This thread is here to keep track of where we've stayed along the way and how we got there. We will update it with each stop.

This is part 1 of the accommodation thread and includes the USA and Europe.

*********** Accommodation USA and Europe ************

* London, England

26 September 2011 to 3 October 2011

Comments: exact same as before

* Budapest, Hungary

24 September 2011 to 26 September 2011

Hotel Palazzo Zichy

Comments: Incredible hotel that is the top rated hotel on trip advisor. Probably more focused as a business hotel but not detail was left overlooked. Staff and feedback from hotel was incredible.

Cost: EUR 98/twin room/night (about USD 131)

* Munich, Germany

22 September 2011 to 24 September 2011

Wombats City Hostel

Comments: Nice hostel with cool vibe, bar and outdoor chill area. Very busy cause of Oktoberfest but security and control was maintained. Great place to stay in great location for Oktoberfest. Price was definitely hiked for the festival.

Cost: EUR 70/person in 6 man dorm en suite/night (about USD 94)

* Contiki, Europe, Road to Athens

21 September 2011 to 22 September 2011

Athens Center Square (Athens, Greece)

19 September 2011 to 21 September 2011

Divani Corfu Palace (Corfu, Greece)

18 September 2011 to 19 September 2011

The Jolly Hotel (Igoumenitsa, Greece)

17 September 2011 to 18 September 2011

Giosue a Mare Hotel (Sorrento, Italy)

16 September 2011 to 17 September 2011

Hotel Regio Rome (Rome, Italy)

14 September 2011 to 16 September 2011

Auto Park Hotel Florence (Florence, Italy)

12 September 2011 to 14 September 2011

Base Hotel Venice (Venice, Italy)

10 September 2011 to 12 September 2011

Pension Lukas KG (Hopfgarten, Austria)

9 September 2011 to 10 September 2011

Azimut Hotel Munich City Ost (Munich, Germany)

8 September 2011 to 9 September 2011

Lowengraben Jail Hotel (Lucerne, Switzerland)

6 September 2011 to 8 September 2011

Kyriad Hotel Porte D'Ivry Hotel (Paris, France)

Comments: This was a Time Out Contiki meaning that the accommodation was all hotels. The hotels were generally pretty good. In major cities (Paris, Munich, Italy) the hotels were far from the centre of the city. In the smaller towns, the hotels were well located in the centre of the city.

* Granada, Spain

2 September 2011 to 6 September 2011

White Nest Hostel - Granada

Comments: Really cool hostel. Great chill area and chilled atmosphere. Also arranges excellent tapas crawls (pub crawls) and other events. Staff were brilliant, Very well located as well.

Cost: EUR 21/person in 4 man dorm/night (about USD 28)

EUR 60/twin room en suite/night (about USD 80)

* Valencia, Spain

29 August 2011 to 2 September 2011

AC Hotel Valencia

Comments: Great, funky business hotel. Staff were friendly. Located in the business district which is a bit farther out from the old town - which may be a better area to stay for touring. Turned out to be much cheaper than staying in a hostel over the La Tomatina period and was easy to access the festival in Bunol from Valencia.

Cost: EUR 70/twin room/night (about USD 94)

* Barcelona, Spain

26 August 2011 to 29 August 2011

Casa Gracia Barcelona

Comments: Cool hostel. Very basic rooms. Decent chill area. Friendly and helpful staff. Location was a bit far away from Las Ramblas which is where we would have preferred to stay but it is close to the subway.

Cost: EUR 32/person in 4 man dorm en suite/night (about USD 43)

* Vienna, Austria

22 August 2011 to 26 August 2011

Wombats City Hostel Vienna - at the Nachtmarkt

Comments: Incredible hostel. Probably the best we've stayed at to date. Only problem was that there was no air-con and the fan was useless for the ridiculous heat that Vienna was experiencing. Location seemed pretty good but we didn't do too much to really know. The showers were amazing.

Cost: EUR 22/person in 4 man dorm en suite/night (about USD 30)

* Szeged, Hungary

19 August 2011 to 22 August 2011

Apathy Youth Hostel

Comments: Actually a university dormitory that seemed to have been converted into a hostel for the tournament.

Cost: EUR 40/triple room/night (about USD 29)

* Budapest, Hungary

15 August 2011 to 19 August 2011

7x24 Central Hostel

Comments: Decent little hostel in the heart of the Jewish Quarter (which is where all the restaurants, bars and clubs are that the locals go to, so a really good location). No vibe here and oddly there was hardly anyone at reception though you could phone them whenever you needed them. Our room was really great - large, with 4 single beds, ensuite bathroom, table/chairs, and a foosball table. Plus there was free laundry.

Cost: HUF 20'000/4 sleeper private room ensuite/night (about USD 105)

* Liverpool, England

14 August 2011 to 15 August 2011

Base2Stay

Comments: Great new hotel. Voted best hotel in Liverpool. Very close to the Ibis but a few blocks closer to the shops, restaurants and nightlife (and a few blocks further from the docks).

Cost: GBP 79/3 bed room/night (about USD 130)

* Liverpool, England

12 August 2011 to 14 August 2011

Ibis Hotel City Centre

Comments: Decent basic business hotel. Good location and across the road from the docks. Close to all the bars, clubs, nightlife and restaurants and the shopping area.

Cost: Unknown (part of sports package)

* Paris, France

8 August 2011 to 12 August 2011

Vintage Hostel

Comments: Very basic hostel and rooms were literally beds and walls and air conditioner. Had a decent atmosphere as there is a large common room by the entrance to the hostel. Its located in the Montemarte district of Paris and about 2 short blocks from the nearest metro station. Given the size of Paris, the metro is needed to get around so staying close to one is an advantage. It is probably better to stay on the left bank though - somewhere closer to the Eifel Tower if possible.

Cost: EUR 38/single bed in 3 man dorm/night (about USD 55)

* Prague, Czech Republic

4 August 2011 to 8 August 2011

St Christophers @ The Mosaic House

Comments: Incredible hostel. Possibly the perfect hostel. New and modern and somewhere between a hostel and a hotel. Great vibe (even have live bands playing) and really awesome ultra-modern rooms. Location isn't bad and its about a 15 min walk to the square in middle of old town.

Cost: CZK 2600/private twin room/night (about USD 155)

* Stockholm, Sweden

2 August 2011 to 4 August 2011

Mosebacke Hostel

Comment: Brand new hostel that is pretty funky and modern. Great rooms for sleeping cause they don't have windows (not as bad as it sounds…think about no sunlight when you're trying to sleep). Located in downtown (Sodermalm) which is a more funky, allsorts crowd area.

Cost: SEK 795/twin private room/night (about USD 125)

* Stockholm, Sweden

31 July 2011 to 2 August 2011

Best Hostel Old Town Skeppsbron

Comment: Nice hostel with nice sized rooms and restrooms/bathrooms. Great location in the middle of Stockholm and in old town or Gamla Stan (where all the historical sites are) and also making both uptown (Ostermalm) and downtown (Sodermalm) accessible. No hostel vibe though.

Cost: SEK 720/twin private room/night (about USD 115)

* Copenhagen, Denmark

27 July 2011 to 31 July 2011

Generator Hostel

Comments: Great location right by one of the best streets for nightlife, one of the main squares, the main shopping street and near the water. This hostel was incredible. It is very new and really equipped to be modern and suited to backpackers. It was probably the best hostel we've ever stayed at.

Cost: DKK 525/twin room/night (about USD 100)

* Rotterdam, Netherlands

25 July 2011 to 27 July 2011

ROOM Hostel Rotterdam

Comments: Cool, authentic hostel with a chilled vibe, themed evenings and helpful staff. Clean and comfortable but showers had no place to put your stuff and were very small. Good location near the docks and a little walk from the city centre.

Cost: EUR 24/person/6 man dorm/night (about USD 30)

* Amsterdam, Netherlands

22 July 2011 to 25 July 2011

NH Museum Quarter

Comments: Very nice corporate style hotel. In the museum area that is about a 20 minute walk to Dam Square.

Cost: EUR 80/twin room/night (about USD 100)

* London, England

14 July 2011 to 22 July 2011

Comments: Stayed with family and friends in Golder's Green (one of the more Jewish neighborhoods) and Primrose Hill (quaint neighborhood that is a bit closer to the city than Golder's). Everything is easily accessible by one of the best public transport systems in the world.

* Dublin, Ireland

11 July 2011 to 14 July 2011

Arlington Hotel Temple Bar

Comments: Rooms weren't as good as we were expecting, but they were comfortable enough and did their job. Every night the hotel has a traditional Irish dancing show and/or live music which is actually a well known attraction in Dublin - so this was a bonus. The hotel also has a night club but it wasn't open on the nights that we were there.

Cost: EUR 43/twin room/night (about USD 62)

* Oxegen Music Festival, Punchestown, Ireland

7 July 2011 to 11 July 2011

Pod Pads (Luxury/Green campsite)

Comments: Feel like you camping again but this time in a wooden tent. If you want to avoid the younger and more rowdy crowds in the general camp sites and if you want to avoid setting up your own tent then pay the premium for the luxury site…its worth it and its more secure.

Cost: EUR 130 for the 2 sleeper pod/night (about USD 169)

* Reykjavik, Iceland

3 July 2011 to 6 July 2011

Reykjavik Backpackers

Comments: Stayed in a 4 sleeper dorm that was comfortable and clean. Bathrooms and restrooms were individual and very good. Staff were fantastic: helpful, friendly and keen to ensure the hostel had a good vibe.

Cost: ISK 3990/person per night (about USD 40.00)

* Manhattan, New York

1 July 2011 to 3 July 2011

Holiday Inn 57th Street

Comments: Very nice hotel in west midtown. Very well located and central but not really close to a subway.

Cost: $197/per twin queen bed room per night

* Bahamas

27 June 2011 to 1 July 2011

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Comments: Awesome mid-week cruise around the Bahamas for 4 days. Went to Freeport (Great Bahamas Island), Cay Island (Cruise lines private island) and Nassau. This cruise line is definitely more family orientated with the majority of passengers being families with younger kids or retired folk. All food was included. No drinks were included.

Cost: $800/person for a twin bed ocean view room

* Miami, Florida

24 June 2011 - 27 June 2011

Comments: Stayed with friends in South Beach Miami. A great location for tourists, close to the beach and all the sights and sounds of South Beach.

* Orlando, Florida

22 June 2011 - 24 June 2011

Comments: Stayed with friends right near the university. This was a good spot. The city is very spread out though and a car would be recommended.

* New Orleans, Louisiana

20 June 2011 - 22 June 2011

Quality Inn & Suites

Comments: Extremely friendly and helpful staff. Rooms were typically motel but clean and comfortable. Also quite well located and only about 5 short blocks from Bourbon St.

Cost: $113/room for twin queen room

* Austin, Texas

17 June 2011 - 20 June 2011

Marriot Courtyard Downtown

Comments: We treated ourselves on this one. Very nice, comfortable business-type hotel. Excellently located only two blocks away from 6th Street and very close to ….. on 5th Street. We chose location over price on this one.

Cost: $207/room for twin room

* Santa Barbara, California

16 June 2011 - 17 June 2011

Oasis Inn

Comments: Typical motel. If we were to go again, we would rather stay closer to the beach end of State Street - which is where all the restaurants. bars and nightlife is.

Cost: $76/room for twin queen room

* Santa Cruz, California

15 June 2011 - 16 June 2011

Super8 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Comments: Typical motel located very close to the boardwalk and walkable distance to …. Street. If we were to go again, we would rather stay closer to …. Street if there is anything.

Cost: $110/room for twin queen room

* San Francisco, California

12 June 2011 - 15 June 2011

USA Hostel (www.usahostels.com)

Comments: Awesome hostel that lived up to its awarded best hostel in North America status. Hostel is well located near Union Square and has brilliant amenities: cinema, chill/games room, library…

Cost: $88/room for economy room (on first floor so bit noisier, but not unbearable) with en-suite bathroom

* San Francisco, California

10 June 2011 - 12 June 2011

San Francisco International Hostel

Comments: Rooms wasn't fantastic and didn't feel 100% clean, though it was bearable. There is a cool vibe here and they have their own "nightclub". Well located near Union Square in downtown.

Cost: $110/room for private twin room with en-suite bathroom

* San Diego, California

7 June 2011 - 10 June 2011

USA Hostel (www.usahostels.com)

Comments: Great hostel in great location in the Gaslamp district of downtown. Clean and comfortable with very friendly staff. Daily organized activities and dinners.

Cost: $72/room for two bed private room with shared bathroom

* Los Angeles, California

6 June 2011 - 7 June 2011

Stay

Comments: Odd mix of a hotel and hostel, but newly renovated, funky and comfortable. We still not 100% sure about the area as a block one way quite dodgy (which we were told not to go to by the hostel staff) but the other directions seemed fine. In a convenient part of downtown LA.

Cost: $85/room for twin room with en-suite bathroom

* Contiki, USA, Northern Adventure

4 June 2011 - 6 June 2011

Harrahs Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada)

2 June 2011 - 4 June 2011

Four Season Motel (Kanab, Utah)

1 June 2011 - 2 June 2011

Howard Johnson Express Inn Salt Lake City (Salt Lake City, Utah)

30 May 2011 - 1 June 2011

Brandin Iron Inn (West Yellowstone, Montana)

29 May 2011 - 30 May 2011

Buffalo Bill Antler Inn (Cody, Wyoming)

27 May 2011 - 29 May 2011

Mt Rushmore Washington Inn (Keystone, South Dakota)

26 May 2011 - 27 May 2011

Baymont Inn and Suites (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)

25 May 2011 - 26 May 2011

Econo Lodge Madison (Madison, Wisconsin)

Comments: All the places we stayed were typical twin queen motels. They were all clean and comfortable and generally included a continental breakfast. They were also well located, although in these small towns, that's not too hard to achieve. Harrahs in Vegas is an older hotel but very well located and still very comfortable and nice.

* Chicago, Illionois

21 May 2011 - 25 May 2011

Comments: We stayed with friends in Chicago downtown quite close to the John Hancock Tower. We were really happy with this area as it was in walking distance/short taxi to most of the nightlife in the city.

* Washington D,C., Washington D.C.

18 May 2011 - 21 June 2011

Comments: Stayed with friends in Virginia. D,C, has excellent public transport and it doesn't matter where you stay, it is all easily accessible.

* Atlantic City, New Jersey

16 May 2011 - 18 May 2011

Trump Plaza (http://www.trumpplaza.com/)

Comments: As expected, huge and great hotel on the boardwalk.

Cost: about $50/person

* Boston, Massachusetts

13 May 2011 - 16 May 2011

Friend Street Hostel (http://www.friendstreethostel.com/)

Comments: Very well located near the North End and right next to North Station. Surrounded by bars and close enough to everything in the North End to walk. Very clean, well kept and well equipped. Owners and staff were brilliant, very accommodating and were very helpful with what to do in town and how.

Cost: dorm was $50/person a night and privates are $60/person a night

* Manhattan, New York

9 May 2011 - 13 May 2011

Hotel Pennsylvania(www.hotelpenn.com)

Comments: Great location in Midtown West right opposite Penn Station. Huge hotel and the rooms were clean and comfortable...not that you're going to spend to much time in your room in NYC.

Cost: on average we paid just under $100/person per night