We made this movie for our contacts in Barcelona (actually, school made us do it!).

Apre’s ski in the lovely Val Claret in Tignes, France for more details (in hebrew only)- http://www.skideal.co.il/

Youth Hostels History

The first youth hostel was founded by Richard Schirrmann around 1909. Schirrmann was a German teacher who organized trips and visits with his students. During one of these excursions, a sudden rainstorm forced his group to seek shelter in an empty school.

It was then that Schirrmann had the idea of using schools that were empty during holidays as guest houses for young people that were travelling in groups in the countryside. The idea caught on very quickly, and by the 1930s there were more than two thousand hostels in Germany.

The idea spread out in the rest of Europe, and after an important international conference in 1932, the idea was exported to the United States and many other countries, and the International Youth Hostel Federation was born, with the idea of providing cheap accommodation for young travellers.

With time, the concept of hostel has broadened, and now hostels accept guests of all ages, providing cheap but comfortable accommodation and a unique atmosphere that cannot be found in hotels.

Hostels Equipment

If you are travelling for a long time, buy yourself a good backpack, which fits you comfortably, and do not exceed in loading it – a heavy backpack can be very painful to carry when it’s summer and it’s hot. Choose comfortable shoes, and keep cool shoes for evenings out.

Hostels most often provide you with sheets (often at an extra cost), but you should bring your own, just in case. Some hostels might not allow sleeping bags, for reasons of hygiene (you might have been sleeping anywhere with a sleeping bag, and hostelling is not the same thing as camping).

Some hostels will provide you with a so-called sleep-sheet, which is two sheets sewn together, so they form a sort of sack. This way the bed stays clean. It is not as common as it used to be years ago.

You should also bring your own soap and towels, since only some hostels provide these, usually with an extra charge.

Hostels Social Life

Hostels are definitely the place for socializing. Since the guests in a hostel are mostly younger people, there are plenty of occasions to get to know other travellers. Some hostels organize parties, meetings or competitions, or have a bar within or just outside their premises where people can meet and chat to fellow guests.

Hostellers are generally more interested in meeting other people than your average tourist, so it’s much easier to get in touch with them, share common interests and exchange advice, tips, etc. Many people travel on their own all over a country or continent more than a year long, and rely on chance meetings to make friends.

Remember: you can always meet people who have opinions (on politics, sex, religion, your country) that are very different from your own, so you must be prepared to be tolerant and understanding other people’s positions and views on life. Without a doubt, this will certainly enrich you and broaden your perspective. So if you go to a hostel, expect to meet new friends, (especially if you speak some languages) and put on your best smiling face. Who knows, you might make the best friendships of your life!

Youth Hostels vs Hotels

There are several types of hostels nowadays, and all of them tend to have their special characteristics; some are more like standard hotels, some are a completely different experience. The main difference is that most hostels offer accommodation in dormitories, or shared rooms. Dorms can be bigger or smaller, can be for males/females only or mixed, but anyway this means that you can share your room with strangers.

Although many hostels now provide private rooms with en-suite facilities, the atmosphere is still very different from that of your average hotel. Whereas hotels only tend to just provide their customers a comfortable place where to spend the night, hostels tend to have more of a social atmosphere which often is derived from sharing dining tables, washing machines, dryers, and much more with with other guests.

Many hostels organize parties and excursions for their guests, and many have a bar where people can meet and get to know each other. In a hostel it is much more likely to start a conversation with a fellow traveller or to be asked for advice, tips and information by someone you have never met before.

Basically, hostels are generally a good place to make friends, to meet people from far away countries with ways different than your own, to exchange tips on clubs, museums, shows, shopping and the like.

Different kinds of hostels

Hostels come in all shapes and sizes nowadays.

City hostels tend to lean more towards the social/fun aspect of city life, offering information about pubs, tours of the city, thrift shops and night clubs. They can be much noisier than country hostels, since they often have no curfew and are open 24 hours a day. The bigger the hostel, and the more night-life oriented the city it’s in, the more social life you will find.

Country hostels are a very different thing. They’re mostly frequented by people who are travelling through the country, possibly walking or hiking. This means people wake up earlier, and go to sleep earlier, and usually like it quiet!

How long can I stay in a hostel?

Some hostels won’t allow you to stay longer than a couple of weeks, since the idea of hostelling is that people are travelling across a country, and not staying in the same place all the time. But many others will not mind if you stay longer: after all, you are indeed a customer! Some hostels will require you to prove that you are an international traveller, since it wouldn’t make sense for a hostel to be full of locals, but this is not too common.

Group bookings

Not every hostel is ideal for group bookings, since some can be small. The best idea is to book well in advance, so you can be sure to find room for everyone in your group.

What kind of facilities are available in hostels?

Most (but not all) hostels will offer a laundry room, telephone, Internet connection, lockers for your precious stuff, and a breakfast service. Some will offer more. Every hostel/hotel in our list has an indication of the facilities it has, so you can be sure to get what you need. If you’re travelling with a dog, remember to check whether the accommodation you choose allows them in!

Do I need to book hostels in advance?

Definitely yes, and that’s why we’re here. Especially during peak seasons, and even more in the most famous cities and resorts, hostels can be fully booked and have no room for you, especially if you’re travelling with many people. Booking in advance is a good idea, since you get rid of worries and do not need to walk across a city with a heavy backpack looking for accommodation. It might detract a bit from the sense of adventure, but you’ll definitely have much more time to have fun!

Is breakfast included in hostels? Can I cook in hostels?

Usually, breakfast is not included in the price, but it’s reasonably cheap and abundant in quantity. Some hostels offer cooking facilities, such as a kitchen complete with pots and everything you need. Other hostels will be more than happy to give you advice about the cheapest bars and food outlets in the neighbourhood.

Age limits

Some hostels do have age limits, and might give precedence to younger travellers (especially Youth Hostels in Europe), or exclude them (if they have a bar in the premises), but most hostels will welcome guests of all ages, and will even accommodate small children and provide smaller beds and cribs if asked in advance.

Curfew

Some hostels will have a curfew, some won’t. It largely depends on the type of hostel, on the owners’ policy and on the location of the hostel (there’s not much use in being able to come to the hostel at three in the night if the hostel is in the mountains!). Many hostels in our directory have information on their curfew policy right in their description.

Lockout

Some hostels might have a lockout period. This is usually around lunchtime or in the early afternoon, and is meant to let the hostel’s staff clean the premises, or if the place is owned by a person, to allow her/him to go out and make supplies, etc. It is not so common any more, so check with the hostel’s staff if you want to be sure.

Dormitory vs Private Rooms in hostels

A dormitory is a room with several beds (often of the bunk type), all of which can be booked individually by different guests of a hostel.

It is also called a shared room, since you share the room with other guests. Dorms can vary from 4 to 20 or more beds, and some hostels have separate dorms for males and females, while others do not make a difference and offer mixed dorms.

Dormitories are always cheaper than private rooms in the same structure, and generally require people to be a bit more adaptable, since your room-mates may go to sleep or wake up earlier or later than you do, have different habits than you, or snore…

But dorms are often great fun, since it’s much easier to get to know fellow travellers if you share the room with them! After all, the loss in privacy is counterbalanced by many social advantages.

While dorms were the default option of most hostels years ago, most hostels now also offer private rooms, which usually have 2 to 4 beds, sometimes even with en-suite WC and shower. In this case, staying in a hostel is very similar to staying in a normal hotel, apart from all of the social chances you will have during communal moments (breakfast, evening, etc.).

Europelowcost, worldwide youth hostels price comparison

http://en.europelowcost.com/hostels.aspx

Traveling around Europe can be a truly unique experience. In fact, I don’t think there are many people who would pass out on the opportunity to travel all over Europe and see all the beautiful countries and cities that they hear so much about. I’m sure that even those who have had such an experience would like to relive it. The only problem is that seeing all of Europe at once can be quite expensive. Transportation, meals, accommodation, fares, etc. – they all add up to an overall amount that most of us cannot come up with.

What do you do if you dream of going on a tour of the European capitals, but you realize you are a little short of cash? If you want to stay at a hotel in cities such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Berlin, etc., you will be taking quite a lot of money out of your pocket. Therefore, if you travel on a budget, pretty much like everybody else, your best option is represented by hostels.

The history of hostels goes back almost a century, when, as a result of a rather unfortunate situation, a German teacher realized that safe and affordable lodgings needed to be built in order to accommodate students traveling for various purposes. As a result, the first youth hostel was built in Germany in 1912. Many other countries quickly embraced the concept, and hostels began to be built in countries such as the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, etc. Nowadays, hostels can be found in every country, but the one with the richest tradition is the Netherlands. To be more precise, it was Amsterdam that played the most important part in the development of these inexpensive and comfortable accommodations. In 1932, the International Youth Hostel Foundation was created in Amsterdam, foundation that has about sixty-five members now.

You can imagine that such a wealth of experience has lead to the continuous improvement of services provided in such hostels. As a result, most hostels Amsterdam are a lot more than just safe and affordable. They are very clean, comfortable and welcoming places where everyone feels at home. It’s safe to say that some hostels Amsterdam set the quality standards for youth accommodations. Therefore, when in Amsterdam, for whatever reason, don’t give any second thought to staying at a hotel, because hostels are an excellent choice.

Some of the hostels Amsterdam offer excellent conditions and facilities. If you are lucky enough to find a vacancy in one of the well-located hostels Amsterdam, you will need little else. In order to make your stay as pleasant as possible, you should try to find a hostel whose staff are friendly and welcoming, whose prices are moderate, and whose location is close to the city center or the main attraction points of the city. The good news is that there are such youth hostels in Amsterdam. Moreover, some hostels in Amsterdam also offer all sorts of facilities, such as free quality breakfast, free city map and walking tour, free luggage storage, free movies to watch, and so on.

In conclusion, when you get to Amsterdam, make hostels your number one choice. You won’t be sorry!

For more information about Hostels or even about hostels Amsterdam please follow this link http://www.hostelcosmos.com

Each year, most British travelers opt for a cheap holiday to the Mediterranean. Just this rainy summer, Britons went somewhere abroad to get warmed up under the sun. There are a lot of offers from tour operators because of the high demand.

Top holiday destinations for cheap holidays are Cyprus, Greek Islands, Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Caribbean, some Ski resorts, and many others.

The peak season for travelers are the months of June and July according to some travel related websites. According to the founder of lastminute.com, Brent Hoberman, the bad weather this summer has caused more people to book their holidays at the last minute. Though most people are still confident of getting the best deals at the last minute. Among the top holiday destinations, Spain was the most popular for those who want to see some sun. Though destinations like Turkey and Bulgaria offer better value for money.

The ancient and historical places in Greece has also attracted the British travelers making it famous among other travel destinations. Greece has over 16 million visitors each year. The main attractions for Greece are the rich and long history, glorious Mediterranean coastline and beaches, mild climate and great cuisine. There are a lot of available cheap holiday packages to Greece from all over the British airports to the Greek Islands like Crete, Rhodes, Zante, and Corfu.

There are some ways of finding good cheap holiday deals flying from British airports. The cheap package holidays emerged during the late 1950’s and 1960’s wherein flights, transfers and accomodation were combined that gave the British people the opportunity to travel more often at a lower price. Though nowadays, more people are not going for package holidays anymore. They instead find their own accommodation and travel in a low cost airline like Easy jet, Ryan air and BMI baby. They are making their own cheap holiday.

Seeking for a good holiday at an affordable price has been a lot easier now for British people. The internet has made a great impact on the way people search for a cheap holiday. Most people now become the travel agents of their own and book their holiday through the Internet at a relatively low prices.

Another big change in the industry of traveling is the concept named “dynamic packaging.” In dynamic packaging, people book their flights and accommodation separately. A lot of travel agents in UK offer dynamic packaging through websites and Teletext channels.

Finding your own cheap holiday is really a lot easier nowadays with the help of the Internet. With just a click of the button, you’ll have answers to your questions; you can have a background of the holiday destinations and what these places can offer which makes it easier for you to decide on where to go for the holidays. If you want to have your own cheap holiday, all you got to do is just search for it. There are a lot of cheap holiday packages or offers available in the world wide web.

 

Drunken debauchery, lapdancing clubs with strippers galore and naked men chained to railings the night before their wedding! It can only be the most celebrated tradition of the 21st century – The Stag Do!!

The Stag Night Weekends invariably took place over an evening – traditionally the night before the wedding – however, modern day men celebrate the hardcore way with stag weekends celebrated over as many as 3 or 4 days. The elongation of the traditional Stag Night Weekend has the stag and his party jumping for joy, so no wonder some women get just a little apprehensive when their partners announce they are off on a stag weekend with a bunch of testosterone enhanced buddies!

The choice of destination is merely the beginning, with activity centres opening up all over the world, extreme sports is the tip of the iceberg and strip clubs an exciting reality. These days our men not only have it too good, they’re not ashamed to take the bull by the horns and go all out for the party experience of their life! With stag nights and stag weekends drifting abroad, Europe is a top stag destination with places like Reykjavik, Riga, Estonia, Prague and Amsterdam tipping the top of the popularity boards.

Websites such as www.betterweekends.com, promote group activity Stag Night Weekends and stag breaks to these European cities for a long weekends of cheap drinks, Extreme sports, go-karting with strip clubs aplenty.

Foreign embassies are becoming so overwhelmed with Stag Night Parties, who turn to them for help with replacing lost passports or tracking down lost friends, they are going to impose an £84-an-hour charge for consular time.

So what is the key to a safe and successful Stag do?

Firstly and fore mostly, plan ahead and make sure everyone knows where they are going and what the itinerary is before the weekend.

If you can’t be responsible for yourself, nominate someone – it’s generally a good idea if it’s the best man or the person that’s arranged the stag do - to be responsible for planning the itinerary and gathering the group together.

Make sure the passports are valid, photocopied and handed to the group organiser to put in a safe place in the event of passports being lost or stolen – this saves so much time, hassle and money if like in many, many cases they do go awol.

Take down everyone’s mobile number at the start of the stag do and before you leave British soil! Believe it or not, your loved and trusted friends can go missing (a mix of alcohol and ladies is enough to lead any red bloodied man astray whatever his normal good intention are) and this may be hysterically funny at first, however, it can turn into a anxious nightmare, if, at the end of the stag do, they still haven’t reappeared! It sounds extreme, but believe me it happens and it happens a lot!

Be aware that you are in a strange country and bad behaviour is rarely tolerated. Research the area you are travelling to and check out the do’s and don’ts before you go.

Know your alcohol limit – it can impair judgment, lead to accidents and can increase the risk of you becoming a victim of crime.

Finally, have a great time and enjoy the whole experience.

 

Hotel, an organization which makes paid accommodation available, generally on a temporary basis. Hotels habitually provide numerous guest services, for example, a restaurant, a childcare or a swimming pool. A number of hotels contain meeting rooms and conference facilities and encourage people to arrange get-togethers and conventions at their own place. No rigid rule of differentiating hotels from other motels is there, though, a Motel clearly suggests that it is intended for motorists. It simply means that it is nothing but a hotel but with first-class access to the highway network. Characteristically, motel means a hotel, made suitable for inhabitants who, for no matter what private reason, wish not to be unable to have rapid right to use from the outer world to the rooms of the hotel without going by the receptionist’s scrutiny or associate guests.

The word also refers to a bar or a pub in Australia. Even in the United Kingdom, many bars, having hotel in their names, do not provide lodging or foodstuff. In India, hotel refers to restaurant as the better restaurants were located near to good hotels.The word Hotel originated from a French word, hộtel. It refers to a French edition of a townhouse but not a building where accommodation is offered. Accommodating people in dedicated buildings has immense antiquity and people of various customs started practicing it. Hoshi Ryokan, a Japanese hotel, which was established in the year 717, is the oldest hotel of the world. Basic lodging of a room with no more than one bed, one cupboard, one small table and one washstand was substituted by modern rooms having en-suite bathrooms, telephones, a television, an alarm clock, broadband connection of internet etc. Drink and food are delivered by a mini bar. Mini-bar is a refrigerator which contains drinks and snacks, coffee and tea preparing facilities etc.

The quality and cost of hotels are normally indicative of the variety of services accessible. As tourism increased immensely all through the globe throughout the preceding decade, standards of the smaller establishment has developed by a huge margin now. Rating system is now brought in for greater comparability. Famous hotels of recent times are, Schloss Cecilienhof in Germany, Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Chelsea in USA, Singapore’s Raffles Hotel, Hotel Sacher in Austria, Russia’s Grand Hotel Europe, Ritz Hotel in UK etc.

Many hotels are termed as unusual hotels, such as, Treehouse hotels like Ariau Towers, Cave hotels like Desert cave hotel, Capsules hotels in Japan, Ice hotel in Sweden, Snow hotels like Mammut in Finland, Garden Hotels, Underwater hotels, Library hotel, Boat hotel etc. Dubai’s Burj al-Arab, world’s tallest hotel is 321 meters high. However, world’s largest hotel is situated at Las Vegas and its name is MGM Grand Las Vegas. The oldest hotel, still operating, is the Hoshi Rokyan in Japan. A grouping or collection of hotels under an identifiable brand name, managed by an organization is called a hotel chain.

A hotel can be of from one star to seven stars. The only seven star hotel, dream of millions of people, is located at Dubai.

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Antwerp might not be much of a political power compared to its neighbour Brussels, but it is one of the true gems of Flanders. With a compilation of baroque bars and antique edifices, Antwerp is also termed the diamond capital of the world. Almost all the diamonds imported from Africa are cut and prepared here. This memorable charm and modest lifestyle in Antwerp make it one of Belgium’s better underrated tourist destinations. Antwerp has the right mix of the old and the new, cradled in its metropolis streets and milestones. Here, you could find Art Nouveau mansions, Renaissance villas, and medieval castles. These primary erections provide the backdrop for a romantic background in this diamond country.

Antwerp has a host of museums that reminds foreigners of its preeminent good old days. The Plantin Moretus Museum is a UNESCO world inheritance site for its contribution of European printing while the 16th century. Antwerp zoo is one of the ancient zoos in the world. It has a group of more than 4000 animals housed in the structure that came from the 19th century. Antwerp has umpteen churches that display diverse architecture these as the baroque church of Carolus Borromeus, and the Cathedral of our Lady, which is one of the grandest churches in Northern Europe. Other spots of excitement include the metropolis hall, the dated market square, and the Vleeshius meat house.

Shopping is one activity that you should not miss in Antwerp. Once you leave the Antwerpen Centraal Station, head over to the diamond district just outside the station. After you stroll through the diamond district, you may walk through the ancient town, as you are greeted by antique constructed dwellings and lighthearted citizens. You can also drive to the Antwerp’s north side to spot bygone oil refineries. Then, go back to the city centre and shop for souvenirs, as well as consume some of Antwerp’s local produce.

Antwerp has its own brand of pleasure found in the bygone city centre. The Cafe Beveren is a quaint shop frequented by university students, singles, and sailors. There is also an antique organ and jukebox that is played by local talents. The Bourlaschouwburg is a round theatre that was once constructed for the French elite in the 1830’s. Present, you can watch the Het Toneelhuis theatre company display their talent in this theatre. Cartoons is a cinema house for foreign films and independently produced features. You could sit down and take in the cosy ambiance of the cinema house with your date.

The residents of Antwerp hold dear divine food. You may get satisfying French temptations like french fries and other fried dishes in the standing eateries found on the boulevards. Antwerp has a unique style of creating preeminent bread, one of which is called “smos”. Smos is bread topped with lots of layers of garnish. The only guise to eat it is to plunge in and chew them the messy custom. For dinner, Antwerp has a amassing of fine eating restaurants. They say that the food in Antwerp is greater than in Brussels. You will need to be the judge.

The economic dominance of Antwerp didn’t approach with diamonds. The sheer economic success of the province dates back to the 16th century, and quite obviously, the success has carried over to latest times. Nowadays, the diamond trade is a sparkling feature that gives the metropolitan area its deserved lustre, yet it still gives us many cultural value that populace will appreciate.

Millions of visitors flock to Germany each year, and as each year passes that number grows larger. The United States alone accounts for almost 3 million visitors each year. Visitors to Germany come for the welcoming and friendly nature of the people, the breathtaking landscapes and natural beauty, and the world-class accommodations available for every one from the budget-minded traveler to the jet-setting celebrity. Here is a list of some of the top attractions that are considered “must-see” in Germany, in no particular order.

The Black Forest

Secluded pine-laden woodlands located in southwestern Germany, the Black Forest is famous for being the origin of cuckoo clocks. The area gets its name from the dark shadows of the fir and pine trees that grow very thick there. The black forest offers first rate hiking, camping, and some skiing. Travelers on a budget can find great deals on lodging and accommodations in the towns that surround the Black Forest.

The Frisian Islands

These islands actually span along the coastlines of three countries: Germany, Denmark, and The Netherlands. Sylt is the largest and most populated of the islands and is a known destination for Europe’s jet-set as well as nudists. Amrum is also a hot tourist spot but less crowded. The pristine beaches, panoramic views, and relative seclusion continue to draw in visitors looking to escape the bustle of more traditional destinations.

Oktoberfest

Munich makes that claim that it is the home of beer and if 6 million visitors is any indication, that claim seems to be valid. Oktoberfest is known worldwide as a celebration of Bavarian beer and lasts several weeks long, from mid-September to early October. The 200 year old festival includes events such as parades, beer tents, music features, feasts of authentic German cuisine, and exhibits.

City of Berlin

Berlin is Germany’s largest city and is the country’s capital. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall almost two decades ago, the city has grown and evolved into a modern, bustling metropolis that prides itself on looking to the future while preserving the past. There are landmarks to remind visitors of the strains that history has put on the city, but much of Berlin now has an unmistakable American feel to it. Berlin should be on every German visitor’s list to visit.

Neuschwanstein Castle

Located near the Austrian border, Neuschwanstein Castle has the title of the most photographed building in Germany. It is also the most famous of all of the German castles and was the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle located in Disneyland. Neuschwanstein Castle was built in the 19th century by King Ludwig II. Photography of the interior of the castle is strictly prohibited, as it is copyright-protected.

Lake Constance

Lake Constance lies between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and is fed by the Rhine River, one of the longest in Europe. It is a freshwater lake that is relied upon for water consumption by nearby cities and towns. Recreation draws many tourists from across Europe and beyond each year.