hostel, 100 Nieuwendijk, www.flyingpig.nl; Hotel des Ecoles, 19 Rue Monsieur le Prince, Paris, www.hostelworld.com/hostels/hoteldesecoles; and Wombat’s City Hostel, 6 Grangasse, Vienna, Austria, www.wombats.at.

Bakpak Travelers Guide is looking for someone to tour Europe this summer and help update its travel guide and e-book. This is the second year for its travel essay competition, sponsored by Rail Europe and Hostels of Europe.

Travelers have 250 to 500 words to persuade a reader to visit the city of their choice (worldwide). The winner will receive round-trip airfare to Europe, a $500 stipend and a one-month assignment to help research the guide. The assignment includes a 30-day Eurail Flexipass, 30 nights’ hostel accommodation and $25 per diem.

For details log on to www.bakpakguide.com. There’s a $20 nonrefundable entry fee. The deadline is June 15.

Lucy Izon, a Toronto-based freelance writer, is author of “Izon’s Backpacker Journal.” Her Internet site is www.izon .com.