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You might think of hosteling as something that college students do while traveling through Europe for the summer. However, hosteling is not just for the college crowd anymore, and now includes people of all ages and backgrounds. If you are a traveler on a budget, staying at a hostel can be an adventure that will add to your travel experience.

Staying in a hostel will not be everyones cup of tea, and many travelers would prefer to spend the money on a traditional hotel. Hostel traveling is best suited to those traveling alone, or to young people traveling in groups. Hostels are not really recommended for families traveling with young children. In fact, many hostels do not accept children under a certain age.

Most hostels are set up like dormitory rooms, with several bunk beds arranged in the room, with anywhere from four to ten bunks per room. Each traveler is assigned a specific bed upon check-in.

Nearly all of the hostels in the United States group their accommodations according to gender, with the female guests in one section of rooms and the male guests in another. In multi-level hostels, males and females are often separated by floor.

It is not uncommon, however for European hostels (and those elsewhere around the world) to allow mixed genders to share a room. Make sure to ask about the policy of the hostel before you check in. I, as a woman traveling solo, have never encountered a problem with these arrangements, and I have stayed in hostels throughout Europe, including Rome, London and Amsterdam. Some visitors might be surprised or offended by these sleeping arrangements.

The bathroom accommodations at hostels differ also, with some rooms containing a shared bathroom and shower, while other hostels will have shower and bathroom facilities located in the hallway. If you would prefer not to share a bathroom with strangers, make sure you ask about the hostels policy ahead of time.

More often now, reservations are becoming increasingly vital at hostels, especially during the summer months in popular cities. It is now not at all unusual for hostels in popular tourist cities to be booked solid for months, where once it was common for travelers to be able drop by the hostel and expect to get a bed.

Price is by far the biggest appeal of staying at hostels. The nightly rate for a hostel is usually no higher than $25 or $30 per night, with most costing even less. With the average hotel room cost somewhere around $100 to $150 in many cities, it is easy to see why hostels are becoming such a popular alternative.

Another benefit of staying in a hostel is that the staff is extremely accommodating and knowledgeable about the local area. Unlike many staff members of some luxury hotels, who travel in from the outlying areas and rarely see the city in which they work, hostel staff tend to live in the city, and have an personal knowledge of the local sites, including which attractions are cannot miss and which ones are not worth the trip.

Hostels also usually have access to discounts and coupons for local area attractions and restaurants, and they can provide information on the best restaurants and hangouts around.

While not everyone will find a hostel appealing, and the accommodation of a local hostel are simple at best, they can be wonderful options for lodging for the budget minded traveler. After all, the goal of travel is to get out and see the world, and hostel travel lets you save money on lodging so that you can do just that.

Well you won’t be traveling to Monaco and staying at a five star resort on a budget, will you? Maybe so!  Mostly, traveling on a budget means finding the cheapest price for the experience you want.

When traveling on a budget it’s best to keep in mind the following points:

1. Travel in the off-peak seasons. You can save up to as much as fifty per cent off air flights and accommodation costs if you plan to travel in low season times.

2. Stay away from popular tourist spots (unless they are on your ‘must-see’ list). If you can go off the beaten track with your destinations, things can be cheaper to see and do and your cultural experiences will be richer.

3. Try camping. Not only is it the cheapest form of accommodation it’s a great way to get up close and personal to nature. It’s the best way to see National Parks and Heritage listed areas.

4. Look for special travel offers (or packages). But make sure you check everything that they include – and don’t include.

5. Invest in a travel pass where you are able. Most developed countries have a rail or bus transport system where you can obtain day, week or monthly passes that will get you around cheaply.

6. Get a work permit if you aim to gain employment while traveling overseas. Working can help subsidize places that aren’t so cheap, such as Europe and Australia.

7. Look for good exchange rates on the dollar. This may help you decide which country to travel to.

8. Think about shortening your visit to destinations that are expensive and increasing your length of stay in cheaper places.

9. Where possible use your credit card. The exchange rate is better.

10. When staying in a hotel, avoid paying for ‘extras’. Don’t touch anything from the honor bar. Don’t watch the in-house movies and don’t use the hotel phone. And try not to use room service too much!

On the world scene there are some great places to travel on a budget for under thirty dollars a day. In Asia you can try India, Laos, China, Cambodia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand, Sumatra and Burma. In Central and South America you can visit El Salvador, Bolivia and Ecuador. If you are after a budget experience in the Pacific, try Fiji or New Zealand. Over in Africa there are some great budget destinations such as Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Don’t forget the Middle East where places like Iran, Syria and Turkey provide excellent value for money and wonderful experiences for the budget traveler.

There is no ‘best place’ to travel on a budget. Just be prepared to look around, avoid the pitfalls of unwanted costs in package deals or hotel bookings. If you want to travel and your budget doesn’t meet your expectations, be flexible and see if there is somewhere cheaper you might like to experience. You could be pleasantly surprised with your stay in India or Iran, when you thought you wanted to go to Tahiti.

This article was provided by:

Stuart S. Travel / Your All World Travel Guru

http://www.stuartstravel.com

What would you say if you were told that you could go to Europe on an affordable package? Would you be skeptical? Would you be amused? Or would you be plainly dumbfounded in disbelief?

European travel has always been the most expensive. Most middle class wage earners would need to tighten their belts for several years, scrimping & saving just so they can afford their dream European vacation. Europe represents one of the many fantasies of most people because of its quiet elegance, its romantic sceneries & panoramic views. European countryside is magical & has been the inspiration of many poems & the venue o many love stories. Europe is a great destination for newlyweds on their honeymoons, retirees wanting to get a taste of the good life & just about everybody else looking for a good time. But, Europe is also synonymous with expensive food, expensive hotels, expensive clothes & just about everything else is more expensive in Europe!

Cheap travel Europe gives you an option that would otherwise be unaffordable to many people. Cheap travel Europe takes away the “expensive” in Europe! Cheap travel Europe lets you achieve that fantasy you’ve been cuddling for so long.

If you are planning a romantic getaway, Europe is the ultimate destination! Just think of romantic France & be inspired by French lovers strolling hand-in-hand, kissing & hugging in the streets. Imagine yourself in Venice, having a smooth gondola ride with you husband or wife. Imagine yourself surrounded by the rich history of Ireland & Austria. Get a taste of authentic German beer or Russian vodka & caviar or take a bite of a scrumptious Swiss or Belgian chocolate. Aaaaaaaah, the taste of travel!

Europe offers a wild cornucopia of anything & everything enjoyable. From the vas collection of the world’s greatest art pieces in Italy, to the holy & somber Vatican, to the swinging parties in England and to the Moorish architectures of Spain. All these are up for grabs when you avail of cheap travel Europe.

Take your family with you or your group of friends, plan a victory vacation with your officemates or teammates—avail of the awesome cheap travel Europe package!

Cheap travel Europe is also a great gift to your parents when they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Nothing says “Thank you” better than a long European vacation courtesy of cheap travel Europe.

Cheap travel Europe is a great way to treat yourself after slaving for several years & working nonstop. Take a short break from the demands of a corporate life; take yourself away from the stress & hassle of beating deadlines & just enjoy life for a while. There is nothing better than the European ambiance to ease away all your tensions.

Take advantage of cheap travel Europe! Who says you have to pay full when you can get the same deal at a much lower price! Cheap travel Europe is the best way to do a vacation. Traveling on a budget isn’t that bad, as long as it gets you where you want to go safe & sound. Cheap travel Europe, see all of Europe on a shoestring budget!