by cjette

In order to manage a hostel it is initially important to establish exactly what is classed as a hostel.  A hostel is not, as it has been defined by the merriam webster online dictionary, a ‘supervised institutional residence’ but in fact a place for both group and individual travellers to stay with a choice of either dormitory accommodation or private room, at budget price.  Travellers should also be able to access common areas and communal facilities.

There are number of aspects to consider when you want to manage a hostel, these include the day to day running of a hostel, marketing your hostel and awareness of your competition.  Here we will discuss issues relating to the day to day running of a hostel.

Security
Security is probably the biggest issue to address when managing your hostel.  A hostel with a poor reputation with security is not a hostel which is going to last long in such a competitive market.  Rooms and floors need to be secure with safety deposit boxes and luggage storage available for all travellers.  If these facilities are available in the reception of a hostel then the reception needs to have double the security.  Travellers need to feel that they can leave their belongings in safe hands.  This leads us to the necessity of having a 24 hour reception.  With flights and travellers able to arrive at any hour of the day, a good hostel will be ready to offer a clean and comfortable bed for anyone.  On the flip side if travellers who are leaving late at night need to know that their belongings can be stored safely and that they are able to access them at any time.

24 hour reception
Reception needs to be an inviting place.  Staff need to be friendly and knowledgable of that area.  Reception is often the first point of call for travellers so staff need to be able to answer questions.  Reception also needs to be a place of knowledge with posters, leaflets brochures – lots of ideas for travellers.  Music in reception is also a must but remember to keep it eclectic to meet everybody’s unique tastes.  Keep a guestbook or suggestion box at reception for comments and any problems a traveller may have.  It is better to hear any grievances first and resolve them before they end up on travel forums.  This is also a good way to establish how happy visitors are with staying at your hostel.

Clean and Usable Kitchen
Travellers need a kitchen complete with utensils, washing up facilities and plenty of storage space.  If a kitchen isn’t clean, people cannot use it which then raises questions about the cleanliness of the rest of the hostel.  Remember that food is a communal activity and helps travellers to meet each other so make this area one that is usable.

A very comfortable bed
Travellers sleep in different beds on a regular basis and so when a good comfortable one comes along they will try to stay in it as long as possible.

Reasonably priced washing facilities
Travellers expect to pay for washing facilities but this doesn’t mean they are happy to spend large amounts on it, remember travellers are often on a budget.  Offer travellers the facilities they need at a reasonable cost.

TV Room
A TV room in a hostel raises a debate.  Some argue that television deters people from getting to know each other, others suggest TV is a home comfort that gives people a chance to chill out.  Think about who is staying at your hostel.  Many hostels with travellers on working visas will have people staying longer term whilst they are working.  TV is often a relaxing evening activity for people after work.  In poor weather, movie days or nights can be a really popular activity.  Think about how often people talk about what’s on or what’s happened on TV, does it really deter people from communicating with each other.

Internet Access
WIFI is now essential in a hostel.  Travellers are not the same as they once were.  Laptops are now an important item to travel with and WIFI is expected.  For those without laptops a hostel needs to provide easy internet access with facilities to skype, upload pictures and burn to cd and download music to ipods and mp3 players.  These are essentials for travellers now so a good hostel needs to provide this for them.

Daytime Activities
In addition to staff being fully capable of suggesting activities to travellers if a hostel can offer daytrips to travellers at a budget price it can increase its chance of extended stays and positive word of mouth.  Remember that sometimes travellers are only around for a few days and so need to fit in as much as possible in only a short space of time.  Offer them the chance to see the sights but without the hassel of finding out about and booking them themselves.

Evening Activities
Many travellers and backpackers like to relax in the evenings and meet some of their fellow travellers and like minded people.  Offering evening activities is a good way to make travellers feel comfortable to meet others.  However, remember to assess who your visitors are.  If an activity isn’t popular think about why that is.  Also, remember that travellers now come in all different shapes and sizes with lots of different interests.  Evening activities need to reflect the demographic within your hostel.

Smoking and Drinking
Hostels should be non-smoking with areas for smokers to go.  Drinking in the hostel is another debatable subject.  If you are a dry hostel you need to offer another alternative such as an in house bar, with reasonably priced drinks, remembering that travellers are often on a budget.  If you allow drinking in the hostel think about certain guidelines.  Not everybody wants to be disturbed by travellers drinking through the night in their dorm room. Each of these aspects of running a hostel need to be constantly watched.  As it was said previously the hostel and traveller market now operated on a huge scale and reputation counts for large part of a hostel’s marketing.  Don’t offer or advertise something you can’t achieve and take the time , or ask staff, to speak to visitors and travellers.  Be interactive so that you can get feedback and gauge an idea as to the different kinds of travellers your hostel attracts.

For more ideas check out how to run a hostel which is an interactive forum which offers free business advice and resources for anyone in the travel and tourism industry.

The hostel of today is different to those of yesteryear. Today’s backpackers hostels have swimming pools, free WiFi, private rooms and more. Here Hostelworld.com’s Colm Hanratty travels to different hostels around Europe to show you just how good hostels are.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

by protoflux

As with all hobbies, there is some initial outlay required in getting started with hiking. The array of products on offer can appear bewildering to a beginner, so here is a list to help sift the essentials from the luxuries.

Safety

A map and compass will help you remain en route. If you are using paper maps, take a waterproof map case for them. Berghaus and Sea To Summit both make excellent map cases which allow you to use your map in the rain without the map becoming damaged. For the modern hiker, a Satmap Active 10 Plus World Map GPS handset is a sturdy and lightweight alternative.

Sun protection: Sunscreen, a good hat such as the North Face Horizon, and UPF-treated clothing such as the Berghaus Pacific shirt combine to protect you from the elements.

A torch or headlamp: The Petzl Tikka 2 allows you to move hands-free, and the powerful light from the Lifesystems Intensity 210 VF LED torch will help you to attract help if you encounter any difficulty.

A First Aid Kit: Lifesystems and Adventure Medical Kits both produce excellent, ready-prepared kits. At the bare minimum we would recommend either the Lifesystems Explorer or Adventure Medical Kits Light and Fast Personal First Aid Kit, but if you will be gone for several days consider a larger, more diverse kit such as the Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Weekender First Aid Kit.

Other safety equipment: Matches or a lighter, and some Light My Fire Tinder Sticks. A good knife or multitool such as the Victorinox Huntsman or Leatherman Squirt.

Additional food, water, and clothing. Pack plenty of water above all else.

Health and Comfort

Good hiking boots will support your ankles, absorb shock, provide grip, and help maintain your posture. The Berghaus Explorer Trek GTX Walking Boot is perfect for general hiking on most surfaces and contains GoreTex to keep your feet dry even in the rain. If you are venturing into hilly or mountainous terrain, however, you need a firmer boot. We recommend the Berghaus Explorer Ridge Walking Boot. Boots should be approximately one full size larger than your shoes.

Walking socks are thicker and more durable than regular wear socks and will make sure that your foot is cushioned and fits your boot snugly. With regular socks the danger of slipping inside your boots is high, which could lead to an accident or even an injury. Select socks which suit the weather – from the SmartWool Light Crew Sock for summer through to the SmartWool Heavy Crew Sock for winter.

A rucksack is essential for carrying everything you wish to take with you. For light trekking, we suggest the Berghaus Freeflow 25 Rucksack, but if you are also carrying camping gear then you will need a larger bag. Try the Berghaus C7 Pro 70 Plus 10 Rucksack, ergonomically designed and with excellent weight distribution measures built in.

A pair of Vango Deluxe Walking Poles will help you remain balanced, keep your spine protected, and absorb shock from your travels to keep you hiking all day.

by BUG Travel Publishing

The New York hostels provide several amenities at cheap rates. You can easily discover an economical and rationally priced hostel in New York. There are several types of hostels contributing a choice of types of amenities. There are hostels for youth, hostels offering bed and breakfast, hostels for students in addition to tourist.

A hostel in New York is set with elite amenities. There are separate in addition to co-ed female and male dorm type rooms available. The rooms are air-conditioned. Each room in a hostel in New York has four beds to ten beds per room. You can also get a two-bed secret room.

The bathrooms are hygienic. Linen is included. The hostels are secure. Lockers are offered for the safety of the customer. The hostel also provides the services of booking for airport transfers and travel around which can be through at the reception. Maid service is extra ordinary.

The lounge area in a hostel in New York is amazing. It consists of a ordinary kitchen, an area for dining, television room, a pool table, card phones and amenities for surfing the net. The employees at the reception are able to speak in different languages, for this reason you need not worry. If you are not acquainted with English, the employees are there to help you. The employees also help in if the consumers with significant information about the city. They also help you in organizing transport and also aid in organizing a tour. A hostel in New York offer round the clock security. They are happy and practical.

Ibiza is a amazing island with great landscapes and seascapes. It is loaded in traditions, beliefs and history. Hostels in Ibiza are well-equipped to accommodate large groups. You can locate a group space in Ibiza. Single housing is also available. They provide numerous amenities as en-suite bathrooms, luggage storage, swimming pools, cleaning services, restaurant, and cafes. They also make provisions for sightseeing.

Barcelona hostels provide safekeeping lockers, guest kitchen, free wireless net and music services and laundry amenities at an reasonable price. The reception is open round the clock and the worker is very responsive.

Hostels in London offer budget rooms with a number of amenities for instance general TV rooms in the lounge, free net and Wi-Fi access, cleaning services and lockers. Various hostels in London even provide free tea and coffee throughout the day and free toast and jam in the morning up to a certain time. The rooms may have 6 beds or 4 beds. Mixed, double and only female rooms are also available. The employees are responsive and the hostels are really protected.

The hostels in Paris provide suitcases storage, guest kitchen, safety deposit, right to use to net, round the clock reception and a lounge area. The rooms are cleaned on a regular basis and pillows and linen are included. There are rooms for three, four, six and fourteen people. Showers are available in the twin rooms. The mixed dorm consists of four, six and fourteen bed. The hostels are cheap, affordable and easy.

The New York hostels provide several amenities at cheap rates. You can easily discover an economical and rationally priced hostel in New York. There are several types of hostels contributing a choice of types of amenities. There are hostels for youth, hostels offering bed and breakfast, hostels for students in addition to tourist.

A hostel in New York is set with elite amenities. There are separate in addition to co-ed female and male dorm type rooms available. The rooms are air-conditioned. Each room in a hostel in New York has four beds to ten beds per room. You can also get a two-bed secret room.

The bathrooms are hygienic. Linen is included. The hostels are secure. Lockers are offered for the safety of the customer. The hostel also provides the services of booking for airport transfers and travel around which can be through at the reception. Maid service is extra ordinary.

The lounge area in a hostel in New York is amazing. It consists of a ordinary kitchen, an area for dining, television room, a pool table, card phones and amenities for surfing the net. The employees at the reception are able to speak in different languages, for this reason you need not worry. If you are not acquainted with English, the employees are there to help you. The employees also help in if the consumers with significant information about the city. They also help you in organizing transport and also aid in organizing a tour. A hostel in New York offer round the clock security. They are happy and practical.

Ibiza is a amazing island with great landscapes and seascapes. It is loaded in traditions, beliefs and history. Hostels in Ibiza are well-equipped to accommodate large groups. You can locate a group space in Ibiza. Single housing is also available. They provide numerous amenities as en-suite bathrooms, luggage storage, swimming pools, cleaning services, restaurant, and cafes. They also make provisions for sightseeing.

Barcelona hostels provide safekeeping lockers, guest kitchen, free wireless net and music services and laundry amenities at an reasonable price. The reception is open round the clock and the worker is very responsive.

Hostels in London offer budget rooms with a number of amenities for instance general TV rooms in the lounge, free net and Wi-Fi access, cleaning services and lockers. Various hostels in London even provide free tea and coffee throughout the day and free toast and jam in the morning up to a certain time. The rooms may have 6 beds or 4 beds. Mixed, double and only female rooms are also available. The employees are responsive and the hostels are really protected.

The hostels in Paris provide suitcases storage, guest kitchen, safety deposit, right to use to net, round the clock reception and a lounge area. The rooms are cleaned on a regular basis and pillows and linen are included. There are rooms for three, four, six and fourteen people. Showers are available in the twin rooms. The mixed dorm consists of four, six and fourteen bed. The hostels are cheap, affordable and easy.

by Rototom Sunsplash

We are all explorers at heart and love nothing better than a getaway with a difference. Nights spent under a moon and starlit sky, with friends and family around them. The great outdoors has always been a means to finding an escape from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle that individuals are subjected to on daily basis. Fortunately, for many of us, the escape we find in nature does not have to mean sleeping on the hard ground.

Some people prefer caravan camping. When assessing the best places to camp, we often look close to home. You can escape to nature anywhere in the world, but a trend that is definitely finding popularity is caravan camping in the UK. From the Welsh countryside to Scotland, there are many sites in the UK for camping.

Two popular examples are Abermarlais Caravan Park in Carmarthenshire, Wales and Faskally Caravan Park in Perthshire, Scotland.

Abermarlais Caravan Park

In the Welsh countryside of Carmarthenshire, Abermarlais Caravan Park provides a glimpse into the truly untouched natural habitat that you crave in a getaway.

Containing a five-acre main camping area, there is always space for campers and their families. The park also has a local shop on-hand for simple necessities to minimize the need to travel for supplies. Though, it is within a short 6-mile venture from the next town to obtain groceries and gas if preferred.

The park is in a very unspoiled part of the countryside where you can venture into the wilderness to explore. There are also walled gardens and lush forests to provide the “getting back to nature” experience. The park is also located on the edge of the Brecon Beacon National Forest for a more in-depth experience for birdwatchers and hikers. There are also excursions that take you for experiences in historical buildings, castles, and villages containing museums if you are looking for a different sort of adventure.

Faskally Caravan Park

Nestled into the Highlands of Perthshire, Faskally provides a view of the fantastic scenery located around Pitlochry, which is located about 90 minutes from several Scottish mainstays such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

For the camper, the park provides a myriad of beautiful landscapes and a haven for the botanist and ornithologist in all of us. You can merely take a stroll into the woodland areas and have an encounter with wildlife and a plethora of native plants. The park is very caravan friendly and includes activities for the adults and children alike.

Both of these parks are fine examples of caravan parks in the UK. They cater to both the need for the natural escape along with the overall convenience of the caravan experience. When you are looking for a park, it is necessary to consider what style of place you are looking for and if they properly accommodate those needs. Both of these parks are good examples of places you would be searching for to make plans for such a trip.

There are other locations in the UK for caravan camping as well. When searching for a park, it is encouraged that you include budgeting and desired amenities in the search. Though these parks stand as great natural getaways, you may want to ensure that there are particular activities available for the children to participate in while they are investigating nature. Parks that you research should include available activities for review before making a final decision, and for that purpose, you need a hi quality information resource like CampingNinja.com.

Overall, caravan camping in the UK opens new doors to experiences beyond one’s backyard, and also provides for a new and exciting natural experience. You are encouraged to review these and other such spots for the next great getaway!

by lululemon athletica

There are several different types of backpacks that can be used for camping. The choice between them is largely a matter of personal preference, but some backpacks are better for some types of camping than others.

An internal frame backpack has the metal frame built into the inside of the backpack. It sits close to the body. An external frame backpack is a large metal frame with the backpack components built onto it. The external frame backpack sits away from the back and often extends above the head of the person wearing it. A frameless backpack is smaller than either of the other two options. It is typically too small for a camping expedition, and is more often used as a day pack.

There are several ways to determine what backpack would work best for you. A good place to start is to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each:

· The internal frame backpack sits close to the body. This makes it easier to carry up and down steep terrain or in the backwoods, because it doesn’t interfere with your center of gravity.

· The external frame backpack sits further away from the body. This can make it more difficult to navigate over rough trails.

· The internal frame backpack, because it sits so close to the body, can be extremely warm. If you do a good deal of hiking in hot weather, you may find that an internal frame backpack is too warm for comfort.

· An external frame backpack sits away from your back, allowing a breeze to circulate between your back and the backpack.

Once you have carefully considered the advantages and disadvantages of an internal and external frame backpack, you will be better able to decide which one is right for you. Regardless of which style you choose, the backpack should fit properly for maximum comfort. How do you know if the backpack fits?

· When wearing the backpack you should be able to look up without hitting your head on the backpack.

· When you squat down, the backpack should not hit you in the back of the calves.

· Walk around with the backpack on, with some weight in it. Any pain felt in your shoulders or back could mean that you need to adjust the backpack, or it could mean that the backpack does not fit. Either way, do not use it on a hiking trip until you have fixed the problem.

· If your backpack does not have a sternum strap or hip strap, consider purchasing one to use with it. These straps are very helpful at redistributing the weight of the backpack in a more comfortable manner.

If you are interested in camping, invest in a quality backpack. A backpack is one of the most important pieces of equipment that you will use while camping. An ill-fitting backpack can ruin your camping trip. A properly fitted backpack can make the experience more enjoyable.

There are a variety of additions that you can include when purchasing a backpack. A rain guard slides over the top of your backpack so that a sudden shower does not cause all of your clothes to become drenched. Extra straps make it possible to strap hiking poles and water bottles to the outside of your backpack for easy access. A food container makes it easy to keep your food safe from any animals that may want you to provide them with a meal.

Once you have chosen the backpack and gear for your camping trip, take time to properly pack. Place heavy items that you will not use during the day in the bottom of the pack, close to your back. Cooking paraphernalia, for example, could be packed there. Items that you need ready access to, such as the first aid kit, should be packed near the top.

Things that you may need during the day, like water and snack food, can be packed in pockets on the outside of the backpack. Finally, no matter what the weather, it does not hurt to toss your raingear in the top of the backpack. This way, if a storm blows in suddenly, you will not soak the contents of your backpack trying to find your rainwear.

Properly packing a backpack requires trial and error. You may have to pack and repack it before you get the right weight and adjustment. If you plan on hiking a significant amount, reducing the weight of your backpack can significantly increase your comfort level. While some people are comfortable carrying 35% of their bodyweight, others prefer to keep their backpack’s weight to around 25% of their weight. Experience and experimentation will allow you to develop a feel for the best weight for your backpack.

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