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Hostels have been around for a long time, providing cheap accomodations for travelers who are more interested in traveling than touring in luxury. In the United States hostels used to be more complicated, with guests helping with chores, etc. Perhaps this is part of the reason they have never been too popular in the U.S.
Fortunately, they are simpler now, as in the rest of the world. The basic idea is that you rent a bed instead of a room, and you share the bathroom, living room and kitchen. You get less privacy, but cheaper accommodations, and you get to socialize.
When I first went to Quito, Ecuador, I stayed at Centro Del Mundo, a hostel near the center of the area of town called "gringolandia." The $4 per night charge included breakfast. I shared a room and bathroom with 4 others. I shared the T.V. room with guests from 14 countries, and watched channels in three languages. The place was clean and comfortable, with a locking trunk next to each bed for valuables.
For just 80 cents I could have a rum-and-coke brought to me while I played chess with a flower-buyer from Holland, or watched CNN International. The manager arranged anything from $15-tours of the snow-covered volcano Cotapaxi, to $2-per-hour Spanish lessons. On Friday nights he bought the rum, and there was a party out in the patio.
Unfortunately, not all hostels are as much fun as the one I stayed at in Quito, nor would all travelers want accomodations like that. I love hostels, but many travelers won't. I enjoy mingling with travelers from around the world. But it is true that "mingling," could mean sleeping next to someone who snores.
Even if they were the same price, I'd prefer a hostel to a hotel, but one of the biggest reasons people stay in hostels is...
Continued in the e-book "Travel Secrets". For more secrets of cheap accomodations, and many other travel secrets, visit: http://www.99reports.com/travel-tips.html
