14 years
Spain = good choice. Wonderful country, popular with backpackers, long season. I also agree Barcelona is saturated (Madrid not, though). There are plenty other towns (Cordoba and Toledo, for example) crying out loud for a good hostel.
Hey everyone - Yes another hostel dream!
Introduce Yourself
Hello everyone......So here I am on this great site, I’m so glad I found it!
Thought I’d better introduce myself as I have been hiding out on here for a few weeks now without comment. I’ve been working in corporate hell since leaving uni almost 10 years ago and have hit the grand old age of 31(where’s all the time gone!!!). Its not been all that bad though - Due to my adverse reaction to working in a glass cages I’ve had quite a few “sabbaticals” to escape and see some amazing places around Asia, Europe, South America and Australia, where I am living at the moment.
To cut what is turning into a long story short, I must have stayed in 100’s of hostels from $1 per nighters in Laos to the super shiny mega hostels in Australia and feel I have a good grasp of what makes a good hostel good and a bad one very bad and.......wait for it.....yes....have decided to seriously open one of my own (like everyone else here it seems).
I love South America, for me its the best place on Earth and if I could I would start up in Colombia, however I think realistically for me – being from the UK (EU) – I am gearing all my research towards Spain (no not Barca!). Partly because I love the Spanish culture and climate and partly as I believe there is room in the market for it still.
With regard to the important stuff, I have some funding/security and am beginning to develop a business plan for further investment. I have some project management experience and will expand on this with a relevant business course. I'm also relocating to Spain next year to continue my research and learn what bridges I have to cross regarding bureaucracy.
Anyway, before I keep going on, its amazing to find so many like minded people here and hope to bounce some ideas off you over the coming weeks.
All the best,
Decepe
- Comments
14 years
Agreed Mr Klaus,
I'm itching to get over there and start the ball running. But in the meantime I'm trying to find out as much about regulations etc as I can....not the easiest task as you could imagine. Google can only take you so far!!
Do you think asking other hostel managers for info would be a good idea or would they feel I am stepping on their toes so to speak.
Any there any hostel managers out in Spain willing for me to contact them for a bit of advice???
Cheers
14 years
I don´t really know any hostel managers in Spain.
If you plan to open shop in Madrid, I wouldn´t ask Madrilleno hostel owners how to do it. Hostel owners from any other city will most likely be willing to help you, though.
I have heard the bureaucracy is a real pain in the ass in Spain. You should go there to do your research. Unlike in northern countries, there might often be a big difference between what´s written in the laws and what the bureaucracies actually care about. Find a Brit who is already running a business in Spain - I guess he/she will have much more useful information for you than a local hostel owner.
14 years
Thanks Santa,
I'm going to contact some Spanish hostel owners, hopefully through here or via their website. Regarding the well known bureaucracy, I'm going to contact some local lawyers when I get over there.
If there are any hostel owners/managers etc out in Spain who could point me in the right direction for rules and regulations (fire and safety, capacity - beds, bathrooms, and zonation laws) I'd be eternally grateful.
Thanks again
Decepe
14 years
How would you compare the potentials between Spain, Portugal and maybe France or Italy or Greece? the southern part of Europe seems to be good areas for new opportunities due to their tourism potentials?
I agree with you about possible conundrums with the bureaucracies and the implementations/interpretations of law/regulations...
Spain = good choice. Wonderful country, popular with backpackers, long season. I also agree Barcelona is saturated (Madrid not, though). There are plenty other towns (Cordoba and Toledo, for example) crying out loud for a good hostel.
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