Budget Travel « The Travelhall.com Nomad

February 25, 2009

Staying in Hostels – What is it Like? (Part I)

Filed under: Budget Travel, Travel — Tags: Backpackers, Backpacking, budget accommodation, budget travel, cheap travel, Staying in Hostels, Travel, youth hostels —
The Travelhall.com Nomad @ 9:12 pm

I spent two and a half years traveling non-stop around the world. During that trip, and over many years of travel, I have stayed in over 300 youth hostels. I fall among a rare breed that is completely unphased by spending the night among a room full of strangers.

Although many travelers know that staying in a youth hostel is an option, some never actually make use of this very economic option. How hostels work and what the experience if staying in one is like is a mystery for many people. I must say, hostelling falls under the category of budget travel so it’s not for everyone. There are some travelers I am sure that are very happy to leave the mystery of hostel stays completely unbroken.

Although some hostels offer private and semi-private rooms, it is more common to sleep in a dormitory with other travelers. In most cases, dormitories are separated by male and female. However on occasion you will find hostels that offer an optional mixed dorm.

Hostels are not just for young travelers, even if though they are often called ‘youth’ hostels. Travelers of any age have always been welcome in the hostels that I have stayed in. So if you are of retirement age and have made a decision to see the world (and many do) do not feel that you have to shy away from staying in a youth hostel.

You will find that hostels come in all shapes and sizes, literally! The size of the hostel is not necessarily an indicator as to the type of stay you will have. I have stayed in hostels that could house hundreds of travelers and that were highly organized and ran like clockwork. I have also stayed in hostels that were small yet completely disorganized and badly run.

The way to find a good hostel is through a good Hostel Search directory that allows travelers to give ratings and feedback based on their experience. Word of mouth is also a great way to find out what hostels are good in a particular city. Travelers will always give you the scoop.

The key things that make staying in a hostel bearable, especially if you have been on the road for a while, are the following: small dormitories (6 people or less) so that you still have some semblance of privacy, strong safes and lockers to keep your possessions safer, a hearty breakfast included with a night’s stay, an area of the hostel where travelers can chat and socialize with one another, and good front desk resources such as local maps and other information on local resources.

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February 19, 2009

How do I do Budget Travel?

Filed under: Budget Travel, Travel — Tags: 3 star hotel, budget flights, budget travel, cheap travel, economy class travel, guesthouses, hostels, youth hostels —
The Travelhall.com Nomad @ 4:32 pm

Some People Just Shouldn’t do Budget
Let me start off by saying that there are some people that just shouldn’t travel budget. If you are fussy, like to be in control or wish to be pampered at all times, budget travel probably isn’t for you. You won’t find champagne on a budget flight, you might not even get a meal. In fact these days, you will probably have to pay for any non-alcoholic soft drinks that you down. Ultimately, the key to traveling budget is simply knowing, ‘how to’.

How Can I Travel?
It is never really a question of can I travel, but more a question of, ‘How can I travel’? My friends and I have gone all over the world on a literal, shoestring budget, enjoyed our time to the max and lived to earn a few more bucks for the next trip!

Budget travel gives you the opportunity to see the wonders of the world just like any other traveler… but at an affordable rate. It is important to know that there is a complete segment of the travel industry specifically geared towards the student and the budget traveler. Travelhall.com is just one web site where you can learn more key information about budget traveling.

See the World DIFFERENT!
In an ideal world, every trip would involve a first-class flight, a 5 star hotel and all of the luxury trimmings. More often than not though, this type of travel experience is reserved for a privileged few. If you can not afford to travel this way, don’t lose heart. It does not mean that you can not travel. It just means that you have to travel differently.

Budget travelers are adventurous souls that have developed a knack for finding the best flights, the best rates on tours and the best deals on accommodation. No matter which corner of the earth you have your eye on, you are guaranteed to find a safe, three-star hotel, a guesthouse or a youth hostel that doesn’t cost the price of an arm or a leg. The truth is most budget accommodation gives you a comfortable night’s sleep that is on par with the standard of your own home.

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January 31, 2009

Busting 3 Common Travel Myths!

Filed under: Budget Travel, Travel — Tags: affordable travel, budget travel, cant travel, cheap travel, time for travel, time to travel, travel alone —
The Travelhall.com Nomad @ 8:23 am

Travel Myth 1: I cant afford to travel (Travel is expensive)
Travel does not have to be expensive. There is a whole segment of the travel industry geared towards student and budget travelers.

Flights can be purchased at eye-poppingly low prices these days. Furthermore, accommodation does not have to be expensive especially if you are willing to stay a few streets away from the beach, in a 3 star hotel or even a youth hostel. Budget travel is definitely the adventurous option!

Travel Myth 2: I cant travel alone (I don’t have anyone to travel with)
Thousands of people travel alone every year and come back safely to talk about it.

Lone travelers must take the same precautions as any other traveler. Still, the experience of traveling alone is not as daunting as you might imagine. Like other travelers you must be aware of the issues of safety at night as well as general safety on the streets. If you do feel vulnerable, enroll in a self-defense class before hitting the road.

Travel Myth 3: I don’t have time to travel
Travel does not have to involve two long weeks away from home and long haul flights.

You will be amazed at how revitalizing a three day getaway can be. Booked in advance, a cheap flight with a short stay in a three or 4 star hotel can run as cheap as $400.

In most regions of the world, you are no more than a two or three hour flight away from tropical beaches and sunshine. North Americans can take a short hop flight to a three-day weekend in the Caribbean and Europeans can do the same to the Mediterranean region during bank holiday breaks.

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