Thursday, September 24, 2015
The next most important thing when traveling is trying to find where to stay. Most people don't want to spend the ridiculous amount that hotel cost, especially if you're going to be staying for a few days. Instead I encourage people to use hostel world.com or couchsurfing.com. I know that everyone thinks hostel are going to be just like the movie but nobody is going to pull your eyes out or sew you up to your best friend. There are many different rooms you can stay in, all girls rooms, all boys rooms, coed, and private rooms and bathrooms. Most hostels will have you share a bathroom with the other people that are in your room and its honestly not too bad. For the price of hostels, you cant really expect the five star accomodations that a hotel would have anyway. You will spend around 15 euros a night compared to 150 euros at a hotel. Couch surfing is a new website that allows you to stay on someones couch free of charge. I know I know it sounds a little iffy but there is a whole certification process people have to go through to be hosts and to be able to stay in someones house. Most of the time you get really nice people that are just interested in learning about where you're from and are excited to show you around their hometown! Other times you're get people that will barely talk to you and that makes it a bit awkward since you're staying at their house free of charge. All I ever tell people is to make sure they do their research, you can never go wrong if you do your research!
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Hi Keilani! I'm in your Business Communications class :) Wow...I didn't know anything about the Couch surfing website. Interesting. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to try that! Have you tried it before?
ReplyDeleteI do it every time I go to Europe! It really is the best way to save money because you don't have to pay anything and you get to hang around with the locals so you learn all the best places to visit and eat :) I definitely recommend A LOT of research though, I have left a couple of hosts that I've had because I just didn't have a good feel about who I was staying with and I've had some uncomfortable situation.
DeleteCouch surfing? Havent heard that term used in a while. It used to be related to "buming around" to everyones house and at frat houses. Some even took it to a level as to make it a permanent thing while enlisting in the military. One would stay on someones couch, then another after a couple of days. Kind of 70's hippy-ish if you ask me. I havent stayed or remotely thought of these Hostels you mentioned. but I will keep it in my list of options in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt is a bit hippy-ish when you start to look at it, but it is the best way to save money! I've also found its the best way to learn about that countries culture and meet some amazing people!
DeleteAbout twenty-seven years ago I was stationed in Germany. My mom came to visit and we did one of those bus tours from the base travel office. It was an inexpensive way to see other countries. Unbeknownst to us part of the way to keep the expenses down was by staying in host homes. So here my mom and I are staying in a lovely Danish home with a friendly man and his wife. We were asleep in a room that was clearly their son's room when all of a sudden someone is climbing into bed with me. Yep, you got it their son had come home from college for the weekend only to find "goldie locks" in his bed! Awkward doesn't even begin to cover it. They had a heated family discussion (in their native tongue) while my mom and I sit in our pajamas. Recommend a lot of research before taking that leap of faith!
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy Caroline! I have definitely had my far share of awkward encounters while couch surfing but I have never had that happen to me, but at least it's a funny story to tell now!
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