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Travel
the World... |
Independent advice for |
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traveling the world |
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Hostels, or common space, is a great way to travel. It's even more
fun, and easy, for those on a tight budget. Hostelling is one way to
save your cash while experiencing the history and culture of your
destination. Many hostels have special perks, rules and amenities.
So do your homework so you can choose the hostel that fits your
needs. Think about curfews, internet access, bag storage and
especially kitchen availability, all of which can save you money and
headache. Keep in mind that although some hostels offer private
rooms. These rooms come at a higher price and most times you will be
sharing both your room and facilities. In the meantime remember to
say hello to those around you. Some of the most interesting people
you will ever meet can be found while hostelling.
By David Reid
Twizi.com
Twizi.com only concerns itself with hostels that cost less than 25 dollars. They list hostels by city and price on quick loading pages. Their hostel maps overview a city and show where the hostels are located in comparison to monuments, beaches, etc. Nice large photos on descriptive detail pages, many photos are provided by travelers and guests. They are one of the best hostel sites on the web for backpackers and student travelers on a budget.
Bootsnall.com
Two points for a cool logo. And three more for an exhaustive list of hostels and easy interface for reservations. Even though these points I’ve just handed out are made of Monopoly money, Bootsnall really does have more than 6000 hostels in 50-plus nations around the world. You can peruse the list of hostels by city or country, check out all the different hostels’ features (does it have Internet, washer & dryer?) and even find maps to individual hostels. There is also a link for relatively unbiased hostel reviews (i.e. not sponsored), but it’s rather disorganized. Once there, use your browser’s search or find feature to zoom in on comments for your favorite city.
Hostel Bookers
A couple of things make this website stick out from the rest - simplicity of use and no booking fees. Wherever you arrive at the website you’re only ever one click away from finding a hostel, and the fact there’s no registration or membership required also saves you time.
With thousands of hostels and budget hotels in 1,500 destinations worldwide, a travel news and event section, and guides to most destinations, Hostel Bookers is a pretty decent backpacker and student travel resource. The website is efficient and informative, and you can search hostels by price or customer ratings. Hostel Bookers also run a free group booking service for groups of 10 or more people.
Hostels1.com
You can make very secure, guaranteed reservations on this site, or so they say. I, for one, happen to believe them. This site is all about North and South America, so those seeking a hostel in the Bohemian town of Cesky Krumlov are not welcome here (don’t worry we have other sites for you!). Here at hostel1.com, there are still a bunch of great features, but many seem to be rarely used, and the latest news might not be so recent. Nevertheless, it’s a very solid place to book your New World hostel needs.
HostelsClub.com
The Prez and VP of the Hostelsclub appear to be one sexy virtual pair: a tank-topped dude with mini-dreads and a lady friend decked out in a newsies’ cap. I asked them what makes their site so swell, and this is what they told me: You can book hostels from pretty much anywhere, and shortcut straight to top destinations. If you’re cool enough to be invited to join the Hostelsclub, you can check out the online magazine, city guides and see how a hostel fares on its stoplight system (green ones are the best, avoid hostels that have a red light… unless you’re in Amsterdam that is.)
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