It’s that time of year again! No, not the time for a renewed sense of self, a fresh perspective on your life and where you’re headed, or a time to establish a mile-long list of self-worth-inducing goals that you will barely scratch the surface of. No, no… it’s the time when the inhabitants of the northern hemisphere of the globe unite as one in the misery of gloomy weather and fantasize about a tropical getaway.
Dreaming of this? I certainly am…
If you find your head in the clouds, picturing yourself (or a version of yourself that would exist had you been working out consistently for the last six months) lazing on a beach with a book in one hand and a margarita in the other, fear not, for you are not alone. And if you’re looking for ways to make this fantasy into a reality, you may be considering your travel options. You’ll have a destination to choose, airfare to consider, and then there’s lodging. And while we are all looking for the next amazing deal from an airline where we can fly somewhere with sub-Saharan temperatures for about one tenth of what tickets typically cost, there is a way to get a decent place to stay in most locations for super cheap. My friends, I introduce you to a little trick that travel pros have known about since before you boarded your first plane: the hostel.
Not to be confused with a hotel, a hostel is a building composed of rooms and bathrooms to accommodate travelers who are on a budget. The difference is that the rooms usually boast dorm-style beds, sleeping anywhere from 2-20 people. Sound scary? It’s not. They are definitely less glamorous, but let’s be honest–beggars can’t be choosers. But beggars can be wise, and choose highly rated hostels, which is where HostelWorld Language comes in.
As you can imagine, hostels come in all shapes and sizes, in all locations, and… in all conditions. So if you’re going somewhere and you want to pocket your pennies, but don’t want to leave with green fuzz starting to grow between your toes, this is exactly the site to make sure you have an excellent stay. You can search for hostels (and hotels, and bed & breakfasts) in any city, in any country and in any language. Most listed hostels are rated, reviewed, come with photos, a description, and detailed pricing information. In some cases you can actually rent a private room (for two people) for much less than a hotel, though certainly more expensive than a shared space. And the best part is that you can book your stay online. It’s like a giant, glorious network of amazingly inexpensive sleeping options just waiting to help you determine where to fly to with that holiday bonus that’s burning a hole in your pocket.
View of the Acropolis from a rooftop bar at Athens Backpackers… found on HostelWorld Language (image courtesy of TripAdvisor–couldn’t find my version!)
I’ve stayed in hostels several times and have always had positive experiences. That’s because I checked out what other visitors had to stay before I went, and it’s saved me a lot of headaches… and money. So if you’re the kind of traveler who makes the most of your destination and sees lodging as a necessity for those moments when your body needs a break or you start to emit an unseemly smell, a hostel is a great option. Happy hunting! 🙂
Tagged: backpacking, beaches, budget, fantasy, getaway, hostel, sunny, Travel, travel for cheap, vacation, warm weather
The Perpetual Passenger 
Take hostels – if you want to be sure of having a place to stay when arriving late in some big city you can now just book ahead and you’re saved the prospect of walking around dodgy neighbourhoods with your brightly coloured backpack calling the attention of every mugger in the area.