Opening party was packed with guests of the hostel and Reykjavik inhabitants  enjoying performances of popular Icelandic bands such as FM Belfast, Prins Polo and Boogie Trouble.

Loft Hostel boasts one of the finest views in town with its large top floor balcony café overlooking the city centre – a great spot to people watch or catch a glimpse of the northern lights in winter. At the bar and café on the fourth floor of the hostel there’s also plenty of opportunities to catch live concerts and events.

With over 100 new beds in both private rooms and dormitories, which all have private bathrooms, HI Iceland and Loft Hostel look forward to responding to the increased demand for accommodation in the city – in addition to Reykjavík City Hostel and Reykjavík Downtown Hostel, Loft Hostel is the third hostel that HI Iceland owns and runs in Reykjavík.

The new hostel will emphasise on green values and sustainability like HI Iceland‘s other hostels and preparationd for becoming a Swan Certified hostel has already begun.

Apollo Bay Eco YHA was extremely spacious with 2 large kitchens and 2 communal and dining areas along with a comfy TV lounge….but the absolute favourite spot was the rooftop where she managed to do some sunbathing, drinking and reading whilst having a view of the ocean.

Mel and her friend Sharon arrived via the inland route, it was rather uneventful until they were 30 minutes out and witnessed the beautiful scenery through the State Forest.

They arrived into town a bit early so decided to check it out. Apollo Bay is a beautiful seaside town along the Great Ocean Road with lots of cafes, clothing stores, a Skate Park and a couple of pubs.

They decided to pass the afternoon by lazing on the beach and watching the surfers. Once it was time to check in they went straight to the room to check it out – it was nice and spacious with good sized lockers and balconies if you are lucky to be on level 1. The bathrooms were very clean and modern with constant hot water in the showers – always a plus when backpacking! They had a wander of the hostel and discovered the herb garden, although couldn’t pick anything as Gay and Gilbert – the managers are re-planting after the Summer months. The girls had a lazy Friday night in and hung out in the TV lounge with the other guests at the hostel, but after a huge week at work Mel was in bed and asleep by 9:30pm!!

Saturday was not that warm so they slept in then spent the morning wandering the local markets – lots of jams, soaps and plants to be bought then went to a café for lunch where they sat on the balcony overlooking the ocean. They watched the surfers and kite boarders which can be quite entertaining to see them stack…or do really well.

Later in the afternoon Mel and Sharon went across the road from the hostel to enjoy ‘Happy Hour Sangria’ and after making good use of Happy Hour made their way back to the hostel and made friends with the other people staying at the YHA.

The hostel had a good communal vibe and they ended up having a much, much later night with the other travelers. Their night began having some drinks at the hostel in the communal area then heading down to the pub to listen to the live music, which conveniently is just down the road and stayed there until closing time.

They all made their short way back to the hostel and decided to make a very early morning breakfast of scrambled eggs, mushrooms, spinach, toast and tomato, wasn’t the best breakfast ever had as it had been cooked after a few beers, but still thoroughly enjoyed. Thank goodness the kitchen had all the facilities that they needed to do this at this crazy hour. After breakfast they continued to stay up and be social, was definitely a fun experience and for Melinda it was a reminder of her time backpacking Europe.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable time at Apollo Bay Eco YHA, she would definitely recommend this hostel to anyone. So pack your backpack and head to Australia to check out the hostel yourself.

Do you want to experience new countries and cities around the world but not worry about the cost of your accommodation?

Why not try staying in a hostel?

Staying in a hostel may not just save you a substantial amount of money but will also enable you to interact and mix with other like-minded travellers, who will have local recommendations, making your stay all the more authentic.

Generally hostels are much cheaper than hotels with prices as low as £8, depending on the destination you are planning to visit. For an even cheaper budget option, guests also have the option to stay in a dorm room and save even more.

However, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing your room with random people and your budget is a little less stretched, there is always the option of booking a private room, which the majority of HI hostels offer, where you can experience a little more luxury, your own en-suite and a bit of privacy.

The sort of tangible benefit of staying in the hostel is quite obvious, more interesting are the communal areas, bars and spacious shared rooms in the hostels which allow travellers to meet new interesting people who may become your friends and fellow travellers on your journey. These days having the right connections can be quite key in setting your future, so what would be the better way of networking than while you are in a relaxed travel mode.

Besides, staying in a hostel with a bar may be a great way of having a night out with reasonably priced drinks. On the other hand in a hotel bar, you would end up paying much more.

One of the expenses you can’t simply exclude from your budget is food. Hostels enable you to save a rather large sum of money by allowing you to use a communal kitchen. This way you are not entitled to eat out every night and you can cook yourself a healthy, well-balanced option rather than opting for fast food.

Moreover, the vast majority of the hostels are well equipped with all modern amenities including free Wi-Fi, whereas in hotels, it is likely that a specific charge is allocated to a certain period of time spent using the Internet.

Another critical element of hostelling is the fact that they are normally located near the transport links which may help you to conveniently get to various tourist places you are interested in.

In addition, you may benefit from knowledge of the local staff that is likely to give you suggestions to what to see and where to go. Their advice may allow you to see places which are not in any touristic guides and which may give you more insight into the local culture and its identity.

Another hint which may enable you to save some money are cool and emerging tours arranged by the hostels. These tend to have much lower rates than the ones you can find in the hotel. Besides, some of the hostels are likely to hold various activities/theme nights which are free and may help you to enjoy yourself while being educated.

Many travellers worry about the security and safety of staying in hostels, perhaps having heard horror stories from several years back. However, HI hostels place the security and safety of their guests as top priority, to provide its visitors with a comfortable experience, limiting events which could frustrate you on your trip. Today, hostels tend to have a variety of security options ranging from safes behind reception, lockers in the rooms, electronic swipe cards for you to use when getting in or out, 24-hour security on site and CCTVs recording common areas.

App and microsite for sharing the moment

The app is available free of charge from the App Store and on Google Play. It provides young international travellers with an overview of 1,300 open-access Wi-Fi hotspots in Germany, enabling them to access social networks for free. Another key aspect of the campaign is the GNTB’s microsite at www.germany.travel/youth. It specifically targets young visitors and gives them the chance to find out about Germany before they arrive. An interactive map uses pulsating rings of different sizes to show where there is most going on in Germany in the five HotSpot categories: must-sees, nightlife, shopping, bars & cafés and festivals & events. Clicking on the rings on the interactive map opens the towns and cities in which the different HotSpots are located. The original HotSpots were selected on the basis of surveys of young Germans.

Social media campaign: Youth HotSpots in Germany – Share the moment

Activities for the theme year are centred around a broad-ranging social media campaign entitled ‘Youth HotSpots in Germany – Share the moment.’, which is being officially launched now at the 2013 ITB in Berlin and will continue until March 2014. The main communication channels being used at the start of the campaign are the dedicated section of the website and social media platforms, in particular Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Many of us look back fondly on youthful days spent climbing trees, exploring woodlands and looking for bugs in the great outdoors, however it seems many of us are losing touch with the countryside. With school holidays just around the corner, YHA is now urging families to get out and explore the UK countryside.

The *survey also found that nearly four in 10 UK adults have never climbed a tree, while nearly a quarter of respondents claim to have never even been to a lake and 16% have never been to a woodland!

As for flora and fauna, many of us have little idea what’s out there. Eleven per cent of those polled believe they might bump into a wolf or a skunk on their ramble through the British countryside, while one in 10 wouldn’t recognise a badger if they saw one. Additionally, 60% of UK adults are unaware our coastal waters are inhabited by sharks, whales and dolphins.

In total, 38% of respondents have either never been to the countryside or go only once a year or less – something that YHA wants to change.

YHA (England and Wales) Chief Executive Caroline White said: “This survey shows that a large part of the population are losing touch with the countryside – and missing out on so much. England and Wales has an abundance of things to explore and discover – better still; most of it is free or low cost, which, in the current economic climate, can only be good news.

“Giving people the chance to experience the great outdoors means more of us can find out all about what is out there and is also good for our health and happiness.”

For more information about YHA, or to make a booking at any of its hostels, visit www.yha.org.uk.

Where will you be watching Eurovision 2013?

It’s one of the most-watched television events in the world. And this year an estimated 125 million people from throughout Europe will be tuning in on May 18 to support the singing sensation from their country.

Being hosted in Malmo in Sweden, Hostelling International has plenty of accommodation which will have you singing from the rooftops. Sweden is ideal for group trips all year round. In the winter cascading northern lights illuminate the sky above the wilds of Swedish Lapland while in the summer visitors head for the white sandy beaches of the south. And because HI runs an accredited quality scheme for group travellers, you know that our accommodation will provide you with everything you need for a successful trip.

Check out the hostels we have in Sweden by clicking here>>>>

But the Eurovision song contest focuses on more than just the host country. It is an exploration into geography and highlights some of the countries we are a little less familiar with. Armenia will be taking part for the seventh year – unfortunately they have never been successful. This country’s most famous singer has got to be Charles Aznavour – now an ambassador for the tiny land-locked country. So find out more about him and this country’s tradition by organising a group stay at our hostel here. For more details click here>>>>

And what about Slovenia? This Central European country has tried their luck 19 times in the contest and has never had a victory. But that doesn’t mean that it’s not a country worth seeing with your group. We have six hostels in this diverse country which are all waiting to welcome you and your group. Click here to see the hostels we have in Slovenia>>>

But even the more well-known countries are not always victorious when it comes to singing. Spain has entered 53 times and only won twice. Click here to see our groups hostels in Spain>>>> And Belgium has tried their luck no less than 55 times but only walked away as the winner once. Click here to see our groups hostels in Belgium>>>

Celebrate with the luck of the Irish (maybe) at our hostel in Killarney

The country seeing the most success in Eurovision during its 56 year history is Ireland which has won the prestigious title no less than seven times. So why not book a groups trips to one of our hostels here and see if you can celebrate with the luck of Irish again in 2013? Click here to see our groups hostels in Ireland>>>>

Hostelling International (HI) is the only global network of Youth Hostel Associations. Located in some of the world’s most inspiring locations, the HI network offers 4,000 unique hostels in 90 countries worldwide. There are more than 200 of these hostels which are available to be booked by groups.

All HI hostels meet assured standards, which guarantee a range of good quality safe accommodation, in friendly surroundings at affordable prices.

For more information on all of the hostels which HI have which are suitable fro groups visit: www.hihostels.com/groups

A liberal city full of juxtapositions, this is a place that you just have to see for yourself to fully understand its quirks.

Although I work for HI this was a personal trip that I took with some friends and whilst Amsterdam is not commonly a place for a ‘girls holiday’, I think we held our own! We had an amazing time, saw some intriguing sights to say the least and laughed a LOT.

I thought I would share some of my highlights from the weekend that show a different side to The Dam…

Anne Frank

It goes without saying that a visit to Anne Frank House is a must. Unless you buy tickets ahead from the official website, be prepared to queue for at least an hour, but do not let this deter you; people watching, taking photos and hot chocolates from a nearby café kept us occupied. Since learning about Anne Frank at school and reading her diary, I have always wanted to see the small annex where 8 people managed to remain in hiding from the SS during the Holocaust for 2 whole years. Visiting the house is a very surreal experience; you are taken through what used to be the warehouse in the 1940′s and the original office of Otto Frank, before going through to the secret annex. It is a very unnerving moment going behind the moveable bookcase which conceals the door and practically climbing the steep and narrow stairs that resemble ladders. Upon entering the darkened rooms where Anne and the others lived, it is difficult to comprehend how they managed to remain unheard for so long as being such an old building every noise seems magnified. Seeing Anne’s bedroom and the attic where Anne and Peter shared their first kiss was very poignant as they were just as I had pictured when reading Anne’s diary. Quotes by Anne are interspersed with other historical artefacts including emotional video footage from her father Otto and her old school friends. This visit is one that stays with you long after you leave; my friends and I have already started re-reading Anne’s diary.

The Anne Frank House is situated in the centre of Amsterdam at Prinsengracht 263-267. Tickets at the door are €9. It takes around 20 minutes to walk from the Central Station to the museum. Trams 13, 14 and 17 and buses 170, 172 and 174 stop nearby, at the ‘Westermarkt’ stop.

City Canal Cruise 

As the sun was shining on Saturday afternoon in the city, we wanted to make the most of it, so we decided to hop on a boat and take the one-hour City Canal Cruise tour. There is nothing like being on the water, sunglasses on and the sun beaming! Costing only €13, tickets can be purchased from the many tourist shops along the canals and boats depart every 15 minutes from various locations. We boarded outside Anne Frank House and befriended some very funny fellow Englishmen whilst queuing!

The tour is a convenient way to see more of the city including the wealthiest street, houseboats, bridges and the old harbour.

A computerised audio system in several languages guides you through the canal sights. A Hop On/Hop Off Day Pass can also be purchased starting from €20.

StayOkay Vondelpark

I paid a visit to one of our most popular HI hostels, Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark. The hostel is partly located in a vast chalet building from which guests have a stunning view over Vondelpark which is the largest park in Amsterdam and includes an open-air theatre, a playground and several restaurants. Our Stayokay hostel sits at the start of the park and is only a short 10 minute tram ride from Amsterdam Central station.

The hostel was fully-booked and very busy in the run up to Queens Day, but hostel manager Jan took some time out to meet me which was much appreciated. As I am fairly new to HI, it was great to meet one of our hostel managers and chat about all the exciting changes coming to our network.

Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark has a fantastic, fun atmosphere and is an ideal base for exploring the city; guests are advised to book their accommodation early to avoid disappointment.

Dam Square 

Dam Square lies in the historical centre of Amsterdam, approximately 750m south of Amsterdam Central station. Here you can expect to find a multitude of souvenir shops, restaurants, bars and popular tourist spots such as Madame Tussauds, the National Monument and the Royal Palace. As the city is quite compact, we found ourselves walking through the square each day as it links the main streets such as Damrak, Damstraat and beyond that the main red light district, de Wallen.

Sunday was a fantastic day to be in Dam Square, the city was gearing up for Queens Day, the weather was perfect and the excitement was palpable. Weaving our way through the hubbub of people, horses, carriages, trams, cars, buskers, cyclists and pigeons only added to the fun and we really did not want to leave!

The online blogging community that the project created has been phenomenal and we’d love to still have you on board, participating in discussions and providing travel tips like you have all been doing already. With so many creative, passionate and talented bloggers involved in the project, we wanted to open up the floor and ask whether you would like to write a guest post for us based on your hometown being a worldwide inspiration.

So, if you think your hometown is inspiring and should be shared with the world, please let us know – as we’d love to have you write your very own post on the Hostelling International blog, detailing why you think so.

If you would like to participate in the BBE Guest Post Journey, email us here socialmedia@hihostels.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Punta Cancun, Cancun, Mexico

If you are looking for the central hub of the wildest parties, Punta Cancun is the place to be. It is the location of various nightclubs, bars and restaurants among which you can find popular Coco Bongo, Dady´O and The City. However, there is one thing you should be careful with and that is tequila, which basically flows in rivers here. While you are there, you can stay in one of our hostels in Cancun which will guarantee you all the comfort you need to refresh yourself for another party.

Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa doesn’t fit into traditional description of a beach, where people tend to enjoy the sun, get a tan and relax. Here, it is more about blink, makeup and your best picks from wardrobe. The most fun can be found in the central area of the beach where Nissi Bay Beach Bar is located. Here, you can enjoy loud music, wet t-shirt competitions and very popular foam parties. To have the most memorable and nonstop party experience visit the beach on Sunday. Enjoy Croatia in our Paschalia Hostel, located just 15 minutes from the beach, next to which you can also find Water Fun Park.

Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast City, Australia

Don’t be tricked by the name, Surfers Paradise is not purely about chasing the waves. Over the years, this place has become main party hotspot with multiple clubs and pubs. The most noticeable periods of never-ending party atmospheres are during June and July when you can enjoy open-air festivals and in late November and early December when college graduates break up for one week. Surfers Paradise is holding a status of being the largest single venue for the Schoolies who can enjoy dance parties, concerts and movie screenings all day long. Choose from two of our hostels in Gold Coast here.

Rimini, Italy

One could think of Rimini being a cozy family holiday destination; however this is not the case anymore. After a serious revamp, Rimini, with its 15 mile long beach full of the hottest clubs and bars, attracts the youth from all over the world. It has become the place to see and be seen and you might even have a chance to spot the greatest Italy lover – George Clooney. However, despite the glamorous vibe this place offers, you can still be yourself and not have to worry about not fulfilling Victoria Secret body standards. While you are visiting Italy, you can stay in our funky Sunflower Beach Backpacker Hostel where you can enjoy all the comfort you need.

Slovenia, which offers a wide variety of activities to suit travellers of all ages, is a great destination to visit at any season of the year. Travellers can chose to visit one of the many beautiful, world renowned, natural sights or indulge in something a little more adventurous, such as one of the many sporting activities available (rafting, paragliding, cycling, hiking, cave exploring, rock climbing, skiing, etc.). For less active types there are also many museums, galleries, castles and beautiful medieval towns with hidden treasures of Slovenian history to explore. Here are some of the wonderful offers Hostelling International members can enjoy, where they will welcome you and give you a special discount on their regular offer.

Lipica Stud Farm

Photo by: Bobo

The Stud farm in Lipica is one of the oldest of its kind in the world and the place of origin of the famous white horses ‘Lipizzaners’. The tradition of breeding white horses is over 400 years old and living in the unique Kars world. It’s one of the best and most beautiful natural and cultural monuments of Slovenia. Feel the world of the white horse in a unique way – by guided tours of the rich culture and natural heritage of the stud farm; by seeing the shows and trainings at the classical horse-riding school; by taking a carriage ride around the estate; through ridding courses and pony ridding for children. The owners of HI membership card have the right to the student discount for the guided tour of the stud farm and for the horse-ridding shows. More on:

Postojna Cave

Photo by: D.Mladenovic

The cave at Postojna is an interesting underground cathedral that has aged extremely well, despite it being centuries old. With over 20 kilometres of high tunnels to explore it is among the longest tourist caves in the world. Its special rock formations and easily access to the public means that it has been visited by over 34 million people from all over the world, that took the electric train to the mystical and beautifully lighted underground caverns where guides explain the geological structures of the cave. Hostelling International members have the right to get the student discount.

A walk around Ljubljana with a boat trip

Photo by: D.Wedam

The sightseeing tour includes the most important sights of the old centre as well as a boat ride on the Ljubljanica River. You’ll see the old city centre with its unique architecture – a combination of baroque and succession styles and above all the masterpieces of Jože Plečnik. On one of the stations you’ll enter the tourist boat that will take you under the famous Three Bridges. HI members get 50% discount for guided tours of Ljubljana and the boat trip.

Tolmin gorges

Photo by: Matevz Lenarcic

The picturesque and wild gorges are the lowest entry point to the Triglav national park. The Tolmin gorges is the name for the gorges of rivers Tolminka and Zadlaščica, which are one of the most fabulous natural sights. It would remain hidden from the world if the tourist society of tolmin would not carve a path into the gorges 50 years ago. Today the LTO worries about the maintenance of the path. It’s about 200 metres long and more than 60 metres deep gorge that the greenish-blue river of Tolminka cut into rock and made a narrow creek known as the gorge where sometimes the rocks are just a few feet away. The gorge of Zadlaščica is shorter, but no less beautiful. HI members get 20 % discount for entring the Tolmin gorges..

Quicksilver mines

Visit the Anotoni’s hall in Idrija, located in the oldest mining town in Slovenia, with its quicksilver mine which is part of the UNESCO world heritage. The quicksilver mine at Idrija was the second largest in the world. People gained 147.000 tons of this metal in the more than 500 year old history of the mine, which is more than 13% of the entire quicksilver production in the world. The mine at Idrija is under the town and is over 1500, long and 300-600 m wide. The miners dug over 700km of tunnels, with the deepest running down to 400 meters – or 36m below sea level. In the mysterious world of quicksilver, where you can see drops of the only liquid metal in the world, you get to see the one of a kind underground chapel of the Holy Trinity, discover the ways of mining and much more. HI members get a €4 discount for the ticket to enter the mine.

Sport activities on the river Soča

The company Soča rafting d.o.o. has been the promoter of sporting activities in the valley of Soča and Slovenia since 1989. The sport centre is based in Bovec and in the summer season (April – October) they organize rafting, canyoning, kayak, canoe, team building, hiking, free rock climbing, cycling trips and bike rentals. During the winter season (December – May) they have a ski school at the slopes of Kanin, where you are able to sledge riding down Mangart, rent ski equipment, have ski lessns or participate in the Elan ski testing. All the guides are licenced guides with lots of experience, so any guest can be rest assured they are in safe hands. HI members get 15% discount for sporting activities (rafting, canyoning, hydrospeed, canoeing, kayaking).