History from Wikipedia
History from Wikipedia:
"In 1912 in Altena Castle in Germany, Richard Schirrmann created the
first permanent Jugendherberge or 'Youth Hostel' (now a trademark of the former
International Youth Hostel Federation or IYHF). 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 and do chores to keep the costs down and
build character as well as being physically active outdoors. Because of this,
many Youth Hostels closed (and still close) during the middle part of the day.
The idea rapidly spread overseas and eventually resulted in Hostelling
International (HI), a non-profit 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 and these are often small friendly hostels that retain 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."
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Although staying at a hostel might not appeal to all travelers, those who do
choose a hostel over a hotel might do so for the following reasons:
PRICE - hostels tend to be considerably less expensive than hotels -
especially for the single traveler - as they charge by the person
COMMUNITY - hostels are 'community-style' accommodations. Staying
at a hostel means sharing a room and bathroom facilities with other travelers.
Not unlike dormitory living, often there are common areas - kitchen and living -
where you can prepare a meal or meet and visit with others staying in the
hostel. Some hostels still require that visitors perform some menial
work (cleaning, chores) in exchange for being able to stay at the hostel,
although this is now more the exception than the rule.
CONVENIENCE - many hostels are situated in the heart of a city or town, close
to public transportation, since many travelers that travel by foot, bicycle or
rail may choose to stay at a hostel rather than a hotel.. Most
hostels that are located outside a central area will provide free or low-cost
transportation to and from their facility.
AMBIANCE - hostels are very 'social' places to stay. It's not
unusual to see guests sitting in the common room reading, playing board games,
strumming a guitar or watching television together.
In order for a facility to be a hostel it must:
1. provide short-term accommodations for travelers
2. provide bed rental in a dormitory-type accommodation
3. provide shared bath facilities
4. have 'common areas' such as kitchen and living room that can be used
by all guests
5. have a street address (would not fit in the 'Remote Backcountry
Shelters' Category)
Some hostels may also provide private or ensuite accommodations, but they
must have dormitory style facilities also in order to be considered.
Hostels may or may not have 'closed' hours (when guests may not be able to
access the rooms). Hostels can be independent or belong to an
organization, as long as they do not restrict usage (some may charge more for
non-members, but non-members can still stay there). They
can be independent or belong to an organization - as long as they clearly
indicate on their signage that they are a 'hostel'.
LINKS
The following links are to websites that provide information and
booking to hostels around the world. This list is by no means definitive,
but should provide you with a good starting point when looking for nearby
establishments. Be aware that many of the facilities listed are
hotels and might not fall into the 'hostel' category.
http://www.hihostels.com/
http://www.hostelworld.com/
http://www.hostelseurope.com/
http://www.hostels.com/
http://www.hostels.net/