Hostelling
in the United States:
The Unknown Way to Travel
By: Andrew Hutchison
When people hear the word “hostel” the first thing
that probably comes to mind is a place to stay while traveling
in Europe. What many people don’t realize is that there
is a network of hostels all over the United States, as well
as Canada. Granted, if you are traveling with a carload of friends,
hostelling might not be your most economical choice when compared
to a standard hotel. However, if you are traveling alone or
with another person, hostelling is something you might want
to explore. You might be asking, “What exactly is a hostel?”
Geared for travelers of all ages, a hostel is a less expensive
alternative to staying in hotels, or elsewhere. The price can
range anywhere from $7-$20 per night. Some will even exchange
work for payment. Almost all the rooms are communal. Kitchens
and lounges are common areas, as well as bedrooms. Bedrooms
usually consist of bunk beds and are divided between sexes.
Privacy is usually at a minimum, but that is part of the experience.
Common areas open up the opportunity to interact with other
guests. While sitting on a porch or lounge, travel stories are
exchanged. In the kitchen, what starts out as a meal for yourself
turns into a pitch-in dinner. These are the times that new friends
and lasting memories are made. After staying in almost a dozen
hostels around the country, you can get a feel for how each
of them differ. Some go out of their way to make you feel welcome,
while others merely serve as a place to rest your head for the
night. One of my favorite hostels is in Portland, Oregon on
Hawthorne Blvd. I wanted to spend a week in Portland. Not knowing
anyone, I figured the hostel was my best option. The kitchen
had lots of free food to cook as well as a fresh supply of baked
goods donated from the bakery down the street. In the mornings
they have “all you can eat pancakes” for $1. Of course
you have to cook them yourself. Needless to say, I was never
hungry during my stay in Portland. The people there were really
nice. I even met an Australian skater and we sessioned Burnside
together a few times. After being there a week and having to
leave, I felt like a little kid at summer camp. Other features
you might find at certain hostels are access to internet and
e-mail. There are usually lots of books, games, and music laying
around for your leisure. Many serve as the local Greyhound stop.
If the airport, train or bus station happens to be a distance,
many will shuttle you to and from. There is a hostel in New
Mexico that has on site hot springs and one in the South that
sleep its guests in treehouses. The most important aspect of
hostelling is the area around them that you are opened up to.
For the skater and snowboarder, many hostels are located in
places you would already want to be, for example, the streets
of many big cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Denver,
and San Diego. Or mountain towns with neighboring ski areas
like Silverthorne Colorado, Crested Butte, and Flagstaff Arizona.
Not to mention, all the ones scattered up and down the coasts,
usually just a short walk from the beach. So the next time you’re
on the road, try staying in a hostel. It is definitely something
worth experiencing. It will add a twist to your travels, and
you will meet some nice people.
When people hear the word “hostel” the first thing
that probably comes to mind is a place to stay while traveling
in Europe. What many people don’t realize is that there
is a network of hostels all over the United States, as well
as Canada. Granted, if you are traveling with a carload of friends,
hostelling might not be your most economical choice when compared
to a standard hotel. However, if you are traveling alone or
with another person, hostelling is something you might want
to explore. You might be asking, “What exactly is a hostel?”
Geared for travelers of all ages, a hostel is a less expensive
alternative to staying in hotels, or elsewhere. The price can
range anywhere from $7-$20 per night. Some will even exchange
work for payment. Almost all the rooms are communal. Kitchens
and lounges are common areas, as well as bedrooms. Bedrooms
usually consist of bunk beds and are divided between sexes.
Privacy is usually at a minimum, but that is part of the experience.
Common areas open up the opportunity to interact with other
guests. While sitting on a porch or lounge, travel stories are
exchanged. In the kitchen, what starts out as a meal for yourself
turns into a pitch-in dinner. These are the times that new friends
and lasting memories are made. After staying in almost a dozen
hostels around the country, you can get a feel for how each
of them differ. Some go out of their way to make you feel welcome,
while others merely serve as a place to rest your head for the
night. One of my favorite hostels is in Portland, Oregon on
Hawthorne Blvd. I wanted to spend a week in Portland. Not knowing
anyone, I figured the hostel was my best option. The kitchen
had lots of free food to cook as well as a fresh supply of baked
goods donated from the bakery down the street. In the mornings
they have “all you can eat pancakes” for $1. Of course
you have to cook them yourself. Needless to say, I was never
hungry during my stay in Portland. The people there were really
nice. I even met an Australian skater and we sessioned Burnside
together a few times. After being there a week and having to
leave, I felt like a little kid at summer camp. Other features
you might find at certain hostels are access to internet and
e-mail. There are usually lots of books, games, and music laying
around for your leisure. Many serve as the local Greyhound stop.
If the airport, train or bus station happens to be a distance,
many will shuttle you to and from. There is a hostel in New
Mexico that has on site hot springs and one in the South that
sleep its guests in treehouses. The most important aspect of
hostelling is the area around them that you are opened up to.
For the skater and snowboarder, many hostels are located in
places you would already want to be, for example, the streets
of many big cities like San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Denver,
and San Diego. Or mountain towns with neighboring ski areas
like Silverthorne Colorado, Crested Butte, and Flagstaff Arizona.
Not to mention, all the ones scattered up and down the coasts,
usually just a short walk from the beach. So the next time you’re
on the road, try staying in a hostel. It is definitely something
worth experiencing. It will add a twist to your travels, and
you will meet some nice people.