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where should I start an hostel in Europe?:)

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Nyddolina started this discussion 16 years 10 months ago

Hi Folks!!

...weeell... I know it's a bit of a HUGE question.. but I was wondering if you could know differences between countries all over Europe.
Actually, i was thinking about Ireland. It really stole my heart:o but any suggestions are accepted:D

Let's say that I don't want to live in Italy anymore and want to move somewhere else. so dont think of Italy.

Thank you all,
and sorry for the vast question but I wanted to read your opinions in general about Europe's hostelling.

Ciao a tutti:p

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santa klaus

16 years

If you don´t want to move too far away I´d say the coast of Croatia has a lot of potential to become a big(ger) backpacker destination.

Can´t say anything about Ireland - never been there except a brief visit to Dublin. I wonder why it´s so popular though. It´s not exactly near anything, it rains 11 months a year and it´s ridiculously expensive.

Maybe Boston would be Irish enough for you? Everybody says it´s a great city, but it has not yet any really decent hostels.

Seriously, though: how much money do you have? Like everything in life, finding a location is not only determined by your preference, but probably more by what you can afford.

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gordo

16 years

If you don´t want to move too far away I´d say the coast of Croatia has a lot of potential to become a big(ger) backpacker destination.

Can´t say anything about Ireland - never been there except a brief visit to Dublin. I wonder why it´s so popular though. It´s not exactly near anything, it rains 11 months a year and it´s ridiculously expensive.

Maybe Boston would be Irish enough for you? Everybody says it´s a great city, but it has not yet any really decent hostels.

Seriously, though: how much money do you have? Like everything in life, finding a location is not only determined by your preference, but probably more by what you can afford.

croatia is gorgeous and will definately become a tourist mecca - but it is SOOOO seasonal its beyond a joke. ive spent a few months over the past few years down there, picked the brains of a few hostel owners/operators and foudn that most hostels (and even a few towns) down there only operate 3-4 months of the year. if you can make a business work, and grow, with that time limit you're doing pretty well.

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Tim

16 years

I would say Milano, Torino or Padua, but since you don't want to open a hostel in Italy, then I would suggest:

Leeds, England (England's 4th biggest city and 2nd biggest metro area but no hostels)
Sheffield, England (no hostels)
Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille, Lyon or Paris (most French cities don't have many hostels and those that do (ie. Paris) don't have many good ones)
anywhere on the Croatia or Montenegro coast.

Those suggestions are based mostly on major destinations that have very few other hostels. Ireland is always an option but there are lots of other hostels there.

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Andy08

15 years

The Ukraine.. Spent a few weeks out there and this place is in dire need of hostels.. And now is the time to get in as low cost flights (Wizz air) are just starting and visa requirements for most countries have been relaxed. Border crossings still a bit on the painfully long side but can only get better.. I met an English bloke running a few hostels out there and they were simply 6-8 bunk beds crammed into a residential apartment. Due to the lack of competition he was still charging 10-13 euros a night and turning people away.. He suggested start up costs for him were well under $10K USD..
He had a few hassles with local authorities and said bribes were part of business but tax was minimal..

If you can handle the cold weather and gorgeous women, Ukraine would be a great place to start..

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aboriginalhostel

15 years

It is always saves a lot of hassle if you know the language or understand the locals as well.

If you want to be a pioneer with not much of competition, I'd recommend Eastern Europe, for example Romania still needs a lot of hostels. Brasov is a backpacker destination but only two hostels, surrounded by Budapest, Belgrade, Bucharest and Sofia. However, authorities could be a pain in the arse, mostly asking for bribe as well.

On the other hand, Spain and Portugal are very popular nowadays. Competition is harder in major cities, so I'd rather try some smaller towns on the Atlantic coast (Irish winter, Italian summer;)).

How about a UNESCO site?

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Andy08

15 years

Language would definitely be a barrier in the Ukraine. Being a tourist with no knowledge of Cyrillic was hard enough! They'll need to do a lot of work on tourism info before the Euro in 2012...Currently most of the pamphlets at the airport relate to buying a wife..

I agree on Romania being a good location.Beautiful place..Well maybe not Buch but the countryside was gorgeous during Autumn..

Brasov was described somewhere as the Prague of Romania and I kind of got that feeling. Not a fan of the hollywood style "Brasov" sign that towers over the old town though.
Our hostel in Brasov was pretty average but it was full so the demand is there..

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Josh Hostels

15 years

Maybe Boston would be Irish enough for you? Everybody says it´s a great city, but it has not yet any really decent hostels.

I slept at the Boston airport recently because I couldn't get a hostel bed and the buses stopped running. There is definitely demand. 200,000 college students and an international hub airport.

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Peter

14 years

The Ukraine.. Spent a few weeks out there and this place is in dire need of hostels.. And now is the time to get in as low cost flights (Wizz air) are just starting and visa requirements for most countries have been relaxed. Border crossings still a bit on the painfully long side but can only get better.. I met an English bloke running a few hostels out there and they were simply 6-8 bunk beds crammed into a residential apartment. Due to the lack of competition he was still charging 10-13 euros a night and turning people away.. He suggested start up costs for him were well under $10K USD..
He had a few hassles with local authorities and said bribes were part of business but tax was minimal..

If you can handle the cold weather and gorgeous women, Ukraine would be a great place to start..

I used to communicate with a hostels owners in Kiev ( the only city where you can have a hostel ) and I found out that you can make money if you are the OWNER and not a RENTER , in low season you do not make money.
Also , soon there will be a few mega-hostels , big students houses. On Winter time you will probably will be unable to pay the rent.
Also , if a new goverment will make a visa law for the EU and North American tourists , then forget about business !
Actually the law project already ready , the only thing is it has o be confirmed by the parlament.
I do not think that Ukraine is a good country to open a hostel.

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Giangibarcelona

13 years

Hello!

what about open an hostel in Spain? Ideally Valencia?

It's a modern growing city reached by low cost flights and with a lot of events (formula1, moto gp, sailing america's cup, "las fallas")

what do you think???

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Giedras

13 years

Hello guys?

What do you think about opening the hostel in Vilnius, Lithuania?
You dont talk anything about the Eastern part, okay ... Ukraine. But what about those like Lithuania, Latvia, Estovia, even Poland.
Scandinavia???
Im writing a final project and need to finish it quite soon.
Im doing a research about Lithuania, Vilnius - my city.
If any interested in results, I could give you the final version.

But could you please help me to do it...?
It would be very great.

About Paris. I have stayed and worked for almost a half of year in the new Hostel. I did a research on Paris Hostels, still needs to be more clearified. But the potential market is absolutley in Paris.
Maybe now it is better situation. But according to 1500 HOTELS in Paris, only 30 HOSTELS...so you can imagine. And the cCITY OF LOVE is absolutely not only for old rich turists :)
My hostel was totally new, but he have reached around 40% occupancy, I hope I am not wrong.. dont really remember exact numbers. I was just first desks' counter.

If you could help me with my project reasearch it would be great.

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