Hostel
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Hostels provide accommodation where guests can rent a bed (sometimes a bunk bed) in a dormitory and share a common bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms are increasingly common in all types of hostel. All hostels are generally cheaper for both the supplier and the occupant and many hostels employ their long-term residents as desk clerks in exchange for free accommodation.
An effort should be made to distinguish between establishments that provide longer term accommodation (often to specific classes of clientèle such as nurses, students, drug addicts, arrested persons subsequently bailed to await trial and homeless people where the hostels are sometimes run by Housing Associations and charities) and those offering short term accommodation to travellers or backpackers.
Within the 'traveller' category another distinction can be drawn between those particularly encouraging outdoor activities and cultural exchange for the young, who are often members of Hostelling International (HI) a nonprofit organization, and commercial backpackers' hostels (or Backpackers for short), particularly in Australia and New Zealand[1].
[edit] Benefits
For travellers, main benefits include the low cost of the accommodation compared to alternatives such as hotels, and the opportunity to interact more with other travellers (often from all over the world). Hostels are usually less formal and less expensive than hotels. They are most frequently used by young travellers. In the past many youth hostels imposed age limits, but today it is more common for hostels to accept guests of all ages. Despite the openness of modern hostels, the majority of guests are traditionally and overwhelmingly between the ages of 18 and 26.
Hostels provide opportunities for multicultural enlightenment, and are an excellent way to make new friends in a foreign environment. There is more interaction between guests than in traditional hotels, and many hostels provide activities for their guests for a nominal charge or no charge at all. It is common to see people staying at a hostel for an extended stay of few months as they enjoy the atmosphere.
Hostels also may offer many amenities and facilities such as internet access, full kitchens, laundry, discounts to popular tourist activities, and more. The local staff can be helpful in giving reliable advice about activities and nightlife.
[edit] Disadvantages
Theft can be a problem since guests may share a common living space, but this can be prevented by locking belongings up. Most hostels offer some sort of system for safely storing your valuables, and many offer private lockers. However, for the greater part travellers are equally concerned for the well-being of their own belongings so that theft of other people's belongings rarely takes place.
One potential drawback to staying in hostel dormitories is the difficulty of sleeping because of noise, whether from snoring, someone returning to the room late in the evening, or just general noise from one's living surroundings. For this reason, some Youth Hostel Associations fix times for last admission and lights out. Sharing a bedroom and separate bathroom is very different from staying in a private room at a hotel or Bed and Breakfast, and might not be comfortable for those who can afford more privacy.
[edit] Travellers Hostels
Older-style hostels have dormitory style accommodation, newer hostels usually include en-suite accommodation with single, double or quad occupancy rooms and both these types of hostel can be found throughout the HI network as well as independent Backpackers.There are still hostels in some countries that have a curfew, daytime lockouts, and/or require occupants to do chores, but as hostels adapt to meet the changing expectations of guests these are becoming less and less common.
[edit] 'Youth Hostel' - beginnings
In 1912 in Altena Castle in Germany, Richard Schirrmann created the first permanent Jugendherberge or 'Youth Hostel' (now a trademark of the former International Youth Hostel Federation or IYHF). These first Youth Hostels were an exponent of the ideology of the German Youth Movement to let poor, city youngsters breathe fresh air outdoors. The youths were supposed to manage the hostel themselves as much as possible and do chores to keep the costs down and build character as well as being physically active outdoors. Because of this, many Youth Hostels closed (and still close) during the middle part of the day.
The idea rapidly spread overseas and eventually resulted in Hostelling International (HI), a non-profit organisation composed of more than 90 different Youth Hostel associations representing over 4500 Youth Hostels in over 80 countries.
Some HI Youth Hostels cater more to school-aged children (sometimes through school trips) and parents with their children, whereas others are more for travellers intent on learning new cultures. However, while the exploration of different cultures and places is emphasized in many hostels, particularly in cities or popular tourist destinations, there are still many hostels providing accommodation for outdoor pursuits such as hillwalking, climbing and bicycle touring and these are often small friendly hostels that retain much of the original vision and often provide valuable access to more remote regions.
[edit] Independent traveller's hostels
Independent hostels or unaffiliated hostels are not affiliated with one of the national bodies of Hostelling International or any other licensing body. They do not have to conform to a group's accommodation standards. The term "youth" is seldom used with these locations. These unaffiliated hostels are often called "Backpackers" and can be more or less expensive. Unlike a fast food restaurant where everything is standard, these hostels can be very diverse. They usually do not require a membership card but may require other identification for check-in such as a passport or driving licence.
[edit] Long stay hostels
[edit] See also
- Hostelling International
- List of types of lodging
- Hospitality service, alternative to hostels
