The backpacker hostel, as we know it today, was invented about twenty-five years ago. My involvement began when I was working as a divemaster taking tourists to the Great Barrier Reef.
I have friends who got into the business through mountaineering and others through sailing. We saw a need for cheap basic accommodation and set out to provide it. Since then the industry has evolved considerably. Looking at the advertisements on the net I am disappointed to see how commercialised everything has become.
My wife and I sold our hostel eight years ago. I now have no financial interest in backpacking and will do my best to give independent advice.
Q Why stay in a backpacker hostel?
A a) It’s relatively inexpensive;
b) a good hostel has a communal atmosphere;
c) you can meet people and share experiences.
Hostels come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are huge resorts that cater for the travelling party animal. Others are small and laid back. Some provide accommodation for fruit pickers. Others are more like eco-resorts. Many have private rooms with en-suite as well as dormitories. Laundries and kitchens are always provided. Internet access is the norm.
Many hostels belong to organisations: notably VIP,YHA and Nomads. They are meant to ensure high standards but do not always succeed. Surf the net and see what they have to offer.
Get personal advice from people who have been on the backpacker trail. Talk to friends and use social networking sites like twitter and facebook. Different people have different tastes. Try to learn from people like yourself.
I shall confine my photos to Globetrotters backpacker hostel, which my wife and I established. It consisted of an old colonial house (seen above) and a modern accommodation block that we built at the rear. The site was recently cleared to make way for a luxury apartment building.
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