IHOTEL VERSUS HOSTEL

HOTEL

A hotel is a renting of a room that may consists of many rooms within a suite. The hotel is often considered different from the motel as the motel is usually smaller, and often-times consists of one room, and less costly than the hotel. The hotel is assumed to have more amenities, larger and more costly. For instance, it is easy to recognize the distinguishable factors in relation to “Hotel Marriot”, and “Motel 6”.

HO ‘S’ TEL

A hostel, spelled with an s before the t in relation to the spelling of hotel. This often-overlooked s in the spelling of hostel distinguishes the hostel from the hotel. The difference with the hostel is that you are simply renting a bed with your number on it, while you share the room with others who are also renting a bed in that same room within a usually nice, clean, presumably, safe establishment.

Some hostel rooms are mixed, bedding both male and female or single rooms bedding one sex/gender. Most hostels do actually offer single rooms that are priced a little more, though comparable to a generally low priced motel room.

Most hostels freely offer each guest their own personal storage locker within the room numbered equal to the number on their bed, though each guest must supply their own lock. At some hostels, it is sometimes possible to rent only the locker if the locker is in the hallway apart from the room. Most hostels offer a complimentary breakfast usually between the hours of eight and ten in the morning. Most hostels also allow their guest to cook within a specified kitchen area which fortunately invites international dinners or simply some newly found friends from various countries sharing or introducing a meal of their country.

I believe that the hostel is the best way to travel especially on a shoestring. The hostel offers the opportunity to learn from people of various countries and walks of life in an unspoken appreciated celebration of diversity.

The Gotcha

Hostels come in various shapes and sizes. Hostels also offer different amenities and here is where you find that there is invariably a “Gotcha”. I am coining the word “Gotcha” in reference to the necessary extras that most hostel guest need while traveling.

A gotcha is a term that I use in which to describe the manner in which each Hostel is unfortunately going to penny-pinch you in some way. In other words squeeze an extra coin from you. This is the reason why it is difficult to state which hostel is better in reference to economical travel as all hostels have a “gotcha”. For instance, some hostels might squeeze that extra coin from you by renting towels upon which you get half of the rental price back (only if you personally remember to hand over the towel at check-out). It is just annoying as this “gotcha” can place a damper on your morning as who wants to have a discussion centered on pennies in the morning. Another example of a gotcha is that some hostels might rent lockers that quickly spring closed when you turn your back to reach for something to place within the locker thus demanding that you deposit another coin in which to open it again … I mean really?

Still, these little unfortunate matters are meaningless in relation to the great economical deal that one encounters if one discovers when traveling high season upon check-in, that yes, you have a room. The hostel room entitles you to meeting some really interesting people of the world, “other travelers”, like yourself.

The culture of the hostel is different in that you are meeting strange people, though no one is truly considered a stranger, within the context of hostel travel, as they are very much like you, “a tired traveler” with interesting tales to tell. The hostel is a space, a place, where you have the opportunity to be an amazing ambassador in respect to your home country of origin. You are there learning about their country as they learn about yours. With all that hostels have to offer, I find it questionable, why the US has so few hostels and why is it that so few US Americans are aware of the existence of hostels.

Often-times hostel is mistaken for hotel, as few people are privy to the s between the o and the t. This fortunate s between the o and the t makes all the difference in one having more monies to see that extra (sight) or actually have that wine (that could formally be compared to a date) with a fellow hosteller. Staying at a hostel often costs one-third the amount of a small motel especially if traveling off-season. When one is traveling high season, especially in summer, the costs of a stay in a hostel is only a little more than a few dollars extra. During High season it is much more difficult to book a room at a hostel as everything is taken. This high season time of trying to secure a room in a hostel is worth the challenge as high season offers the opportunity to meet even more interesting people.

The hostel allows one to informally share an often-times small space with others of various countries. In the morning, you find yourself casually having breakfast and conversing, and learning, among fascinating people who are finding you equally fascinating.

So again, why is it that the typical US American is not aware of the benefits of the hostel which leads me to also question if it is at all possible for the US to have hostels comparable to the hostels of Europe. Should we take a look at the culture of the US in relation to the culture of Europe in reference to the existence or non-existence of hostels?

Well … there is always something to ponder while traveling, as I will also inform you that last, but certainly not least, needless to say, the hostel dating scene is awesome!