Darko iz Kalifornije (Darko from California)

Hi,

I'm Darko from California - or spelled 'Kalifornije' in Slovene, the language of my ancestors.

Three years ago, I became a naturalized Slovene citizen by descent. As a member of the Slovene diaspora, I am firmly committed to contributing to the improvement of the tourism infrastructure of Slovenia, and I honestly can't think of a better way to do this than by opening a hostel there.

Before traveling to Europe in the late 1980's, I received a business degree in Southern California. Shortly after graduation, I bought a return ticket with Scandinavian Airlines for a flight from Los Angeles to Copenhagen. After visiting a friend in Sweden, I went to London, where I worked through a student-exchange program. I had orginally planned to stay in Europe for ten months. However, after having lost my paper ticket (we didn't have e-tickets back in those days) on a city bus in Oslo, Norway the following summer, I determined that my destiny must lie in Europe, and with the exception of an occasional trip back to North American, I've been in Europe ever since.

Traveling around Europe for a budget traveler such as myself in the the 1980's and 1990's involved using an Inter-rail pass, cheap bus tickets or even hitchhiking to get around as cheaply as possible. There were no EasyJets, Ryainairs or Air Berlins back then. I stayed exclusively in hostels and campsites, and I even slept single nights in a tent with a sleeping bag in a few places around Scandinavia, thanks to a traditional law called 'Allemansrätten' (Swedish for "every man's right"), which allows someone to spend one night in all public parks and forests, including privately-owned land with the exception of farms and gardens, provided they do leave the place in the same condition in which they received it and do not leave any rubbish behind. Of course a hostel is more suitable for finding someone to converse with, than Swedish woodlands, as I don't speak fluent reindeer. Not to mention a hot shower and a continental breakfast with a hot drink is worth every penny.

I've had various jobs in my life, including work in the service sector (gastronomy) as well as a flight attendant with a British charter airline (worked at an altitude of nearly 37,000 ft. at times) and train steward with Deutche Bahn (serving guests at speeds of up to 260 kph). I came to the conclusion at an early time in my working life that working in a bank or for a brokerage house was just not my cup of tea.

In 1989, I witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall firsthand, having 'jumped' over it at the Brandenburg Gate (of course with the help of others who gave me a 'boost'). After the Cold War came to an end, Europe would never be the same. And since this time, hostels have sprung up all over the continent. And of course as well all know, hostel guests are becoming ever more demanding.

For those of you who have taken the time to read this far, I want to say that I have recently initiated my hostel project. I've been researching and planing and of course preparing my business plan. Furthermore, I'm looking for a reputable business adviser in Slovenia that can assist me in applying for a European Union grant or perhaps even a guaranteed loan. I intend to set up a d.o.o., which is the rough equivalent of a German GmbH (limited liability company), but requires less capital for formation. A lease would be the better option over a purchase, as I want to invest my capital in other fixed assets.

My way of thinking with regards to my hostel concept is such that I want to thoroughly address (in addition to providing a bed, breakfast, common room/cafe/bar, wifi, kitchen, etc.) the negative aspects which are discussed in the comments from hostel guests. In other words, what did the hostel guests complain about? For example, where the mattresses long enough, and did they provide a good-night's sleep? Were the rooms, showers, toilets and common rooms cleaned regularly? Was there a sociable environment, or was the place as sterile as a hospital? Was there a kitchen? And if so, was it well equipped? Were the prices for drinks, snacks, meals, etc. too high, or was the hostel also interested in providing good value for money? Did the staff correct or address problems promptly and to the full satisfaction of the guests? Did the hostel staff seem like they enjoyed their job? Was the wifi connection high speed, reliable and available throughout the hostel? Was the hostel too big and impersonal, or did it have a cozy feel to it? Was it difficult for hostel guests to meet other travelers? If so, why?

Of course a hostel cannot do everything for everyone. It hast to have a concept which has enough appeal in order to attract enough guests in order to make it a viable business in the long term. Notwithstanding, I want to operate a hostel that embraces inclusion, not exclusion. In other words, guests of all ages, nationalities, religions, cultures and sexual orientations/identities shall be welcome in my hostel. Although I do not want to open a mega party hostel, I do want to have a relaxed, party-like atmosphere, but not until the early hours of the morning.

I am very interested in learning from others who have been there, done that. I'm sure I'm going to make a lot of mistakes, but I'm ready and willing to learn from them. However, I would like to be prepared as much as possible and I would rather learn from other people's mistakes, wherever possible. Thank you for reading.

Ciao,

Darko