Hotels can be found in the main towns and cities. Hotels range from budget with basic facilities, to more luxurious establishments which have en-suite rooms equipped with air conditioning and TV, often frequented by tour groups. The price usually includes breakfast. The government-run hotels are well situated and of a reasonable standard, but have bad service. A few small privately run boutique hotels, particularly in Tripoli, offer more charm and a friendly service.

Youth hostels (buyut ash-shabab) can be found in the main tourist centres. Facilities are basic, with dormitories and shared bathrooms that often suffer from poor plumbing. However, prices are very low, particularly for Hostelling International (HI) cardholders.

In Ghadames, villas offer bed & breakfast-style accommodation in homes. All offer kitchen facilities and some have bedrooms with private bathrooms.

'Camps' of huts can be found near oasis towns in the Sahara desert, offering the relief of a shower and bed after dusty desert hikes. Along the coast, tourist villages offer mid-range facilities in close proximity to beaches.

Tents can sometimes be pitched for a small fee at desert camps (see above). Elsewhere in the desert, camping under the stars is free and an unrivalled experience.

Libyan Youth Hostel Association
69 Sharia Amr ibn al-Ass, PO Box 10322, Tripoli, Libya
Tel: (21) 333 0118.