Information about Hostel

Hostels provide accommodation where guests can rent a bed, sometimes a bunk bed in a dormitory and share a bathroom, kitchen and lounge. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms are increasingly common in all types of hostels. All hostels are generally cheaper for both the operator and the occupant; many hostels employ their long-term residents as desk clerks in exchange for free accommodation. In German Herberge literally means "Herberg, or harbor."

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 hostels that are members of Hostelling International (HI), a non-profit organization encouraging outdoor activities and cultural exchange for the young, and commercial independent hostels. Hostels for travellers are sometimes called backpackers' hostels, particularly in Australia and New Zealand (often abbreviated to just backpackers).

Benefits

For travellers, the main benefits of hostels include:

1. The low price of the accommodation compared to alternatives such as hotels and bed and breakfasts
2. Because of their common areas (kitchens, sitting rooms, pool rooms, bars etc.) there's much more interaction between guests than in traditional hotels.
3. Most hostels have a genuine community feel. This gives guests the opportunity to interact more with other travellers (often from all over the world), make new friends and share stories and travel tips.
4. Hostels are less formal than hotels.
5. Most hostels have a library of travel guides for guests to use to plan out their journey.
6. DVD libraries and book 'swap systems' are also not unusual.
7. Hostel staff (unlike many hotel receptionists) are genuinely there to help, provide free, independent advice on the best places to eat and drink, travel options etc.
8. Many hostels provide activities for their guests for a nominal charge or no charge at all. These might include guided tours of the town (or the local bars!), language lessons, live music, barbecues etc.

Long term Hostels may provide both shelter and counselling for residents that would otherwise be completely unavailable.

Disadvantages

Theft can be a problem since guests may share a common living space, but this is generally prevented by locking up belongings. Most hostels offer some sort of system for safely storing valuables, and many offer private lockers.

Lack of privacy can also be a problem. Sharing a sleeping dormitory is very different from staying in a private room at a hotel or Bed & Breakfast, and might not be comfortable for those requiring more privacy. Mixed dormitories can also be problematic when people need to change clothes.

Noise can make sleeping difficult on occasions, whether from snoring, someone returning late or leaving early, or the close proximity of so many people. For this reason, many youth hostels and backpackers' hostels fix times for last admissions and lights out.

Smell can sometimes be a problem in shared accommodations. This is because rooms are shared with young people with varying levels of hygiene, who are spending most of their time engaged in physical activity such as walking and sight-seeing. This can cause foot and other odour, which can lead to discomfort for others.

In the past many youth hostels imposed age limits, but today it is more common for backpackers' or independent hostels to accept guests of all ages.

Travellers Hostels

The traditional hostel format involved dormitory style accommodation. Some newer hostels include en-suite accommodation with single, double or quad occupancy rooms. In recent years the numbers of independent and backpackers' hostels has increased greatly to cater for the greater numbers of overland, multi-destination travellers (such as gap-year travellers, railtrippers, those on sabbaticals etc.)

The quality of such places has also improved dramatically. Whilst some hostels do still insist on a curfew, daytime lockouts, and/or require occupants to do chores, this is becoming the exception rather than the rule, as hostels adapt to meet the changing expectations of guests.

'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.

Despite their name, in most countries membership is not limited to youth.

Independent travellers' or Backpackers' hostels

Independent hostels are not necessarily affiliated with one of the national bodies of Hostelling International, Youth Hostel Association or any other licensing body.

The term "youth" is less often used with these properties. These unaffiliated hostels are often called "backpackers' hostels" and can be more or less expensive. Unlike a fast food restaurant where everything is standardardized, these hostels can be very diverse. They usually do not require a membership card. Being Private owned these hostels can be very advanced offering the latest technology and services for guests.

Long stay hostels

The Salvation Army is one of the largest and best known operators of long stay hostels not intended for travellers. [1]

See also

• American Youth Hostels
• Backpacking (travel)
• YHA
• YMCA Hostels

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