How do I even begin to describe the magic that is the Arts Factory Lodge? It may be unlike any other hostel in the world. Word on the street was you either love it or you hate it.
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I recently stayed at Aussitel Backpackers in Coffs Harbor, Oz. The hostel itself is great, with by far the most free adventure activities I've seen to date. Other guests and I went surfing, stand up paddle boarding, jetty jumping and surf kayaking…all for free. What?!
One time I had a great guy who was supposed to start training on reception. Thankfully so, because I was about to be really understaffed.
A couple weeks ago, a large group of people in the hostel and tourism industry gathered in Sydney. Naturally, it was in a bar, but this time it wasn't just to have some laughs or talk of taking down HostelWorld or steal housekeeping secrets.
It's no secret I want to open up my own hostel in the next few years. I'm not even positive where it will be yet, but I know it will be great. My mom always joked they overdid the self-esteem thing with my generation, but why shouldn't you follow your passion with confidence?
Last weekend I attended Base Mingle in Sydney, an industry event slash huge party (aren't those usually one in the same?). A few drinks in and I was agreeing to join part of a surf camp that week with the guys from Surf Camp Australia.
As you know from Part 1 of this blog post, I had been feeling a bit lonely on the road due to the quiet nature of low season in New Zealand.
Before I left, I thought that between all of the hostels & dorm rooms, tours & activities, I may start feeling a bit crowded and crave some 'me time'. I was surprised to find the opposite true.
At the tender young age of 5, I became a thief. My loot was a box of new Crayola markers; the scene of the crime was Sunday School. Yes, after learning about The Good News (still not sure what that really meant) I spied markers in my assigned desk. And I stole them.
In bold. Highlighted. In bright colors. Underlined. Capitalized. With exclamation points and background cartoon stars. Just some of the many ways you are bound to see the word 'free' made eye-catching in the long but sometimes monotonous list of a hostel's amenities, facilities, and offerings.