Arthur Idyllic Voyages: Hostel

Can you imagine just leaving home and moving from country to country, culture to culture?

How exactly would you do that?

What exactly are the benefits?

Tocancipá Cudinamarca

My story starts like this...

I went from Jamaica to Colombia.

Honestly, I can't remember if I was hesitant or not. I knew I had a goal in mind and I was determined to follow my dreams.

I decided that I wanted to continue to progress in my language acquisition journey. In order to do that I needed to immerse myself completely in the language and culture and what better way to do that than to get a job in a country where the language is spoken?

So, I did just that.

I had been studying Spanish and theatre at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica when I was offered the opportunity to move to Colombia and teach English. I graciously accepted.

Despite the stigma attached to teaching, you realise sooner rather than later that teaching isn't the worst job as many people seem to think and even more with the right set of circumstances you become a world traveller faster than you can count ABC…

Wait no… I think I'm supposed to say 1,2,3...

My brain must still be on holiday. It happens sometimes since you generally have more breaks than the average person that works from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or longer in some cases.

Santander statue in Cúcuta

Danielle in Pamplona

I lived in Cúcuta, a small city right by the Venezuelan border. I had never been anywhere that was as hot as there but I was simply astonished when I found out that just an hour away in a cute little town called Pamplona, I needed to wear a jacket as it was cold.

Being close to the border I encountered some Venezuelans who had come over to Colombia in search of food, clothes, lodging and finances. It wasn't very difficult to understand their troubles as we occasionally see the catacylsm of their country in the media but I couldn't desist from feeling sad nonetheless at the simple thought of their sufferation.

One day, I opened my door after hearing a knock and in front of me stood a man who politely ask if I could offer him anything. He told me about his situation and after a little while asked me if he could have the yoghurt which I was eating. I wish I could have done more to help him but I offered him a fresh yoghurt from the fridge and a bag of other things I found in the kitchen without hesitating. This left me feeling distressed that my daily pleasures which I don't think twice about are the desires and necessities of others who don't have access to them.

On the other hand, my fondest memory of my time in Colombia was most definitely the trip that I took to Medellín. I am supposed to tell you in English terms about my experience but I regret to inform you that I cannot transcribe and transfer how much fun I had in this city.

Travel group in Colombia

I travelled in a small group with friends. We stayed at the Ivy Hostel which I recommend 100%. It deserves a 10 on the scale of 1 to 10 and as one of the benefits of staying in a hostel, I met a whole lot of other travellers from all around the world.

I spent this time exploring Medellín with a group of awesome people including: Egytians, Germans, Swiss, Canadians, Americans and Jamaicans.

The highlight tourist attraction of the trip was without a doubt the grave of Pablo Escobar and the house wherein he was killed. Escobar was a well-known Colombian drug lord, narcoterrorist and believe it or not, a politician. Thanks to him the Medellín Cartel was founded and cocaine trade to the United States monopolised in the 1980's and 1990's.

Pablo Escobar's grave

Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on who is reading), he was killed in December 1993 in a shootout in Los Olivios, a middle class neighbourhood by Colombian national police. He was assumingly hiding out after his escape from the 'luxurious' La Catedral prison and being on the run for 16 months.

We also visited Comuna 13, a famous but volatile graffitti neighbourhood in Colombia and to top it all off, we climbed to the top of the huge rock at Guatape.

Comuna 13

Though Medellín was an incomparable bucket list adventure and experience, I also had fun in Cúcuta. I admit that I am not very keen on going to the nightclubs, dancing in Colombia was one of my favourite activities.

Food on the other hand in my opinion wasn't as good as the food in the Caribbean which I was accustomed to but I really enjoyed the beans, soups and beer in the city.

Danielle and friends

Colombian restaurant

I hope that you too can visit Cúcuta or Medellín or even Pamplona in the near future because you are guaranteed a good time, great culture, different types of foods, lasting friendships and unforgettable memories even if you aren't a teacher. ;-)

Besos y abrazos

- Danielle

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there, here we are again discussing accommodation. One of the more important factors when booking a trip.

In the article "Should I stay in a hostel?" we discussed why staying in a hostel is one of the things that you should do at least once in your life and now we will give you the top ten best reasons why you stay in a hostel.

Let's get going …

1. Price

There is no doubt whatsoever that the price of paying for a bed or even a room in a hostel is one of the deciding factors in choosing to stay at a hostel. The general price of a hostel suits everyone's budget, from the backpacker to the CEO (even though he/she may prefer a hotel and well… more often than not the company pays for their abode).

The price of a bed may depend on the number of beds in the room or on the time of year when the room/bed is booked but nonetheless it remains affordable and may only cost you a ⅓ of what you may pay at a hotel.

2. Location

You may want to stay in the hustle and bustle of the city or you may prefer the outskirts where it is a little more calm. Hostels in participating cities tend to be stretched out across the country and it is not very difficult to find a hostel in an area that is pleasing to you. 3. Choice

Have you ever heard the single "Options", Pitbull feat. Stephen Marley, well you can listen here.
There are many variations of hostels so it's up to you to choose "the top one" depending on what type of atmosphere and location attracts you. Many of them are themed and have a variety of different amenities available to you. With a quick search and the application of a few filters you can find exactly what you are looking for.
The choice is yours!

4. Assistance

Whether you are visiting a new city or returning for the umpteenth time, hostels have staff that are generally well-informed and offer you assistance in any area that you may need. They also offer recommendations for places to eat, clubs to visit, things you must see, even areas to avoid etc.
Like hotels, they have plenty literature that you can read for yourself too. (Many of them also have personalised city maps so don't forget to ask for one!)

5. Discounts

As the hostel personnel offers you information, they may include some of the special offers that you are entitled to as a temporary resident in their establishment. Most hostels allow you to receive coupons that may reduce your costs of entering certain attractions, bars, cafes or discounted prices on tours, etc., so feel free to find out about what they can offer you if you aren't told. (Read more in our Travel Tricks section).

6. Information

Staying in a hostels allows you to have information that you sometimes wouldn't be able to get on the streets. As seen above in the assistance section. The staff assists you and provides you with information that is authentic as most staff members in hostels are locals and they have been in the business for a while. The information is tailored to suit your needs, especially on a budget.

7. Meeting People

If there is one place that you are guaranteed to meet people and even make a new friend, then a hostel is definitely the place to do so. Seeing that this type of accommodation has many shared spaces, there is no doubt that you would bump into someone and a friendly hello can definitely set you in the right travel and friend making mood.

8.Bar/Lounge

Most hostels are equipped with a bar or a lounge area where you can sit, relax, have a drink and socialise. This service is not provided at all hostels but when it is available to you, you can consider yourself to be at home with a nice bar area close-by or even at a nightclub within your hostel. It is quite convenient as you don't have to travel far for some nice music, friendly faces and a beverage. (Non-smoking areas so that their guests can be comfortable when having a beverage.)

9. Security

Key cards, badges or even big chunky old-fashioned keys are needed for entry into the hostel and also your room. The majority of hostels offer security from outside threats and have policies to resolve in-house situations. That being said, you should also consider walking with a lock as locker systems are provided to safeguard your property. You may also rent or buy a lock from the hostel reception.

10. Atmosphere

Remember that camping trip or that house party or that random event where you went with a friend and then you met more people there and they also became your friend?
A hostel provides you with a very warm and friendly atmosphere that you could really get used to but at the same time there's a festive feeling where you want to stay up till the wee hours of the morning and dance the night away.

Whether it's the price that is just right, the location is just perfect, or you're looking for a good time and maybe to meet some people, a hostel has something fitting for you. It's up to you to book your hostel today!

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Whether you are on a budget or just looking for some adventure, staying in a hostel for at least one night is one of the activities you should do when you travel. Truth be told, not all hostels are the same nor do they offer the same activities, comfort and definitely not the same rules neither do they target the same population.

A hostel is "a place that provides cheap food and lodging for a particular group of people" (Oxford Pocket Dictionary. 10th ed.) With this in mind, you should not expect 5 star accommodation as most hostels include shared spaces and facilities. Rooms are usually dormitories that may be mixed, females only or males only and may have from 4 to 10 beds or sometimes even more. Some have themes associated with the rooms or even the hostel in general and this is reflected by colourful painted walls or doors.

The option of booking a private room is available. It costs a bit more than average but allows you to have the privacy you need even on a tight budget. You may compare a private room in a hostel to a 2 or in some cases 3 star hotel. Private rooms do not always offer absolute privacy and you may at times need to share some facilities like the restrooms, kitchen etc.

If you are travelling as a group of friends or family, you should consider letting one person book the room to make the process easier. However, there is no guarantee that your group will be placed together in the same room so you may want to contact the hostel directly to try to arrange that.

Given that hostels are almost never empty or many times they are booked way in advance, you too may need to consider pre-booking. Although most of them allow "free" cancellation, you may need to pay a little more money in order for the cancellation policy to come into effect so be sure to read the rules on cancellation and refunds in the event that you may need to do either. Each hostel has a different policy so DO NOT think that because you are using the same site for your booking e.g., Hostelworld that all terms and conditions of the parent site will apply to the booking.

In the case where the majority of the patrons are younger persons, noise level may at some point become an issue depending on the type of hostel you intend to book. The general populace that hostels target are younger people generally between the ages of 18 and 28 therefore, you may find that numerous hostels restrict entry for persons over and under this age limit but this is not the case for all of them so you may want to familiarise yourself with the terms of conditions of booking before you actually reserve a room or a bed.

If you're looking for stays of more than 3 weeks, a hostel is not the ideal place and you may want to invest in a temporary apartment or an Airbnb. This is because hostels are generally associated with short periods of stay so when booking your hostel, always make yourself aware of the terms and conditions of stay in your hostel because it will save you even more money and it also helps you to avoid putting yourself in an unnecessary predicament.

Remember to have fun and don't be afraid to meet new people, after all, you're sharing a living space with them.

You may read more about the hostels in "The top 10 reasons why you should stay in a hostel".

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Santorini is a small island about 200km southeast of mainland Greece. It is one of the Cyclades islands, a small group of islands located in the Aegean sea which was a former administrative prefecture of Greece.It is accessible by ferry or by airplane which leaves from Athens, an approximated 30 minute journey.

Let's go...

Photo by Ryan Spencer

Photo by Ryan Spencer

Upon arrival on the island, struck first by the sight of pristine white and blue buildings, a feeling of awe overtook me. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. The locals were warm and welcoming and that cosy home-away-from-home feeling was what I admired on the island.

For the duration of the trip, the accommodation was a hostel located in the town center of the island. From there, everything was easily accessible. The hostel provided information on different restaurants and various activities that could be done in Santorini while providing the opportunity to meet other travellers.

One activity in particular that was quite exciting was an escape game and for those of you that don’t know what it is, well, an escape game is a team-based activity where participants are locked in a room and are required to work collaboratively in order to find clues and solve puzzles and ultimately escape the room or series of rooms before the time is up.

This escape game was called “Escape Santorini”, what a fitting name. The room in which my team and I were assigned to was called… drum roll please… “the Volcano room”... I bet you were expecting the Santorini room, well no, that would be too cliché, don’t you think?
This room was based on the historical occurences of the volcano located in Santorini and its eruptions and speaking of the volcano, you should add that to your to-do list as I did.

When travelling, you should do things that you never thought you would ever do… so here begins my horror story… there I was heart in hand, terrified of heights but my friends persuaded me to do this… was I regretting coming along for the trip... Oh well, it was too late now. You needed to take a short boat ride to arrive at your “Final Destination” and for those of you who have never watched the film, spoiler alert, it’s not for the faint of heart.

Guess what activity came before actually arriving at the boat’s location… *cue drum roll*... walking! Yes, you needed to walk or hike rather, a few thousand steps to arrive at the dock but it was not as exhausting as it may have seemed. Another option would have been to take the funicular if you didn’t feel like walking or if you’re weren’t in a position to do so. It’s much more convenient, but if you like the exercise, walking is the way to go.

Photo by Artiom Vallat

Santorini Volcano

After arrival at the base of the volcano, we disembarked and we now needed to take a hike up to the summit of the volcano. Let’s just say that my heart was still pumping and the adrenaline was building even more now. Climbing up the volcano and passing many craters, I envisaged myself falling to my doom. I was quite nervous. Wouldn’t you be? This is not the moment where I plummet to my death, after all I am the hero of my story, it would be unjust for me to die at this point and by now you have gathered that I didn’t die or I wouldn’t be able to tell this tale. Thus, I reached the top, I was feeling triumphant at this point but then I smelt Sulphur quite prominently. I was sure the Devil was coming from hell to devour… my friends…they were the ones who persuaded me to come. I was humbled and intrigued all at once at the sight and feeling of the heat and steam rising from the rocks because the volcano though dormant, was still active.

We had to go back to the dock but this time we took the funicular which was somewhat nerve-wracking due to my aforementioned fear of heights. You could also take a donkey to arrive at the dock site. The donkey did the walking for you, all that was missing were the palm leaves and the people to announce your arrival. In the end though, this was an experience that I am glad I had the opportunity to have had.

A typical Santorini Sunset

At the end of a beautiful day, a Santorini sunset is definitely a sight to behold so feel free to add that to your list of things to do when going to Santorini, Greece. You can take a taxi ride or a nice hike from one end of the island to the other to gaze upon the picturesque, iconic white and blue buildings in all their splendor and the beautiful sunset over the horizon. Whether travelling, in a group or alone, ending your day in admiration of a magical Santorini sunset should surely be a part of your experience on this island.

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