Why I hostel

I'm 38 years old I work full time, I do stuff and go places, and, when I travel alone, I stay in hostels (I'll include guest stays and rooming houses). I consider myself a basic and budget traveller. Not really a backpacker, but similar. I am not travelling months at a time, I'm taking trips to see sights whenever I get a chance. Sometimes I use a backpack, sometimes I bring a  rolley. All the time I keep it basic and on a budget.

Four seats to myself. Thanks Vietnam Airlines!

This is why I hostel. I know at 38 and with a full time job I am expected to stay at high end hotels and resorts at more than $100/night.  Nonsense. That is fine once in a while if the price is right, but for me I like to hostel. I usually travel alone and hostels offer an advantage that enhances my experiences.

First off, the price is a amazing. Hostels are typically cheaper than the star rated hotel options. They offer single beds or single rooms at a range of prices. I stayed at the Zleep63 in Don Mueng for less than $11CDN a night! This allows me to save money to spend on tours, in the markets, and at the restaurants, museums and other attractions. I also have money to live off of and to have for my annual trip to Vegas (the most lavish trip at the lowest price). How can anyone hate on saving money? What is wrong with realising that you don't need to be spoiled on every trip? Sometimes its just good to have a place to stay and store your luggage.

I also like the access to airports while on stopover without having to stay at one of those high priced airport hotels. In fact, I enjoy having access to all attractions that hostels inexpensively give you access to. Think about it. If you want to stay in a central area most hotels cost a significant amount of money. That cuts into my budget (yes I plan a budget...that's what budget travel means).  Hostels can be found anywhere therefore providing access to all the same attractions and features at a fraction of the cost.

Is not just about saving money, though. It is a great way to meet travel friends. Recently, I stayed at
the Glocal Beachside Hostel in Da Nang. There were a few backpackers there on long term working holidays. I got to meet them at the Utopia Rooftop bar in the Hostel. I ended up doing a day trip to Hoi An with them (I do not ride bikes, so one of them volunteered to take me). I am still friends with these people and I'm sure if any of us are all in the same place again we will meet up.

It is also great to have people to bounce travel ideas off of and hostel people usually have some insights that others will not. Anyone can read a Zagat guide to find out top places to eat or visit, but nothing beats talking to someone that experienced it and went to the places that will never be featured on TV.  Sometimes the owners will show you around or the local staff will lead you to the non-touristy paths.  If you think about it, hostelling builds social networks.

My view from my trip to Marble Mountains,Da Nang

I have to say I also like the idea of me bringing my own items. Many hostels do not provide toiletries and this works for me. I can buy my own little bottles of stuff I like and bring them along or buy reusable bottles and go from there. I do not need to waste what is out there. Sometimes it also feels nice to bring my own towel. I don't know about bringing other linens...I worry about people carrying around bed bugs, but I guess if it is clean it does not matter.

The key in hostelling is knowing what you want and that there are options. I stay in the dorms if it is for one or two nights, otherwise I'll opt for a single room . I do not mind sharing a bathroom or kitchen, but the privacy and ability to just be myself in my room (watch videos late, walk around naked, etc) is amazing. You can also find ones that are super low maintenance and ones that are practically hotels. There are hostels that are an experience on their own-- such as the floating ones in Serbia and Denmark. I have also been to some family friendly ones. The experiences and potentials are endless, but one common thing is that you will sleep under a roof (or some version of it) and still have money to spend. 

So, in the end, I am not ashamed to work full time, be 38, travel alone, and stay in hostels. Should I be?

side note: I do not couch surf--I'm a solo, black, female traveller...but that's a story for another time.

Follow my life on twitter: @msnicolesbits or instagram: themsnicole

Single on a July Day: The Croatia Files, pt 2

After an amazing bus ride through the hills (and one incident of the bus overheating), I arrived in my last full stop on this wondrous vacation-- Novalja.

When I planned on coming here it was mainly for the Croatia Rocks festival, but I ended up enjoying the whole city. I stayed at the Moon Rocks Hostel..it was significantly cheaper than the other apartments and I was not into spending a week in a shared room. When you travel alone its painful to have to pay the double occupancy fee...that's money that could be better spent outside of the hostel. 

Moon Rocks is at the top

This hostel  was walking distance from the bus terminal and the city centre and it had a great bar. If I were to go back, I'd hope to stay closer to the city. It gets pretty dark and I like partying late on the shore; it would just be easier to stay there than trek back in the dark.  Plus transit is easy to navigate and inexpensive.

The area is host to several festivals and I was coming in after Fresh Island Festival. I feel like I should have come for that. It seemed to have a great line up of artists! I came for Croatia Rocks instead....I didn't even know the line up when I got there. In fact I had VIP and was not even given a programme...and I refused to buy it.

I think that sums up my Croatia Rocks experience...over paying..well suggestions of  over paying since I did not take the extra bait. I am not sure if it is because it was the first time a Rocks festival came to Croatia or if it was just a poorly organized festival, it was not worth the ticket. Decent experience, but there are free replacements all over Zrce!

Euphoria, it got busier as the night went on

The bus runs all night and you can carry your booze with you. The festival bars cost more than the regular bars and I saw three other places to party. If you are looking for a budget time, I recommend Euphoria. It is right on the beach as you get off the bus. It had cheap liquor and a stripper pole--can't go wrong. The men aren't my cup of tea (way too young, for someone that loves the 40+ crowd), but I know women all over that would love it..you know who you are..Euphoria had an awesome DJ..spinning some mix of 80s/90s to begin with then worked into more modern dancystuff. The bar had mega cocktails for 100k and special shot prices every night...oh and it's no cover and of course no dress code...

Aquarius

Papaya

There were also afternoon pool parties associated with Croatia Rocks. The wristband was supposed to get me into some awesome fun with well known DJs. It was sort of like this. There were only two clubs involved in the whole festival-- Papaya and Aquarius--so only two pool parties associated with the pass. They both had great DJs, but, honestly, only Papaya had a party. The other was a lounge with a wading pool.

If you are travelling to Novalja and do not want to spend money on some music fest, you can still go to the Zrce Beach. There is music all over and you can bring a picnic to the

Snacks and Giant Beer

beach. Plus there are bars and little food kiosks all over. The beach is made of rocks..flipflops  can be painful..but people do it... I recommend some canvas shoe cheapies and bring a yoga mat to sit on. 

City Beach. Such clear water!!!!

There is also a nice quaint beach at the city centre and some great bars over looking the Sea. I spent some time there and socialized with anyone that wanted to speak English. It was nice and a more laid back scene. I walked past another hostel, that I might consider next time around...if I'm still rolling solo. 

Overall an amazing time, despite any festival issues.  

Sunset on my walk from the bus terminal

I'll just note that I put in my complaint and they were taken seriously. It might be helpful for anyone else that had problems to email the sales team: sales@croatiarocks.com. It's the only way they can make improvements.

From here I did a 4h bus ride to Zagreb and then other 30min bus to the airport....then to my last night stay at the Dream Hotel. What an amazing treat this place was!  I was only there for my stop over, until my flight home so I didn't leave the hotel and cannot comment on how close it is to things to do. I enjoyed the restaurant and ate an amazing steak then had an awesome breakfast the next day. The breakfast was included and the airport transport was free. I paid about $80CDN for room and dinner...with wine. Madness!!!

I ate all of this...nom nom

Ferry on the bus ride

 It was a dream vacation, but at some point I had come home...

 YTZ!!!!