People travel for all kinds of reasons, to have some time alone, or with a partner away from the stresses of every day life, for business, or simply because they enjoy traveling to experience different cultures, new things and enjoy meeting people.

The current global economy hasn’t stopped people from pulling on their travelling boots, it has just led them to look for alternative options that are affordable. As the public realize more and more that hostels and youth hostels are a viable means of accommodation to travel the globe, travel trends are changing and youth hostelling is becoming more popular with travelers of all ages.

Hostels are generally a good place to make friends, to meet people from different cultures and swap information on destinations, clubs, museums and shows. They are unquestionably the place for socializing and as guests in hostels are independent travelers there are ample chances to get to know other vacationers.

Despite their budget price and low reputation, there are lots of hostels that offer a high standard of accommodation and provide good amenities. Also as competition in the travel industry increases and hostels widen their target market, thousands of customers each year are opting for discounted, economical accommodation, and in turn this is causing the standard and reputation of these places to get better.

Most of the leading hostel booking companies have a rating structure that can assist the traveler in finding accommodation to suit their needs, it also encourages the hostel owners to keep standards high as their ratings influence the amount of business generated from the site. 

There are plenty of budget hotel chains such as Travelodge, Ibis and Jury’s Inns and Hotel 81 chains, however many travelers still prefer to stay in hostels due to factors such as atmosphere, fun and the social experience of meeting other backpackers.

There are all kinds of hostels these days, city hostels are inclined to focus on the social characteristics of city life, and are a great source of information on city life. They are certain to be a lot noisier than a hostel in the country as they remain open 24 hours a day. A city hostel is perfect if you are travelling alone and looking for some company. 

Country hostels are a totally different thing; mostly they are frequented by people who are there to do some serious walking or hiking. This means people are getting up early and sleeping early too, and enjoy the peace and quiet at nighttime. 

Some hostels still maintain an age limit and give priority to younger travelers, in particular official youth hostels in Europe, but mostly these days’ hostels welcome guests of any age and some will even provide accommodation for families with young children.

The main difference in most hostels is the type of accommodation on offer. There are many that still offer accommodation in dormitories, or shared rooms. Dorms can be any size and for males or females only or mixed. There are normally private rooms also available and many hostels now provide private rooms with en-suite facilities.

The atmosphere in a hostel is completely different to your typical hotel. Whereas hotels only tend to provide their customers a comfortable place to spend the night, hostels have a social atmosphere which is often gained from sharing sleeping arrangements, dining areas and populating the on-site bar. 

Hostellers are generally more interested in meeting other people than your average tourist, so you can quite easily find yourself with a new group of friends to explore the city together with. For many people who travel alone the majority of the time this can be one of the most enjoyable parts of traveling.

If you are searching for a hostel in Europe or a budget hotel then look online where you will find an extensive coverage of hotels, budget youth hostels, and bed and breakfasts.  A youth hostel review will soon let you see that they have a lot more to offer than your average hotel.

Avoca is a small village near Arklow in County Wicklow, Ireland, where Avoca Handweavers, the well known clothing manufacturing and retail business, first started out. The picturesque village of Avoca itself is the fictional home of the BBC’s Ballykissangel.

The Avoca brand has fast become a real success story and the company now employs around 600 people. The old mill at Avoca was originally established in 1723 as a farmers’ cooperative for grinding corn and spinning and weaving sheep’s wool.

In the 1920s three sisters, the Wynnes, inherited the mill which had become run down. They injected new life into the enterprise, introducing color from natural dyes and soon they were selling their famous Avoca Handweavers tweeds all over the world, designing cloth for the Parisdesigner Elsa Schiaparelli, a waistcoat for King George VI and baby blankets for the children of Queen Elizabeth II. But, as with many family run businesses, when the sisters passed away the mill became neglected and faced closure.

Then in 1974, Donald Pratt, a solicitor engaged to handle the sale of the mill decided to buy it himself. Along with his wife, he set about getting Avoca Handweavers back on its feet. The mill at Avoca Villagewas soon humming again, as the Pratts began exporting hand-woven rugs and throws first to the UK and then beyond.

The old mill at Avoca village is open for visiting seven days a week. You can tour the mill and see the whole weaving process first hand for free. Plus, there’s an Avoca shop and cafe onsite too.

The Avoca Company has now developed nine large retail outlets around Ireland and has opened one in Annapolis, Maryland. Many of these also have large food halls and cafes attached.

For accommodations, try the Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt, County Wicklow, which follows the tradition of an elegant hotel fashioned with the latest amenities. In other words, this classical setting is a classic Ritz-Carlton. Expect the formal, but not stuffy entranceway, high ceilings, dark wood trim, velvety, oversized sofas, heavy drapes and courteous staff so familiar to visitors to the Naples, Bostonor most other Ritz Carltons.

As you’ve seen, HostelTraveler.com has been raising some controversial questions and issues in the online world of travel. Here’s some more food for thought:

When booking your trip online, is it better to make your reservation on a hotel’s own website, or on an online booking service that deals with many hotels and destinations?

While we would never tell you NOT to book on your chosen hotel’s website (we avidly support small-busines), why not consider what you’re signing up for before you make your choice. When you book online, you will likely be making a payment in advance, or committing to a payment. If you are using an individual hotel’s website, your are committing to making payment to the hotel. the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation will be displayed before you book. Let’s say you have to cancel prior to arrival for any reason. You are now bound by the cancellation terms you agreed to when you confirmed your reservation. This likely means you owe some cancellation payment to the hotel. Or, if you receive a credit, you will only be able to use the credit if you travel to the given hotel in the given city at a later date. If your plans are permanently altered, you lose this value.

Now let’s say you made your reservation on an online booking service that guarantees your reservation at your chosen hotel. While payments conditions are usually be defined between yourself and the hotel, the booking service is experienced in dealing with cancellations. If you have to cancel, you may be offered a credit or value towards another booking in the future. With the online booking service, this credit can be applied to a booking anywhere you decide to travel in the future. You are not tied to a payment at the original hotel, which if you cancelled your plans, you may never visit again.

Of course there are other benefits to using the online booking service. They can better deal with language differences, and in the event of disputes with your hotel, will often assist in mediating.

So, next time you plan on booking your travel online, consider the benefits of booking with individual hotels yourself, or using a reputable online reservation service like HostelTraveler.com.

Surcharges are those hidden costs that a youth hostel or hotel can charge you for seemingly simple services, like making phone calls or accessing the internet. In the hostelling and hotel industry, surcharges are a huge moneymaker. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, U.S. hotels earned $1.6 billion from miscellaneous surcharges and fees last year, up from $550 million in 2003. This year that

number is likely to be more than $1.75 billion.

As hotels and hostels creatively find more ways to make you pay more, it’s important to be informed before planning your travel.

Here’s how to save on extra surcharges and fees at your hotel or hostel:

Lodging taxes can add a lot to your bill, depending on what region you’re staying in. In New York, for example, you can end up paying 8.75% on top of the nightly rate, plus a 5% hotel tax. This can add $10, $20, $30 to the cost of your stay.

So-called “resort” or “hotel” fees may cover use of facilities like a pool or fitness equipment. However, itemized charges can be tacked on for extras like landscaping and housekeeping, holding your luggage, tipping, or mini-bar restocking. The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association now encourages its members to impose an energy surcharge. If you stay at a hotel in Canada, you may pay a 3% “destination marketing fee” to promote its tourism industry.

Before you travel, call and ask questions. When booking on the telephone or online, make sure you understand the total cost, including “total fees and taxes” Tell the hotel or hostel representative you want to know the absolute total you will be paying. HostelTraveler.com rates typically include all fees and surcharges, but sometimes taxes will be added on during your stay. Make sure you read the full listing information in advance to know how much your total cost will be.

After your stay, hotel and hostel staff are frequently reluctant to remove charges from your bill. If you’re not planning on using the specific services or facilities, request that they eliminate those expenses before you check in. Check out early, settle your bill in advance, so that you have ample time to review your bill thoroughly. Once you move on to the next city, the chances of obtaining a correction are much lower. And remember, if the hotel representative can’t tell you exactly what costs are included in your bill, make sure you obtain clarification from a manager before you pay. This will avoid disputes later.

Get a break on rising hotel prices this fall - courtesy of airline cutbacks and high gasoline prices. Airlines’ service cuts and rising fuel costs are dampening travel demand to many destinations. Some hotels are offering deep discounts to temper rate increases and attract vacationers. This is a reversal of the trend in recent years, which saw rapidly increasing and record room rates.

U.S. hotel room rates are still forecasted to rise modestly this year. That is partly because of continued strong demand in urban markets and the weak U.S. dollar, which has been attracting more travelers from overseas. Average room rates are expected to rise about 2 percent this year. But this is in stark contrast with what €™s been going on in resort areas. Resort properties across the U.S. last month saw a half-percentage point decrease in daily rates from a year earlier, the first decline since 2003. Occupancy rates are lower also.

Bargain hunters traveling to popular vacation spots in Florida, Arizona or Hawaii should have good luck finding deals over the next few months, since leisure-travel destinations are expected to see flight-capacity cuts, and airfare increases. Some hotels are cutting rates and throwing in extras (like a fourth night, or meals, free). Other are deferring their typical annual rate increases for the first time in years.

In places like San Diego, an influx of new hotels is partly to blame for falling room rates, as are rising gas prices and weak housing markets in nearby cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas.

In the coming months, major airlines will be announcing a number of flight cuts, leaving some hotels and vacation destination’s worrying. In Orlando, the local visitors bureau has formed a task force called Air Team Orlando that will meet with the airlines, partly to lobby against declines.

The travel slump has caused demand for flights to ease. The Air Transport Association of America predicts a 6 percent decline in travel on U.S. airlines this Labor Day Weekend, the first drop since 2002.

So, if you €™re looking for travel deals and opportunities, keep an eye on resort-type properties. These will likely be the first to drop their rates in response to the economy and travel trend changes.

At HostelTraveler.com, we’re known for helping you get the most out of your travel spending. Visiting hostels and traveling the world is our passion, and may be yours too. However, with today’s rising cost of energy, we also want to share some tips on saving money on travel, whether it’s to the far reaches of the globe, or only around the corner from your home. So, if you’re in the mood for a “stay-cation” this season, here’s how to squeeze more energy out of the gas you buy.

DRIVE MORE EFFICIENTLY

Drive Sensibly: Aggressive driving wastes gas. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage.

Observe the Speed Limit: Exceeding 60 mph can lower your gas mileage. The more miles over 60 mph you drive, the lower your gas mileage can be.

Avoid Excessive Idling: When you sit in traffic or in line idling, your car is getting 0 miles per gallon. Try to avoid peak rush hours or long lines to maximize your gas mileage.

Use Cruise Control: Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Remove Excess Weight: Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. For example, an extra 100 pounds can reduce your MPG.

Use Overdrive Gears: When you use overdrive gearing, your engine speed goes down. This will save you gas and reduce engine wear.

KEEP YOUR CAR IN SHAPE

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned: Proper maintenance can improve gas mileage.

Keep Tires Properly Inflated: Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure and your gas mileage will also improve.

Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly: Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your gas mileage.

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil: Improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

PLAN AND COMBINE TRIPS

Travel with Less Cargo: A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space; however, a loaded roof can decrease your fuel economy. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside your trunk whenever possible.

Commute: Stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours. Consider telecommuting (working from home) if your employer permits it. Take advantage of carpools and ride-share programs to cut weekly fuel costs in half as well as to have access to HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes if your area has them. Or, consider public transit if it is available.