Membership fees shown are for over-18s . substantial discounts apply to those under 18 at the time of joining.

Australia Level 3, 10 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050 (02/9565 1699, fax 9565 1325, www.yha.org.au). A$47 to join; A$29 annual membership renewal.

Canada 205 Catherine St #400, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1C3 (1-800/663-5777 or 613/237-7884, fax 237-7868, www.hostellingintl.ca). Annual membership C$26.75.

England & Wales Trevelyan House, 8 St Stephen. s Hill, St Albans, Herts AL1 2DY (01727/845047, fax 844126, www.yha.org.uk). Also 14 Southampton St, London WC2 (020/7836 8541). Annual membership £11.

New Zealand PO Box 436, Christchurch 1 (03/379 9970, fax 365 4476, www.yha.org.nz). Annual membership NZ$40.

Northern Ireland 22 Donegall Rd, Belfast BT12 5JN (028/9032 4733, fax 9043 9699, www.hini.org.uk). Annual membership £8.

Republic of Ireland An Óige, 61 Mountjoy St, Dublin 7 (01/830 4555, fax 830 5808, www.irelandyha.org). Annual membership IR£10.

Scotland 7 Glebe Crescent, Stirling FK8 2JA (01786/891400, fax 891333, www.syha.org.uk). Annual membership £6.

USA 733 15th St NW #840, Washington DC 20005 (202/783-6161, fax 783-6171, www.hiayh.org). Annual membership $25.

SWITZERLAND

Naturfreunde Schweiz/Fédération suisse des Amis de la Nature, Pavillonweg 3, Postfach, CH-3001 Bern (031/301 60 88, fax 301 61 18, www.naturfreunde.ch). No membership needed.

Swiss Backpackers, Postfach 530, CH-8027 Zürich (fax 01/201 70 72, www.backpacker.ch). No membership needed.

Swiss Youth Hostels, Schaffhauserstrasse 14, CH-8042 Zürich (01/360 14 14, fax 360 14 60, www.youthhostel.ch). Annual membership Fr.25.