Backpacker Buzz

Come see HI and explore BC's largest adventure and travel show! See canoe & kayak experts in the Whitewater Demo Pool or ignite your passion for biking, hiking, running, water, board or mountain sports at over 200 exhibits! Visit our booth (#1023) and enter our contest to ‘guess the weight of the MEC backpack’, the closest guess get to win it*. Read more »

When you think about where you want to spend St Patrick’s day, usually places like New York, Boston, San Francisco and of course Ireland spring to mind. You don’t really think of Vancouver! But Vancouver has a great Celtic Festival and excellent Paddy’s Day parade. Read more »

Written by guest blogger: Jody Bartley

It is coming up to that time of year again when the world turns green for the March 17 celebration of the Emerald Isle. For those of us not lucky enough to be spending St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, North America is a very appealing second best.

Vancouver has recently become a favourite destination to a growing population of Irish immigrants so the city is sure to celebrate Paddy’s Day in style this year. Read more »

Written and photographed by HI-Vancouver events volunteer - Ron Au-Yang

Welcome to Vancouver.  We’re excited to have you here. Let me start by asking, which HI-Vancouver Hostel is right for you?  Regardless of your choice, you have made an excellent decision to come and visit our beautiful city.  Read more »

To really experience another culture and country you have to do more than just visit the place, you need to spend time there and mingle with the locals. By doing a HI internship you can do just that and gain work experience at the same time. Read more »

Candid, up-to-date and entertaining - travel blogs are a great way to research your next trip or temporarily satisfy your wanderlust. They are also a fantastic place to unearth local gems and read up on niche topics like solo travel for women, RTW trips or travelling long-term as a couple from people who have really gone out there and done it. What’s more, you can often find helpful resources like packing lists, budget spreadsheets and gear reviews on their sites.  Here are a few of our favourite travel blogs (besides this one of course!).  Read more »

Since we’re always looking for ways to find out how we’re doing and how you think we’re doing and what else we should be doing, when a Masters student from the Royal Roads University asked if she could ask our members and guests how responsible environmental practices influence your hostel experiences….well, we jumped at the chance.  Read more »

If you were not one of the lucky ones who experienced hostelling at a young age with your family or friends, then staying at a hostel, sharing a dorm room, and hostel facilities are all new to you. For some people there is no stress involved and they easily fall into hostel life, for others it can take a bit longer to feel comfortable. Read more »

By guest blogger Jody Bartley

I have only been to Berlin the once and to say it left an impression on me would be an understatement. Berlin is possibly one of the most fantastic cities I have ever travelled to. Two years ago, I decided to fly to Berlin to see Bloc Party play the Columbia Halle in the old East on Valentine’s night. Berlin in February is fabulous but my God, it is cold! Read more »

This is the first installment of our new series on the history of our region’s hostels. The goal of this series is to help people better comprehend Hostelling International’s mission, to see beyond the cheap sleeps and to understand the greater ideals behind hostelling. Read more »