What Are Hostels?

The following is courtesy of Jim Williams, “Hostel Handbook for the USA and Canada” (Sugar Hill International House, New York):

Website: http://hostelhandbook.com
E-mail: infohostel@aol.com

"The youth hostel movement was started by Richard Schirrmann, a German school teacher, taking his students from a coal mining city on weekend outings to the countryside for fresh air and interaction with nature. This quickly evolved into an international peace movement with hostels as places where students and other young people from different countries could get to know each other on a student’s budget ­ usually on the rough. The original concept included an ethic for moving on one’s own steam ­ hostellers were expected to walk or bike to the hostel. In these early hostels there were often age restrictions, strict curfews and other rules imposed on the youths by hostel. Indeed, some vestiges of these rules can be found in hostels today. However, not often, and not in North America. In fact, the word is rarely used in hostel names or regulations."

Hostelling has been transformed into a different concept that is best typified by the paramount hostellers of today, the Australian and New Zealander backpackers, travelers with a travel ethic quite different from that of North America. A young person is expected to take time off and travel - considered odd if they don't. and when I say travel, I mean travel. A two-year trip is short.

Today there are no age restrictions and few rules. The hostel "warden" has been replaced by an owner or manager who wants to provide the three S's: shelter, shower and security. The hostel is an incredible alternative to staying in a more expensive motel or hotel. The heart of hostelling is the communal nature of the hostel. Typically all the space is shared: the bedroom (or dormitory), the kitchen, and the bathrooms. The beds are usually bunk beds and the top bunks maybe the only one's available. Some places have segregated bathrooms, some not. It may be difficult for some people to enjoy hostelling and maintain a high degree of modesty. On the other hand, the hostelling population is accustomed to sharing space and generally privacy isn't and shouldn't be an issue. Hostellers usually provide their own bath towel. It is a good idea to travel with a sleeping sheet. It is best not to have preconceptions about the site and the services at a hostel. Wait and be surprised. And keep in mind - you are not paying for a five star hotel and it won't be.

Some hostels accept only international travelers. Some places require American hostellers to prove their international status by showing travel documents, passports, and so on.

If you never stayed in a hostel be prepared for:
 

	Services and hours are limited to keep costs down. As you speak with other hostellers you will find that they might change a lot of things but not if it raised the price.
	Many hostels are small places and the staff is limited. Be beware that going to a hotel’s desk at 1 am would be ok. Knocking on the manager's door at 1 am is not. He or she might have closed the hostel office at 11 pm and will open it again at 8 am. Be considerate and remember the hours.
	Americans will meet mostly international people with perhaps a more objective view of things in the US and its foreign policy - listen and you will learn a lot! That is what hostelling is all about, but be prepared for some critical views.
	It's a balance - you lose some privacy and certain comforts, but you have a rare opportunity to meet other people. If you like to travel because you like to meet people, then you will like hostelling.
	Most hostels are not located in the "High Rent Districts". Many are located in minority communities for the lower rents. These communities are usually very safe and have their own special things to offer you.
	Finally, you may be used to more privacy, services and creature comforts than hostels provide. Take a cue from the other travelers and appreciate the atmosphere, information on low-budget things to do and interesting people to meet.

Hostelling means appreciating the experience of hostelling - the social aspects, the information, the different views, etc. - Things you don't get when you stay in a standard hotel or motel!”

Thanks, Jim!