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Youth Hostels for Adults Down Under
There have been many, many times in my adult travel career when I've wished I was 22 again,
and happy to stay in a youth hostel. The money you can save on hotel bills is sometimes the difference between going
and not going, and even if it isn't, its money you can spend on other things during a trip. While I had great
experiences in hostels across Europe, at this point in my life, privacy and a refuge from other tourists and
travellers is something I look for in accomodation when I'm on the road.
But Laura Meckler and her partner did indeed travel through Australia and New Zealand for five weeks, staying in more than a dozen hostels. This article gives a short run-down on all the hostels in which they stayed - from the sublime ( ) to the rediculous (a $4 deposit to get a breakfast plate and fork?) All in all, she concludes, it was a good experience for the traveler with a few more miles on the clock than your average college-aged student.
Her top tips: book in advance to get private double rooms, some with private bath; and join Hostelling International for discounts and the ability to book some members-only hostels. Oh, and bring a padlock.
Filed under: Stories
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Christina Dec 18th 2005 5:01PM
I lived in hostels when I was in Australia and didn't have any problems. Hostels are great and yes, there are tons of kids who have never been away from Mom before, but it is also a lot of experienced travellers. But like you said, call in advance is a good thing. I called like a day before I arrived and rarely had any difficulty getting the room a wanted.
Since I'm not going to spend more time on my room than necessary when I travel - cheap is good. Hstels are also a great, relaxed place to meet folks.
Christina Dec 18th 2005 5:01PM
I lived in hostels when I was in Australia and didn't have any problems. Hostels are great and yes, there are tons of kids who have never been away from Mom before, but it is also a lot of experienced travellers. But like you said, call in advance is a good thing. I called like a day before I arrived and rarely had any difficulty getting the room a wanted.
Since I'm not going to spend more time on my room than necessary when I travel - cheap is good. Hstels are also a great, relaxed place to meet folks.
Christina Dec 18th 2005 5:01PM
I lived in hostels when I was in Australia and didn't have any problems. Hostels are great and yes, there are tons of kids who have never been away from Mom before, but it is also a lot of experienced travellers. But like you said, call in advance is a good thing. I called like a day before I arrived and rarely had any difficulty getting the room a wanted.
Since I'm not going to spend more time on my room than necessary when I travel - cheap is good. Hstels are also a great, relaxed place to meet folks.