Ah, Facebook! Like the platform or not, Facebook is definitely a powerful tool and their reach is bloody huge. They are the largest social media network out there still, with 580 million account profiles, so your customers live there. Considering that a FB account is free...
Vikky Matsis is quite the Jill of All Trades when it comes to hostels. She is the owner of Not So Hostel in Charleston, South Carolina, the host of the American Hostel Conference, manages a nonprofit radio station for the hostel, and is the author of Inside an American Hostel, available via Amazon....
As travelers ourselves, we know how difficult and confusing travel can be, especially where there is a language barrier. Throughout history, travelers have relied on the kindness of others to help them on their way. A receptionist with a smile goes a long way to set tone and atmosphere...
There are literally conferences for anything you can imagine, and tourism seems to have more than it's fair share. That is great news for us in the hostel industry because we have multiple chances to connect with others, and connections are key. Beside listening to the key note speakers, there is...
A call has gone out from legendary mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington CBE to help save a much-loved Welsh youth hostel.The future of YHA Snowdon Bryn Gwynant in Snowdonia National Park, is at risk unless a total of £2 million can be raised.Owned and operated by the leading youth charity YHA (England...
A few years ago, I had a staff member explain why he didn't vacuum that day, "Because we just vacuumed yesterday!"I think I just blinked at him for 30 seconds, waiting for him to crack a smile or wink. He was kidding, right? Uh, no. (I continue to blink in disbelief as I think about it now.)Clearly...
The Hostel RoadTrip Podcast is currently traveling around the USA, with some plans to venture out to other areas later on. But when I listen to these American casts, I notice a recurring topic: America does not have a firm grasp on what a hostel is. The word “hostel” has a stigma in the States...
I am currently traveling around the UK, England and Scotland mostly, with some friends and their dog. This little dude is a super chill dachshund who only makes a peep when he is desperately straining on his leash to go play with other dogs. He’s got this show-stopper fur, long-haired, mottled blue...
One of the questions that we frequently come across in the forum and Facebook group is about TripAdvisor Business Advantage listings, and if they are worth it. In particular, this is asked by small to medium size hostels because the budget for marketing is generally smaller than that of larger...
Ya can’t get much more idyllic than catching sight of a whale in the ocean during the day and photographing the sparkling Milky Way during the night. Walking through the massive redwood forest at the nearby state park, and maybe the tide pools have a baby octopus to seek out during low tide....
What is Airbnb?Airbnb is a very social booking platform that can be very useful to connect your hostel with potential guests. It isn’t just for private holiday homes or B&B’s. Airbnb appeals to a wide variety of demographics: business travelers, long term digital nomads, and backpackers who are...
Hostel Roadtrip Podcast talk to the new owners of Cerro Gordo, California, Brent and Aaron. They share their stories about the familiar woes of opening a new hostel: the nonsense of bureaucracy, city official ignorance, and the exhausting chore of finding staff.Cerro Gordo is an abandoned 1865...
