Join the Hostelling International (www.hihostels.com) organization and book a room before you leave for Germany. Hostelling International is the largest hostel organization. They offer accommodations worldwide, and many of their hostels have English-speaking staff. They have a good reputation for cleanliness and safety. They offer beds to all travelers, but a hostel membership guarantees some good discounts and a few extra benefits. The Berlin International (http://www.hihostels.com/dba/hostel022022.en.htm) is HI Hostel in Berlin.
Stay at the Circus Hostel Weinbergsweg - Berlin (www.circus-berlin.de/), which is part of the Famous Hostel Circle, a select group of premier hostels that are scattered across the major cities of Europe. The Circus venue in Berlin is located in Mitte, the lively section of Berlin. The staff here is especially helpful in providing information about what to do in the city, and they can also help in making travel arrangements to other locales.
Stay at an A & O certified hostel. These include A&O Hostel City am Zoo, A&O Hostel andMitte Ostbahnhof and A&O Hostel Friedrichshain Ostkreuz. (http://www.aohostels.com/en/berlin/).
Stay at a "backpacker hostel." There are three in the "baxpax network" in Berlin. Go to www.baxpax.de/ for more details or contact the Mittes Backpacker hostel (http://www.baxpax.de/mittes-backpacker/en/home/), the Downtown Baxpax Hostel Hotel (http://www.baxpax.de/downtown/en/home/) or the Baxpax Kreuzberg Hostel (http://www.baxpax.de/kreuzberg/en/home/).
Stay at an independent hostel. A few of the more popular independents include the Heart of Gold Hostel (www.heartofgold-hostel.de), Helter Skelter Hostel Berlin (www.helterskelterhostel.com), Lette m sleep 7 Hostel für Backpackers (www.backpackers.de, this is actually a small chain) and the Pegasus Hostel Berlin (pegasushostel.de).
Take a walk around Mitte and randomly choose a hostel. As you walk around the streets, you will come across several storefronts that are actually youth hostels, accommodating travelers of all ages. However, in general, it is much better to make arrangements in advance or at least get the names of a reputable place from a guidebook or other travelers.
