History
In 1912, in Altena Castle in Germany, Richard Schirrmann created the first permanent Jugendherberge or "Youth Hostel". These first Youth Hostels were an exponent of the ideology of the German Youth Movement to let poor city youngsters breathe fresh air outdoors. The youths were supposed to manage the hostel themselves as much as possible, doing chores to keep the costs down and build character as well as being physically active outdoors. Because of this, many Youth Hostels closed during the middle part of the day. Very few hostels still require chores beyond washing up after self-catered meals or have a "lockout".
Differences from hotels
There are several differences between hostels and hotels, including:
Hostels tend to be budget-oriented; rates are considerably lower, and many hostels have programs to share books, DVDs and other items.
For those who prefer an informal environment, hostels do not usually have the same level of formality as hotels.For those who prefer to socialize with their fellow guests, hostels usually have more common areas and opportunities to socialize.
The dormitory aspect of hostels also increases the social factor
Hostels are generally self-catering
Communal accommodation. High-tech hostel lockers with electronic key locks.
There is less privacy in a hostel than in a hotel. Sharing sleeping accommodation in adormitory is very different from staying in a private room in a hotel or bed and breakfast, and might not be comfortable for those requiring more privacy. The lessened privacy is also an advantage in some ways, because it encourages more social interaction between guests.
Theft can be a problem, since guests may share a common living space, but this can be avoided by securing guests' belongings. Most hostels offer some sort of system for safely storing valuables, and an increasing number of hostels offer private lockers.
Noise can make sleeping difficult on occasions, whether from snoring, sexual activity, someone either returning late or leaving early or the proximity of so many people. This can be solved by carrying earplugs.
Types of hostels
The traditional hostel format involved dormitory style accommodation. Some newer hostels also include en-suite accommodation with single, double or quad occupancy rooms, though to be considered a hostel they must also provide dormitory accommodation.
In recent years, the numbers of independent and backpackers' hostels have increased greatly to cater for the greater numbers of overland, multi-destination travellers (such as gap-year travellers, and rail-trippers).
The quality of such places has also improved dramatically. While a few hostels do still insist on a curfew, daytime lockouts, and/or require occupants to do chores, this is becoming a rare exception rather than the rule, as hostels adapt to meet the changing expectations of guests.
Hostelling International (HI)
Richard Schirrmann's idea of hostels rapidly spread overseas and eventually resulted in Hostelling International, an organization composed of more than 90 different Youth Hostel associations representing over 4500 Youth Hostels in over 80 countries.Some HI Youth Hostels cater more to school-aged children (sometimes through school trips) and parents with their children, whereas others are more for travellers intent on learning new cultures. However, while the exploration of different cultures and places is emphasized in many hostels, particularly in cities or popular tourist destinations, there are still many hostels providing accommodation for outdoor pursuits such as hillwalking, climbing and bicycle touring; these are often small friendly hostels retaining much of the original vision and often provide valuable access to more remote regions.Despite their name, in most countries membership is not limited to youth.
Independent hostels
Independent hostels are not necessarily affiliated with one of the national bodies of Hostelling International, Youth Hostel Association or any other licensing body. Often, the word independent is used to refer to non-HI hostels even when the hostels do belong to another hostelling organization.The term "youth" is less often used with these properties. These non-HI hostels are often called "backpackers' hostels". Unlike a hotel chain where everything is standardized, these hostels can be very diverse, typically not requiring a membership card.As the hostel industry evolves, independent hostels and HI hostels are becoming more similar, with the word "backpackers" also now applying to many Hostelling International hostels.
Boutique hostels
The general backpacking community is no longer exclusively typified by gap year student travelers and extreme shoe string budgets. In response to demand, as well as increasing competition between the rapidly growing number of hostels, the overall quality of hostels has improved across the industry. In addition to the increase in quality, new styles of hostels have developed that have a focus on a more trendy, design interior.The phrase "boutique hostel" is an often-arbitrary marketing term typically used to describe intimate, luxurious or quirky hostel environments. The term has started to lose meaning because the facilities of many "boutique hostels" are often no different from hostels that aren't referred to with that label. Also, marketers and online booking websites sometimes include boutique hotels in lists of "boutique hostels," further diluting any specific meaning of the phrase.
Mobile hostels
A mobile hostel is a hostel with no fixed location. It can exist in the form of a campsite, a temporary building, or a short term agreement in a permanent building. Mobile hostels most often sprout up at large festivals where there exists a shortage of budget accommodation. As with regular hostels, mobile hostels generally provide budget accommodation for backpackers or travelers on a shoe string budget. As long as there has been a hospitality industry there has been temporary or otherwise unconventional accommodation. Seasonal B&B's and opportunistic locals who offer their private dwellings during high season are examples of this. The first ever commercial example of a mobile hostel can be linked to Hostival. It has sprouted up at Oktoberfest, Carnival,San Fermin, Las Fallas, and the 2010 World Cup.
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