Hostels are for Tourists with Backpacks
http://exilelifestyle.com/hostels-tourists-backpacks/
So stay at hostels – I know I intend to continue doing so – but be real about what you’re getting for the money. Don’t assume that because you’re staying in the cheaper option that you’re seeing the REAL (insert name of country you’re visiting here), because honestly you’re not. The bars they’re taking you out to or recommending are the ones that expect tourists from the hostels to show up. The landmarks they’re showing you and the excursions they’re taking you on are customized for foreigners. You’re not going to meet up with any locals who will work to integrate you into the local system, because there is a lot more money in keeping you separate. It’s just good business.
What do you think?
14 years
I could not agree more. What I have noticed in the 5 years I have been open is, the "backpackers" all follow their Lonely Planet books for ideas so they all end up at the same places instead of going and trying something that is not in the book. The hotel crowd goes to the visitors center and the hostel crowd has their guide books. They(the hostel and hotel crowd) are the same they just have a different way of going about things. Thats my two cents worth.
14 years
I think nationality plays a part as well, from my experience in Oz Irish, English and Canadian / American will stay on the track well trodden, more interested in getting drunk and seeing how many guys / girls they can screw on their trip and at the last minute decide we had better do some 'tours'.
On the other hand (and I am generalising here) a German for instance you will find in the out of the way places, experiencing the country, and generally travelling further into the actual country.
This assumption is based on the Oz and NZ market, and the view is shared with a few other people in the industry as well, which on turn is giving us and a few operators a marketing differentiation of targeting German, Dutch, Swiss, Sweden and other European nations rather than the English, Irish, Canadian / American - While the biggest consumers of tours and defiantly not stepping off the track tend to be Chinese
14 years
Interesting idea... I'm going to keep that in mind while I'm traveling and see if it holds up in other places :)
14 years
True that.
I could experience a loads of changes in the past 10 years while in the industry, both hostel wise and guest wise.
Our city once was a hidden gem, a risky, hazardous place to go which being undiscovered was also a desirable place to go to, not just another destination on the checklist.
Ever since we still have true, hardcore backpackers but our clientele has been diluted by mainstream travelers with a bit different expectations. Everything is about safety now. They want secured bookings instead of just showing up somewhere, they want to go to places where people speak English, and being taken out with people who speak English. But those are the main streamers though.
Hardcore backpackers are still staying as long as they enjoy the city, going to local bars and restaurants which they just find on the street of non-touristy areas and living on half budget than the others as they know how to avoid simple tourist traps. You can only learn new stuff if you are keen to get into adventure. Columbus have never been able to discover the Americas if he was just cruising around the Mediterranian.
The question is, what we are going to do if the entire World is becoming a safe place? :P
14 years
The question is, what we are going to do if the entire World is becoming a safe place? :P
Overland travel in off-season to places where English-speaking travelers don't go? :)
14 years
Overland travel in off-season to places where English-speaking travelers don't go? :)
Do you think by that time there will be countries without English speaking people? :P
14 years
Do you think by that time there will be countries without English speaking people? :P
Hmmm... good point. Younger generations are learning English. Or maybe everyone is going to speak Chinese by then :)
I was thinking of things like the Ireland trip in February, especially Belfast and Aran Islands. The locals were friendly and there weren't hordes of tourists. The TV and radio were in Irish and not catering to tourists. Even in Galway there were nice pubs without tourists.
14 years
Hmmm... good point. Younger generations are learning English. Or maybe everyone is going to speak Chinese by then :)
... or Chinglish. :D
I was thinking of things like the Ireland trip in February, especially Belfast and Aran Islands. The locals were friendly and there weren't hordes of tourists. The TV and radio were in Irish and not catering to tourists. Even in Galway there were nice pubs without tourists.
Sounds plan... how about another field trip by next February, right after the HW conference? I'm sure there would be other participants interested as well... ;)
14 years
Sounds plan... how about another field trip by next February, right after the HW conference? I'm sure there would be other participants interested as well... ;)
I'm up for Ireland any time. :)
I've been following this hostel on Facebook -- looks spectacular:
http://www.errigalhostel.com/
13 years
I totally agree. That's why at some point I started using CouchSurfing and HospitalityClub. Hostels were full of what people just mentioned above, plus I would like to add the Israelis to the list, hehehee.
And I was the odd one declining to buy a package to go see whales because I preferred to walk up the 4800m mountain without equipment LOL
Now when you travel using couchsurfing, in general you will find the regular Joe/Mary that need to work 8-5, know better about the issues of their country, know where to spend less, know what's worth visiting what's not according to your taste and are generally free to give you a super nice class of geography and history.
I once hosted this couple from Russia, the guy was a History teacher in St. Petersburg. He told me the 2 world war history from a very different angle. That was very satisfying. The polish couple I hosted, the chick cooked some polish stuff that was delicious. And there was that little American/Chinese girl who was traveling non-stop around the world for 2.5 years.
When I was in India I went for CS again, got hosted 2 times.
Once in Mumbai, the chick was telling me all the single tips & tricks to survive and avoid the touts from a local perspective, She even took me to buy my train ticket, which saved me 50%, eheheh. (I had asked the price the day before and it was very high, she went with me, the price was 50% low). Great chats about India current problems, traditions, taboos and etc. She took me over for dinner with 2 friends of her, a movie director from bollywood and a PhD teacher going to US to start teaching. Again, great chat while tasting authentic Indian food (Believe me when I say it's 3 times spicier than on the touristic-around-the-gateway-of-india restaurants LOL).
Related Pages
Log in to join discussion