Hostels

From Wikitravel

This article is a travel topic.

Hostel, in the context of travel, is a form of accommodation for travellers and for youth groups, which usually provides an environment where travel experiences can be shared. 'Hostel' is a somewhat flexible term but it normally implies that there will be some dormitory accommodation, usually a common area, a youthful and traveller orientation, and information on the local area and travel to other locations.

The concept of 'youth hostels', as they were originally known, started in about 1910 in Germany and was soon copied in several European countries. Originally, each national organisations sought to provide low cost accommodation in rural areas for young city workers, with an emphasis was on hiking, cycling and other healthy activities.

With the advent of international travel, hostels not affiliated to the national associations were established: these are often known as backpacker hostels.

[edit] Understand

• Hostels normally provide dormitory style budget accommodation for travellers with multiple guests sharing a room. Many hostels also provide private rooms in addition to dormitory accommodation. Bathrooms are variously shared or en suite. For many hostelers, the opportunity to meet other travelers is part of the appeal.
• Hostels vary widely in their rules and regulations, with a few hostels imposing a curfew (to avoid disturbing other guests and so they can lock the doors) while most let you come and go at all hours. Some hostels impose a limit to the number of days you can stay though this is increasingly rare and usually not the case in backpacker hostels in Europe, Australia and North America. In a few instances, the older requirement that guests have to provide their own sheets or standard "sleep sack" (a sheet folded over and sewn into a sleeping bag), still exists. Towels are now usually available for a fee and sometimes free.
• Some hostels have separate accommodations for males and females while others have some or all shared rooms.
• Some hostels have age limits, a minimum age unless accompanied and sometimes a maximum age.
• The style of lodging can vary widely: some hostels are in beautiful historic buildings, or resort style camping villages or modern apartment type buildings; some are spartan while others are almost luxurious. Most are clean and comfortable and most hostels which are part of the Hostelling International network, follow quality guidelines. To find the best hostels, read hostel reviews online on different hostel booking websites.
• Common facilities include a shared lounge, laundry room, and kitchen but these often depends on the country. Most now have have a computers with internet access and provide free wifi Internet.
• If it's your first time staying at hostels, you might want to try somewhere near home and only one location, and see how you like it. Some hostels can be very cozy and welcoming, but a having a laid-back personality is definitely helpful. If access is 24 hours, you can expect to be woken at any hour as others return to the room, or newcomers arrive. You share common facilities and people vary in their tidiness and respect for others. There is always a very small risk of items being stolen, so you need to take care: increasingly, dormitories have lockers, or secure valuables lockers somewhere. Older or cheaper gear is probably the best bet for taking with you.

[edit] Hostelling International organisation

Many national hostelling organizations have joined together to form Hostelling International [1] (formerly International Youth Hostel Federation), which maintains lists of youth hostels around the world and itself takes bookings for some hostels on-line. Affiliated hostels usually offer a certain minimum quality and a degree of accountability. Note that not all hostels are affiliated to HI. In some countries, HI affiliated hostels may be few or non existent, and sometimes more expensive than alternative accommodation.

[edit] Booking Hostels

It is advisable to book hostels rather than just turning up and hoping that there will be a suitable bed. Bookings can be made through some of the national Youth Hostel organisations, or through the parent organisation, Hostelling International.

Alternatively, there are on-line booking organisations which can book you into most backpacker hostels, some HI affilliated youth hostels, and some hotels. Simply do a web search on 'book hostel' and you will find them. They will list hostel supplied information and comments from past guests, often providing a summary rating of a hostel under various headings.

[edit] Sailboat hostels

A sailboat hostel is a boat that has been redone for or dedicated to use as a hostel for international backpacker travelers. A sailboat hostel is a great way to see things that would otherwise be inaccessible or too expensive on a shoestring budget. A hostel of this sort should offer their beds at what could be considered a hosteling rate (roughly between $5 and $60 per day, depending on the country).

Sailboat hostels, depending on their size, can accommodate 3 or more people. Generally they would include a breakfast and some general sailing instruction and safety guidelines, as well as activities related to the sea such as snorkeling and surfing, to name only a couple.

While there are several stationary and motor-powered boat hostels, currently there are only a small handful of boats that could be considered sailboat hostels. This is a new kind of adventure, taking the spirit of international backpacker travel to the sea.

. , , The following needs moving to another topic as it is an industry trade association and not about hostelling itself.

[edit] STAYWYSE: The Association for Youth Travel Accommodation

In October 2007, STAY WYSE [2]was officially approved as a sector association of the World Youth, Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation [3], a not-for-profit organisation that represents the global community of youth travel, student travel, cultural exchange and international education specialists.

STAY WYSE is a not-for-profit industry association to represent the entire global youth travel accommodation sector.

The Association's mission is to provide safe, affordable and clean accommodation within a communal atmosphere that encourages youth mobility and cultural understanding.

It's members include the leading Youth Travel Accommodation providers. It's current Board of Directors include members from Hostelling International, Hostelworld.com and Mundo Joven.

STAY WYSE undertakes an annual industry benchmark study. The study enables youth travel accommodation operators to benchmark their own business performance characteristics against global standards in order to develop strategic concepts and optimize business outcomes.