If you have 150 to 250 of the very best words--whether funny, romantic, thought-provoking, etc. etc., but true--every last word of them, try out your wordsmith mettle by telling your hostelling story.

Hi-USA Golden Gate Council of Hosteling International is celebrating its 50th anniversary by throwing a contest. Here's what you do:

• Think of that story
• Write it down in 150-250 words
• Send it in by July 15

Simple, right?

For your efforts you could win:

• the Grand Prize of one round-trip voucher for international travel on American Airlines valid through March 9, 2009
• a Jury Prize of a Flip Video Camera (there are three of these)
• or an Honorable Mention of a one-year membership to Hosteling International

All winning entries will be published in a commemorative publication.

By the way, the story does need to thematically highlight the mission of the Hi-USA Golden Gate Council. What's that you say? It's to help travelers "gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling."

Before you send in your ONE entry, make sure you've made it as entertaining, perfectly written, and as relevant to the purpose of hostelling as you can. For further details, click here. To enter online, click here. Let us know if you win. No prize is too small.

Total words of this post: 220

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Stories, Hotels and Accommodations, Airlines, Budget Travel, News