At the beginning of this work trip, at one of my favorite Parisian hostels, I met two other women traveling. In our conversation, they asked me more about my profession. I told them about the exciting growth happening in my company, and then they asked me why I was staying in a hostel if I had a growing business.
Yes, luxury accommodations are awesome. Sleeping on French overnight trains makes me feel ultra-relaxed, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed first class plane rides, especially that comfy seat from Athens, Greece to Atlanta, Georgia, with access to drinks whenever I desired. Yet when I travel solo, my preference has been to book shared accommodations at hostels. This would have been a pretty lonely trip through Europe if I had stayed in my own hotel room for the past 22 nights.
Here is why I prefer to stay at hostels when I travel alone:
1. Access to more new friends
Hostels aren’t just filled with wild college students, though there are some that have too much of a party atmosphere for my taste. There are many great people to meet. Recently, I had great breakfast conversations with a biologist who is based in Munich, Germany. Another woman from Spain shared a room with me in Geneva, and I enjoyed listening to her flip through up to 5 different languages, depending on whom she spoke with. I also now know an artist who spends half of his year selling paintings of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre, Italy. There are very unique lives to learn about.
Hostel guests are ready to meet new people, while I find that hotel guests often already have their own plans in place, and are less likely to strike up a conversation with you. Of course, there will be days on your trip where you’ll want quiet solitude, and this is the opportunity to book a hotel room or upgrade to a private room at the hostel.
Staying in hostels is also like attending a constant networking event, and I’ve given out many of my business cards on this trip.
2. Spices are provided
Most hostels have a collection of cooking supplies, spices, oils and dressings that are available for you to use whenever you want. You’ll be able to create an easy salad dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano and sea salt. Free basic food supplies are also provided in most hostels (noodles, bread, and tea), though these items are not always very nutritious. Buy your own produce to bring in and then use the complimentary spices.
3. Learn about multiple new cultures at once, instead of only experiencing the local culture
When vacationing in the Cinque Terre this September, I learned just as much about the Australian culture as I did about Italian culture. During my time in Barcelona several years ago, all I did was hang out with Swedish students. You’ll meet travelers from around the world in hostels.
Sometimes the plugs just need a little bit of help to stay in the socket.
4. Lots of character
I love bringing home stories about the quirks of different locations I’ve spent time in. I once roomed in a houseboat on a Dutch river, stayed in a converted monastery, and I have woken up to views of the Swiss Alps. The eccentricities of hostels can be quite fun, and you must always find humor in what doesn’t always work as well as you wish it did.
These are some of my top favorite hostels/hotels, and I encourage you to give them a peek if you plan to travel on your own soon
Hotel Landhaus in Bern, Switzerland
Landhaus Hotel in Bern, Switzerland http://www.albertfrida.ch/
The view of the Aare River right outside of this 100-year old building is breathtaking!
Caulaincourt Square in Montmartre, Paris, France http://www.caulaincourt.com/
I believe I’ve stayed at this hostel 4 times now. There’s a health food store down the street, full of organic (bio) food. This hotel doesn’t have a lot of space to cook, but I find space in their low-key, usually never crowded bar downstairs.
The Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald, Switzerland http://www.mountainhostel.com/
This is high in the Alps, and in homes close to it, you’ll be able to purchase freshly made butter and cheese from cows that roam in the fields. If you’ve read Westin Price’s books about renewing dental health, this is the high vitamin butter that is commonly talked about. It is the best butter I have ever tasted.
© 2012 Ava Waits
Ava Waits is an inspirational speaker, business mentor, and forthcoming author.She believes that making money should feel like bliss, and through her work, she provides innovative business, money, and marketing guidance to entrepreneurial women worldwide.
Ava first used entrepreneurship to pull herself out of poverty, going from food stamps and the food bank line, to signing on over $17,000 worth of business in one month. She is passionately committed to helping other women release financial constriction, feel content with money, and live richer lives through entrepreneurship. Ava’s clients often receive surprise income, travel the world with their businesses, and start signing on new clients at their highest prices yet.
As a speaker, Ava has been interviewed on television, and has been invited around the country to inspire audiences at business events, women’s organizations, and financial companies. To connect with Ava, and to view article and video archives, please visit www.AvaWaits.com.
