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Travel Like a Young PersonPosted: Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 Hostelling doesn’t mean roughing it any more. There are a growing number of mature travellers who choose to stay in hostels as they travel, and it’s not always for budget reasons. Hostels the world over recognize this and are providing accommodation that suits the lifestyle of these travellers. Hostels, unlike hotels, are international meeting places, offering shared living spaces that encourage interaction with other travellers. In many of today’s hostels, you can have a private room but also enjoy interacting with people of all ages from all over the world, exchanging ideas on where to go and what to visit. For many mature travellers, the experience of meeting and being with other travellers is what attracts them to this mode of travel. Contemporary hostels are a far cry from the hostels of 20 years ago. Though you can still find traditional dorm-style accommodations and communal bathrooms, many hostels are going 'upscale,' offering private double rooms, ensuite bathrooms, internet and wifi access, and even iPod docking stations and flatscreen TVs in guest rooms. Some have travel desks, bars and full-service restaurants. In addition, many now boast amenities like gyms, saunas, and Internet cafes, plus elegant decor and comfortable furnishings Here are a few examples of the luxury and variety to be found in today’s hostels: JollyBoys Backpackers hostel, in Livingston, Zambia, about 10 kilometres from Victoria Falls. The hostel provides airport pickup and a daily shuttle service to the Falls. The front desk has contact information for every possible attraction in the area and will book daytrips and cruises for you. A double room with 3-piece bath is the equivalent of $20 CND per person, and all the rooms face out onto a manicured lawn with fruit trees, swimming pool and BBQ pit. Stayokay Heemskerk is a 13th-century castle in the Netherlands. Guests have the run of the castle (moat included) while getting a bed for under $40 per person. The castle is surrounded by picturesque villages and tulip farms and is just three kilometres from North Holland Dune National Park. Festung Ehrenbreitstein is a fortress outside of the town of Koblenz, Germany that is so huge that the Youth Hostel Koblenz inside takes up only a tiny percentage of its space. Getting to the hostel means taking a ski lift up the mountain and hiking through a maze of 13-foot-thick walls. The 195-bed facility has a restaurant that overlooks the Rhine Valley and serves a variety of wines and beers from the area. Though the majority of hostel guests are still young, more and more mature travelers are joining their ranks. Some properties are better suited to mature travellers than others, so be sure to do your research before selecting a hostel. There are many websites on which to find and book hostels, including reviews to help you find a good match. When searching for hostels in a specific destination, you can narrow the field using various criteria, such as amenities, proximity to major attractions, and user ranking, or by selecting only hostels that have private rooms. Just because a hostel has ‘youth’ in its name, that doesn’t mean it caters only to the young. Read the fine print and details carefully to make sure that any hostel you're considering suits your needs. Check to see if the description emphasizes youth or student clientele or activities. Some hostels maintain curfew hours—which may or may not be a problem, depending on your interests and activities. Backpackers’ hostels are usually more eclectic, and attract the more hardcore independent traveler. And be aware that some sites include ordinary budget hotels in their listings, not just hostels. Some good sites to begin your search: Hostelbookers - With over 2500 locations listed worldwide, this website lists hostels and cheap accommodation. Not all the listed accommodation options are hostels; there are also some very nice, affordable hotels around the world listed. Hostelworld - With over 20,000 locations listed worldwide, Hostelworld provides easy searches and online booking. Each detailed hostel description includes a summary of ratings from previous visitors, with numerical ratings for character, security, location, staff, fun and cleanliness. Hostelling International - Represents more than 90 hostel associations in 90 countries, and has more than 4000 hostels on its books. Hostelling International imposes strict standards on its member hostels and as a result you can always be sure of a clean bed and decent accommodation at an affiliated ‘HI’ hostel. Hostels.com - With over 26,000 listings, hostels.com features travel stories, a travel newsletter and a FAQ on hostelling and backpacking. YHA - Operates a network of more than 200 Youth Hostels, bunkhouses and camping barns across England and Wales in addition to being part of an international network of Youth Hostels in 60 countries around the world. BUG - the Backpackers' Ultimate Guide - A good site to look at reviews. http://bugeurope. Hostelz.com - Another site with unbiased reviews. A few small cautions: Remember that hostel accommodations are generally priced on a per-bed rather than a per-room basis, so you have to double the displayed price to find the correct price for a couple. Don’t forget your earplugs if you think you may be sharing accommodations, you’ll get a better night’s sleep. And, be aware that if you haven’t booked a room with its own bath, the bathroom and shower may be communal. Many older travellers who were once young backpackers are rediscovering hostels, while others are trying them for the first time, for budget and social reasons. Whatever your reasons, make the most of the experience – and enjoy meeting and learning from new friends from all walks of life.
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I've stayed in 2 Vancouver, BC hostels -- downtown & Jericho -- in dorms and found them quite satisfactory. Jericho Beach is great in summer!G472R
Posted by: Edgar | March 4th, 2010
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