There’s a little saying that goes: “You can’t get to where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.” In the same light, you can’t really appreciate a youth hostel unless you know all about the youth hostel’s history. In knowing its origins, its goals, and the services it offers, you can judge for yourself just how essential these hostels are for backpackers.
Whether you’re backpacking solo, or with friends, you’re (obviously) going to need accommodation on your trip. The thing is funds are not always easy to come by, especially if you’re all on your lonesome. What you need is a place that’s easily accessible, very comfortable, and most of all, easy on the pocket – exactly what youth hostels offer!
History tells us that a teacher named Richard Schirmann founded the very first youth hostel around 1909. On a field trip, Schirmann and his students were stranded in a storm and found refuge in a deserted school. This gave Schirmann the idea of using empty schools as a place to stay for travelers looking for a guest house to spend the night. The idea was so popular that, by the 1930’s, there were more than two thousand hostels in Germany alone. Truly, youth hostels history is a colorful and inspired one!
According to youth hostels history, a hostel is a place that it’s intended for people who share a common interest – in this case, traveling – to be able to socialize and share stories. Today, youth hostels are generally regarded as place where, after a day of seeing the sights and enjoying the culture of a new city, you can retire and socialize with others who are enjoying the place as much as you are. This way, you get to shoot the breeze, share information, and even give – and take! – advice.
And although in youth hostels history, it was originally used by – who else? – the youth, it’s a common sight these days to see whole families and the “young-at-heart” enjoying the cozy and comfortable accommodation of any youth hostel. Many are designed for the whole family in mind, offering cable TV for kids, game rooms for young adults, and reading rooms and lounges for the not-so-young adults, so don’t worry about having your parents, kids, or friends underfoot when you’re getting your groove on.
Because of the youth hostels history, there are certain traditional rules that are still in effect. For example, some hostels, especially those around Germany, still keep strict curfews, so better keep that in mind when planning your daily itinerary. There are also those that have a mandatory check-in and check-out time. You should also ask the management whether they have a reservation rule and a minimum or maximum duration of stay policy, as well as what the rules are when it comes to having members of the opposite sex stay in the same room. It is, therefore, good practice to call in advance to know what the rules and regulations are of the hostel you are planning to stay in.
However, not all hostels conform to the youth hostels history rules, and some are more lenient, so to speak. There are those that accept walk-ins – meaning, you don’t need to have a reservation to stay there. As long as they have an empty room, you’ll have a place for the night. There are also those that don’t have curfews, so if you’re nocturnal, better go for one of these. There are many hostels out there, so you can virtually mix and match the services that you need and pick one that offers the most attractive and convenient environment for you.
Now that you know your youth hostels history, you’ll have a better idea of why and how these homey places came to be. You’ll have a better appreciation for them as they make your backpacking experience all the more enjoyable and comfortable!
