Jun 23, 2008
Add Europeanhostels.com to the list of websites directing you to the fastest-growing type of accommodation in travel
I recently posted a list of the multiple websites that direct you to the increasing number of so-called private hostels all over the world. These are not the non-profit, often-government-supported dorms belonging to Hostelling International (the long-established youth hostel organization that now takes guests of any age). Rather, a private hostel is a commercial, profit-seeking operation on the part of various entrepreneurs who primarily buy up former unsuccessful hotels and convert them into hostels by greatly expanding the number of beds they offer (turning doubles into quads, replacing beds with bunks, and so on). In these days of a weak dollar and stratospheric room rates at standard European hotels, the new "hostels” are a haven for cost-conscious people. They continue to charge the kind of rates that Americans used to pay, and they are multiplying in quantity.
I have now been advised by the founders of EuroCheapo (www.eurocheapo.com) that they have created a new website called EuropeanHostels (www.europeanhotels.com). Whereas EuroCheapo describes budget-priced hotels and guesthouses, EuropeanHostels will be more tightly focused on true hostels -- i.e., those in which most accommodations are dorm-like in nature, and where the nightly rate is sensationally low. (But there is an overlap between the two sites; many of the "hostels” also offer single and double rooms, and all of them accept people of all ages).
It's an interesting new website with a great many photographs and other aids that you may find helpful. Here's the pitch I received:
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I have now been advised by the founders of EuroCheapo (www.eurocheapo.com) that they have created a new website called EuropeanHostels (www.europeanhotels.com). Whereas EuroCheapo describes budget-priced hotels and guesthouses, EuropeanHostels will be more tightly focused on true hostels -- i.e., those in which most accommodations are dorm-like in nature, and where the nightly rate is sensationally low. (But there is an overlap between the two sites; many of the "hostels” also offer single and double rooms, and all of them accept people of all ages).
It's an interesting new website with a great many photographs and other aids that you may find helpful. Here's the pitch I received:
The site, which we initially created as a youth hostel directory in 1999, has been overhauled to include Editor's Picks and in-house hostel reviews, hostel photos, user reviews and travel forums.The website's new search tools include sorting and filtering by Editor's Pick, Price, Distance to city center and Highest Rating, and it also displays hostels with Google maps.
The main feature we think will be most beneficial for budget travelers is our new hostel search engine. EuropeanHostels's customized search capability brings in much of the functionality found on travel search sites but has been overlooked within the hostel category.
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Labels: accommodations, websites
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