Frequently asked questions - Here are all the answers at a glance

Age

Canoe

• Per canoe: min. 2, max. 3 persons
• Children and young people from 5 - 7 years accompanied by 2 full-paying adult per canoe.  From 8 - 17 years accompanied by one full-paying adult per canoe. 

Sit-on-Top double Kayak

• Per kayak: 2 persons
• Children and teenagers from 10 - 17 years accompanied by a full-paying adult per child.

Single kayak

• Per kayak: max. 1 person
• Children and teenagers from 10 - 17 years accompanied by a full-paying adult per child.

SUP rental

• Per SUP: max. 1 person
• Children and teenagers from 10 - 17 years accompanied by a full-paying adult per child. 

Rules

1. 100 € for deposit per boat to be paid on spot by credit card or cash. 
2. All participants are obliged to wear a life jacket (provided by us).
3. The participants must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
4. All participants, both children and young people as well as adults must be able to swim (for at least 15 minutes).
5. During the time of rental, the client is responsible for the rented equipment. This means that the customer must ensure that he/she carries the equipment to the water and returns it to the youth hostel at the end of the activity.
6. Private items can be taken onto the water at the customer's own risk and responsibility. However, the youth hostel cannot be held liable for destroyed or lost items.

Where are the points of departure and arrival?
Departure and arrival with the equipment is always at the beach near Lultzhausen youth hostel. The equipment cannot be dropped off anywhere else, as the youth hostel does not operate a pick-up service.

Are tandem kayaks available?
No, a kayak can only be used alone as there is only one seat available. However, there are canoes that can seat up to three people. SUPs can also only be used alone.

Can the equipment be rented for several days?
Yes and no. Of course, the equipment can be rented every day. However, the equipment must be returned to the youth hostel at the end of each day (at 5 p.m.). The water sports equipment must therefore be at the youth hostel overnight. As we are not a commercial rental station, we do not offer rental for several days, in order to take the equipment on holiday with you, for example.

What happens after I rent the material?

The customer is responsible for the equipment from the moment it is rented. This means that the customer is responsible for carrying the material to the water and from the water back to the youth hostel. The staff of the youth hostels cannot bring/deliver the material. This also applies to customers having problems carrying heavy objects. We are happy to assist customers in carrying items if the situation allows us to do so, but there is no guarantee and no obligation on the part of the staff.

What happens if my mobile phone or other valuables fall in the water?

Each client is responsible for their own personal belongings. If the mobile phone or other valuable item is accidentally dropped in the lake, the youth hostel will not be liable for this. The same applies to destroyed objects, e.g. wet damage to electrical appliances caused by splash water.

How many kilometres can you do in a half or full day?
This is very individual and depends on your physical fitness and experience with water sports. Someone who is very athletic can certainly do a tour of about 8 km in half a day (in a full day about twice that). Beginners, or someone who is trying out a water sport for the first time, may reach their limits at 2 km. Our standard tour that we usually recommend is about 3 km.

Are there rapids and waterfalls to watch out for?
No, you only paddle on the Upper Sûre lake. The reservoir lake is, as the name suggests, purely standing water.

Is there a connection from the reservoir lake to the Sûre river (i.e. from the west to the east, e.g. from Lultzhausen to Ettelbruck)?
No. After about 400 m in an easterly direction from the Lultzhausen youth hostel, you reach the protection zone 1, which may not be exceeded, otherwise you will face an extremely high fine. There is therefore no connection from Lultzhausen to Ettelbruck across the water.

Does one have to be a member or a guest to use the water sports equipment?
The boat rental is available to every overnight guest, but also to day guests. If you only want to try it out once, you don't have to be a member. But if you come regularly for water sports, you should apply for membership.

However, with your membership you support the Luxembourg Youth Hostels, an association which is affiliated to one of the largest non-profit organisations in the world - Hostelling International. We are committed to promoting youth tourism, international understanding, tolerance and environmental protection. You also support us in maintaining, improving and expanding the youth hostel network. Thanks to your membership, you also benefit from numerous discounts and the lowest prices in Luxembourg and abroad.

Apply now for your membership right here.

What is the minimum age for renting kayaks and SUPs? 
Our age limit for independent use of kayaks or SUPs is 10 years. However, an adult must still be present at all times.

Can I rent a canoe with my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 children)?
It depends on how big and how old your children are.

Example 1: Family with 2 adults and 2 children aged 5 and 7 years old
Unfortunately, it is not possible to hire a canoe as there must be 2 adults present for each child under 7 years of age. As you have 2 children under the age of 7, supervision of 4 adults would be required. The same applies to a family with, for example, a 6 and a 9 year old child. Here you would need a supervision ratio of 3 adults. However, it is not possible to staff a canoe with 3 adults and 2 children.

Example 2: Family with 2 adults and 2 children aged 8 and 9 years old
It would be possible to rent a canoe with the children sitting in the middle of the boat, but depending on the height of the children it might be a bit cramped.

Can I rent a canoe as an adult with my child?
Theoretically yes, but it is not recommended if you have not had much experience in a canoe yourself. Children up to the age of 10 often do not have the necessary strength to manoeuvre a canoe, so the entire load would fall back on the adult. Canoes are much more difficult to manoeuvre due to their size and therefore much more challenging with only one adult.

Can my teenager from 16 years old go out on the water alone with the SUP?
No, children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 17 always need at least one or two supervisors to accompany them. Therefore, a rental to minors without an adult caregiver is excluded.

Is it allowed to bring your dog?
For safety reasons, we are sorry, but dogs and other animals are not permitted. Thank you for your understanding.

What are the terms of cancellation?

• In case of cancellation less than 2 days before the date or in case of no-show, the value of the activity will be incurred.
• In case of cancellation less than 1 week before the date, a charge equivalent to 50 % of the value of the activity will be incurred.
• In case of cancellation less than 2 weeks before the date, a charge equivalent to 25 % of the value of the activity will be incurred.

Will I get a refund if the weather is bad?

Yes and no. If the national weather service announces a warning for the region around the reservoir lake and the youth hostel cancels the activity for this reason, your booking can be rescheduled to another date without any additional fee. If you do not wish to reschedule, you will be refunded 50% of the fee by bank transfer. If you have already started the activity and then get caught in a thunderstorm or storm, then unfortunately you will not get your money back. We will ONLY cancel the activity in the event of thunderstorms and storms on the reservoir lake as your safety is at risk. If it rains, the activity can still take place and is not a reason for the youth hostel to cancel the activity.

When will I get my deposit back?
As soon as the rental has been completed and the equipment has been returned without damage, the deposit will be released from the credit card. The money was never withdrawn, but only temporarily blocked via our terminal. Therefore, there won’t be a transaction visible on your credit card unless the rented equipment shows damage caused by you. If you have paid the deposit in cash, you will of course get it back in cash.