Travis at the frequent-flyer blog Extra Pack of Peanuts had a post titled, Why Hostels Are Better Than Hotels . Among other reasons, he waxed poetic on the benefits of the local touch and community atmosphere. Many hostels are owned and operated by locals, so you get a more intimate feel than you would at...

Nomadic Matt recently posted a list called My favorite hostels in the world . Goes to show that low prices don't always mean low quality. You can save money and have a great time. Matt's list spurred me to remember which hostels I've enjoyed over the years. Here are some of my picks: Circus (Berlin,...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCWvnp7-ikI&feature=player_embedded Intro video for inbed.me Over the years, there have been several attempts to combine travel and social networking. The latest on the scene is inbed.me (that name is just asking for double entendres). The idea is to solve the problem of that first-night loneliness in a new hostel. You've just arrived, and all the...

If you're a fan of alternative hostel sources, you might already be familiar with Couchsurfing , the wonderful website where I've found both one of my best friends and a place to live here in Perth. But if you're a touring cyclist, and you're looking for a place to lay your wheels while you're biking...

Everywhere you travel, you'll always end up naked with a certain stranger: The shower. The (near) daily ritual of bathing is a sensory riddle, forcing you to figure out a place on the most basic level. Sometimes it's easy and you have a predictable, jet-infused tub to soak in, with surround sound speakers and fluffy...