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Why Aren't Locals Allowed in Hostels?

Off Topic Chat

kenshinx started this discussion 13 years 1 month ago

MODERATOR'S NOTE: I branched this thread from a previous discussion. --Josh

A hostel in Malaysia that does not allow Malaysians and several other Nationalities to stay. Why open a Hostel in Malaysia when you don't even allow locals to stay?? And the quoted reason was because of the food served. Well, is it a must to eat there when we stay there? Ridiculous !!! Talk about racism & apartheid !!!

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soi1david

13 years

@Kenshinx,
I don't know of this hostel or it's particulars to your rant.
What I do know is....
1) It looks as if you joined just to air your views on this particular place, (Which is not what this site is about.)
2) I don't disallow locals here, But You will find this procedure in other countries. Australia for example has many hostels that don't allow Australians to stay. The reason they give, and it has some validity, is the hostel is for international travelers, and by allowing locals to stay, problems result with things such as thief by locals whom use the hostel as a place to abuse and steal from international travelers who lack the knowledge that a local would have.
You may not like this answer, but it's what I have heard personally by owners who have this rule in place. I think they do want to fill the beds but when they weigh it up from experience it's not worth it. (like a bad guest in a rental property).
3) Racism and apartheid have nothing to do with it.

Must be a nice place though..... As you seem Very unhappy not to be able to stay. I will have a look when I'm next in KL. I'll tell ya what the food was like.... If you ever make another post.

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kenshinx

13 years

Hi David,

You're probably right on this not being the correct place for voicing this and I apologize for that. Mods, pls do remove my posts if necessary.

Funny you should say about hostels in Australia as I've stayed in a couple of backpackers hostels in Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne and have never come across any such rules before. If it's such an effective rule to deter and avoid thefts, why isn't it implemented at all hostels?

I notice that you or your fellow owners of Reggae Mansion have stated that this ban applies not only for locals but Middle easterns and muslims as well. Are you then implying that all of these folks are categorized as people who tend to be thieves more than other nationalities and races? That doesn't make sense at all. To me it's almost the same as posting a sign saying "No colored allowed". If this is not racial prejudice then i dont know what else can it be.
Besides, the official reply given to the press and public on the reason of the ban was due to the type of food served. If it's more of concern of thefts or hustlers and conmen why wasn't this shared?

I'm not trying to cause trouble but think that people out there should know more on how is this place being run and managed with this policy.

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soi1david

13 years

Son, Let me tell ya. It does not make me feel good being apologized to while being called a liar.
did you read my post?
I have nothing to do with the hostel, I have never been in KL and for you to imply by saying, "I notice that you or your fellow owners of Reggae Mansion have stated" makes me doubt your character. It is well known what Business I own and where it is located, here on Hostelmanagement . To try to degrade my intentions of honestly answering your questions by your stating I do have something to do with above mentioned hostel is just the first evidence that shows your lack of knowledge.
I mentioned nothing but (READ THE POST, slowly) what I have encountered in Australia. As I stated I don't have this policy in my place-But If as an Independent owner I thought I needed to do so I would. The only thing that would make me consider it IS the LOCAL climate, as in crime stats, % drug users, robberies, muggings Etc..
Second evidence of your limited knowledge, Hostel policies. Why would you try to demean my statement that I do know of hostels in Australia that don't allow Australians. Because you stayed in a few hostels in Australia that makes you aware? Why would the "no national policy" even be brought up to you? I assume you’re not Australian. This policy IS in every one of the places you mentioned and Perth.
Here’s one in Sydney
On this page at the end of their info You will see they do not allow Australians to stay in their hostel.
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/The-Palms-Backpackers/Sydney/1389 and before you want to debate the meaning of what they are saying there politely on the reviews page the Ownerscomment on the review for July 2 2011 is "Sorry if you felt unwelcome Megan, but our site does clearly state that there are no Australians allowed." (link)

You've Pinpointed and named a place here with a rant on the 1st day of your joining, This site is a Helping site and I don't know if the name gives it away, But there are people that know about the hostel industry. So then you get an answer you don't like, you try to skewer what was said? In your words “That doesn't make sense at all.”
By your naming the place you’re just adding, at the least curiosity, about the property. As my parting sentence instigatingly played out.
Who’s to say that it’s not a draw to the property in itself, meaning some guest appreciate it?
I know your angry about being refused, Guess what I was refused to stay in a hostel once before, you know why? I was too Old. How would you feel then? As you can see in the info page above they only allow 18-35 year olds.
I’m going to go back when I’m 80 and whack them with a walking stick. No, really you want to know what I did? (Add this and you’ll be full educated for the day)
I walked down the road and got another and probably never thought about it again till I saw your post.

Now, I’d love to see you become a great contributor to this site, as I would anyone, But I don’t mind putting in words now, I just don’t think that’s going to happen.

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Josh Hostels

13 years

You're probably right on this not being the correct place for voicing this and I apologize for that. Mods, pls do remove my posts if necessary.

Hi,

I moved the thread to an area of the forum that isn't accessible unless you login, since this isn't a website for reviews of specific hostels.

The issue is interesting though. Many hostels around the world do prevent locals from staying. All the hostels I've worked at in the US forbade locals from staying. It is difficult to balance this.

Josh

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Anonymous (not verified)

13 years

I noticed that you or your fellow reggae building owners have said that the ban applies not only to locals, but the East and the Middle East and Muslim. You then suggest that all these people who more often than other ethnic and racial thieves category? This does not make sense. For me, post a sign saying "no colored allowed" almost the same. If this is not racial prejudice, then I do not know what can.

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soi1david

13 years

Try Google translate on post #4.

Have a good day.

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sydney

13 years

I honestly thought this was every hostels policy. The only locals that ever try to book a room at my hostel have been drugged out weirdo's and I have been so glad for our out of state/international policy. A quick way to get them to f off.

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rjd1983

13 years

It's very common in Australia and USA not allowing locals, or nationals of that country to stay in their hostels.

I worked in a Las Vegas hostel, and they had a very strict policy of no Americans. In LV, you have to have a policy like that - too many weirdos. They would accept out-of-state students, with student IDs. However, when I was in California, and Florida some hostels would accept Americans if they had out-of-state IDs.

Generally it's a good idea. I know some Australian hostels would allow Australians today providing they were checking in with their passport, and had proof of onward travel, which is a fair enough policy.

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Scotch Argus

13 years

I think it depends on what the hostel market is like in your country and where you are (ie city or rural) A lot of hostels in certain areas of Australia serve as accommodation for fruit pickers. If you have them full of itinerant Australian pickers there may well be issues for other travellers. If however you want that market it can be lucrative. Certainly in American cities there are problems with homeless people trying to use hostels as temporary accommodation. This tends to create a bad atmosphere for tourists. Personally we would never be able to have a such a policy. About 40% of our bookings come from inside the UK, but then domestic use of hostels is quite common here.

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Princess Buttercup

12 years

In the 4 years I have been managing this hostel I also have not allowed locals to stay. You have to prove you live out of city limits. I welcome people who have packed up their life and want to make a new home here but...they have one week to find another place to live.
As a rule if you live in THIS city with a population of only 23,000 ppl and you need a bed in a
hostel it means this. Your old man or old lady or parents have kicked you to the curb and your friends are sick of you sleeping on their couch and raiding their fridge!

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