Travel Cheap? Go Hostelling...

obenix · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Everywhere

A huge majority of my travels around the world has been on hostelling basis... Money is never enough when you are in a foreign land (especially expensive places like UK and Japan)... Hence, a great way to save money is by hostelling... I'm a member of the Hostelling International by way of my local chapter...
Some travelers shun the idea of hostels but here's some reasons and myths:
1. It cheap. This is a fact. Hostels costs is so much more cheaper than a conventional hotel.
2. It's dirty. I've stayed in so many hostels that I vouch for their cleanliness. Sheets are changed daily and toilets/kitchen/common areas are cleaned daily
3. Share a room? Yup, most hostels have domitories and may also have doubles or triples even family rooms... At selected hostels, you get spoilt for choices... Making friends are fun especially if they are locals or foreigners.. Share travel experiences and get local knowledge...
4. They lock the doors in the morning and open in the evenings... Yes, they do. This is to make sure that travelers get out and enjoy the locals while they clean and perform their routine work...

Facilities are a plenty... Kitchen, bath, TV room are some of them... Have some questions?? Post them here..:)

Join your local Youth Hostel Association... Visit >> http://www.hihostels.com/

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

I've been to a youth hostel only twice in my life, once in Kyoto and once staying in the Yamanashi area while climbing Mt Fuji. Both times were not pleasant(we washed dishes in Kyoto, there was no alcohol permitted(c'mon, man, a beer with dinner? I'm 23 years old!!!) and there was a 10:00 curfew. The time in Yamanashi was downright nasty, with the old man at the reception grumbling at us when we arrived(my Japanese is fluent and I speak politely) and we were charged $35. That is the rate for non-members. he asked us if we would like to become a member and for this they charge $50 for a yearly membership and we figured what the heck we weren't going to be staying in a hostel within the next year so $35 was the better deal. The man then showed us to a tiny room packed with 8 bunkbeds, one next to the other, and told us that we would be assigned to the ones way in the back. When I explained that we would be getting up at 4:30am and didn't wish to disturb the other guests so could he please let us sleep near the door he threw a fit. Then he said OK, and said I could have the little space next to the door(which could only comfortably sleep a large golden retriever, I kid you not) and I said I am sorry , sir, this will not do. Another conniption set in, and after a little more coaxing on my part, he finally, in a huff, gave in. I will spare you the further details of our ordeal at that place but that was 10 years ago and the absolute last time I have ever or will ever stay in a hostel. I hear facilities are much more user friendly, economical and pleasant in Europe and I recommend hostels to Japanese students who travel abroad. For foreigners visiting Japan, I recommend ryokans, which are small inns, similar to a B&B. As cheap as a hostel, very hospitable, decent meals, and very economical.
I will try to look up some links on ryokan guides for people visiting Japan.

cocodrilo · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 494 Location: Western Japan

Here's the page for Japanese inns

http://www.jpinn.com/