Tuesday, May 10, 2011

TRAVEL TUESDAY: Hostelling

Our travel plans will always include at least one hostel stay.

The hostel experience is one you cannot get anywhere else. The traveling community is at it's best here, adding to the social side of your trip in a fantastic way. Obviously you want to commingle with locals on your journeys, but the next best thing about travel is meeting people from all across the globe. Mealtimes in a hostel are the best time for meeting new people and learning about other countries.
Hotels simply do not provide this opportunity the way a hostel does.

Another bonus about hostelling, is the opportunity for unique experiences at a low cost which otherwise may be tough to find. Many hostels will have a board posting cultural events, and outings for every day of the week open to all guests. At one of our hostel stays in Italy, I learned how to make pasta for an afternoon, and also went for a beautiful horseback ride in the Abruzzi National Park while my husband watched our son. Another day, while I hung out with the little guy, my husband went for an amazing day long hike. These experiences are even possible, as you can tell, when you have very small children (with a bit of sacrifice - as in not being able to enjoy these times as a couple).

Hostels tend to have more character than other types of accomodation. Often feeling more like a home away from home, with the cozy atmosphere of a common lounge which always includes my favourite bit - the bookshelf, where you can see what other travelers have been reading and trade your finished read for something new. From farms to castles, the style of hostel accomodations come in all shapes and sizes.

A few of our favourite hostels:
Sleeping in a giant teepee at The Arts Factory in Byron Bay, Australia


Making pasta at Italy Farmstay in Abruzzi National Park, Italy


Loving our bed at Xiangzimen Youth Hostel in Xi'an, China


If you are traveling with kids, check it out. Many hostels welcome families with children, and some even have family rooms available for booking. Baby beds may not be so readily available at a hostel, but in Milan we had a king size bed in our private room and slept very comfortably all together.

1 comment:

  1. That sounds like a lot of fun. I have never stayed in a hostel before, but who knows, maybe I will.
    Have a great day!
    PS-yes, I usually get up at 5:00 am so 7:00 was very late for me.:)

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