Since I’m gearing up for budget travel both here and abroad, I was
particularly interested to read
this recent NYT piece. It seems that standards for hostels have reached new levels, with some offering perks like
Jacuzzis and all-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts. This trend sounds like good news, but only if the prices remain
affordable for these places, which is the reason budget travelers choose hostels in the first place. Many people also
choose hostels as a way to meet others while traveling (like at the friendly hostel bar shown here), and to stay at a
place that feels less like a hotel and more like a home away from home. I wouldn’t want to see the perk trend move
hostels away from that too much, but offering a wider variety of amenities to guests surely can’t hurt.
The article mentions several hostel booking organizations and popular chains, including
Globetrotter Inns and
USAhostels, a newer chain located only on the West coast
right now, and highlights several hostels that have earned recognition for climbing the ladder in the world of low-cost
lodging. It just so happens that I received my renewed Hostelling
International membership card in the mail the other day, and will be breaking it in this coming weekend when I stay
at in a hostel in Portland, Oregon. I’ll be sure to share a report about my budget accommodations, which will be easy
to do, since the hostel has free wifi, yet another fabulous perk that should send a message to those luxury hotels
still charging for internet access.