- Current Age?
23
- Nationality
England
- Where do you live now?
Sheffield, England
- Occupation
student
- When it comes to travel accommodation (but leaving out crashing with friends, family or people you meet on the road), how often do you stay in hostels?
pretty much all the time
- Where have you hosteled?
Asia, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, USA
- Would you stay in a hostel again on future trips?
Yes
- Why or why not?
Because they are just great places to meet other people and have fun!
- Out of all your experiences hosteling, what was your:
- Best Moment
barbeque on the beach of a hostel in Pula, Croatia, getting very drunk on the local brandy and meeting some awesome people from all over the world
- Worst Moment
being totally lost looking for a hostel in Brussels and walking around for hours
- Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
trying to find the hostel
- Biggest surprise?
how some hostels are so nice with pools and bars etc
- Do you ever book any of your hostel accommodation in advance?
Sometimes
- Why or why not?
I usually book my first night of a trip in a hostel, or in Australia we had to book pretty much all the time if we wanted to make sure we had a room on arrival.
- Who is the most memorable person you met in a hostel and why?
I met a Japanese guy in a hostel in the summer, and he was really keen to speak to me when he found out I was from Manchester cos he was mad about David Beckham! We talked for ages and then it led on from football to a big discussion about our different cultures. Anyway, I took his address and got Beckham's autograph for him and sent it over, and in return he sent me a beautiful Japanese hankerchief which was a lovely surprise. The conversation inspired me to want to travel to the far East and now in August I am setting off to China for a year to teach English!
- Why do you stay in hostels, as opposed to other types of accommodation?
Because they are cheap and also if you are travelling on your own you get to meet loads of other people of all different nationalities but you all have the same thing in common. You have all chosen independent travel, so you are all like-minded and usually you will make some great friends and have a good time together.
- Is there a hostel you'd recommend to other travelers? If so, what is it and where?
Vondelpark YHA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- What is the biggest myth people have about hostels and hosteling?
That they are all really scruffy and that you get all your stuff stolen.
- Why do you like to travel?
Because it broadens the mind, you get to meet new people and swap ideas about cultures. Meeting people from other countries helps you to learn so much more about your own country. You also meet so many people who inspire you to go on and do other things.
- What is your advice for other travelers wanting to stay in hostels?
My advice would be to pick one from a guidebook so you know it is not going to be dodgy. Also, pick ones with bars if you are on your own, cos it's always a good way to meet other people. Always be friendly to other people who come in your dorm, and start a conversation with them straight away; a simple, "so where have you just come from?" will usually be enough to start a conversation.
