| Hostels have been around in one form or another for | | | | more competitve. |
| a long time. They are oriented towards young | | | | Hostels are not as common in the U.S. as in other |
| travelers and anyone else seeking cheap | | | | countries, unless you include "bed-and-breakfast" |
| accommodations. The United States version was | | | | places. Theses are, after all, somewhat like high-priced |
| originally more complicated, with guests helping with | | | | hostels. There are still cheap hostels in almost every |
| chores, etc. It is much simpler now: you rent a bed | | | | state, though. Search Google for hostels, and you'll find |
| instead of a room, sharing the bathroom, living room | | | | all the information you need. |
| and kitchen. You have less privacy, but cheaper | | | | Other Cheap Accommdations |
| accomodations, and you get to socialize. | | | | For cheap accomodations other than hostels, you can |
| My first time in Quito, Ecuador I stayed at Centro Del | | | | try websites, such as Remember though, that they |
| Mundo, a hostel near the center of town. $4 per night | | | | only give you rates for the hotels and motels in their |
| included breakfast. I shared a room and bathroom with | | | | system. I just did a search for Tucson, Arizona. was |
| 4 others, and a T.V. room with guests from 14 | | | | the easiest to use, and found the best rates. However, |
| countries, and channels in three languages. 80 cents | | | | I could show you several nice motels here in Tucson |
| got me a rum-and-coke to drink while I played chess | | | | that are $15 cheaper than the cheapest rate they |
| with a flower-buyer from Holland. The manager could | | | | found. |
| arrange anything from tours of the snow-covered | | | | Try picking up those coupon books at gas stations |
| volcano Cotapaxi, to $2/hour Spanish lessons. | | | | along the highways. We've almost always found good |
| Is A Hostel For You? | | | | deals using these. It's rare that a manager won't honor |
| I love hostels, but most of you won't. I like mingling with | | | | the coupon. Generally, only if they're absolutely full will |
| travelers from around the world. You're more isolated | | | | they refuse. Read the fine print, though, since they |
| in a hotel. "Mingling," of course, could mean sleeping | | | | often charge more for certain dates, weekends, or for |
| next to a snorer. I'm sure the idea of sharing a room is | | | | two people. |
| too much for some people, as is waiting to use the | | | | Another way to get a cheap room is by negotiating. |
| shower. It's a different experience from staying in a | | | | Unfortunately, for some reason, most owners here in |
| hotel. | | | | the U.S. would rather watch you drive away than |
| Are Hostels Cheap Accomodations? | | | | knock five bucks off the room rate. This isn't true in |
| Even if they were the same price, I'd prefer a hostel to | | | | most other countries. My wife and I were in Banos, |
| a hotel, but one of the biggest reasons people stay in | | | | Ecuador recently, and were told the room would be |
| hostels is to save money. For this, they're a good | | | | $12. The room was clean, with cable T.V. and lots of |
| option when you're traveling alone. Since my wife and I | | | | hot water. We paid just $6 per night, paying four nights |
| travel together now, we don't stay in hostels often. | | | | in advance. The owner understood we were ready to |
| You pay for two beds, after all, which makes hotels | | | | walk away. |