Backpacker Buzz

Does your HI Membership expire on March 31 2012? If yes, take advantage of our special offer. Save $5 on a new Adult Membership and $35 when you upgrade to a Lifetime Membership. What’s more, you get FREE SHIPPING if you purchase between February 15 - April 30, 2012.

If you are a Pacific Mountain Region member- that is, if you live in BC, Alberta, or the Yukon- you will be entered to win a $100 Mountain Equipment Co-Op gift certificate when you renew or upgrade during these dates. Read more »

The contributions of Mary Belle and Catherine Barclay, founders of hostelling in Canada, have once again been recognized. We told you about the recent designation of the first hostel in Canada as a site of historic significance. That first hostel was thanks to the Barclay sisters, and now they have been honoured in a new book. Read more »

Hostelling International's Board would like to engage our members and encourage them to take ownership of the association by attending our upcoming meetings. We will discuss the results of our ownership survey at these meetings, along with topics such as volunteer involvement, environmental sustainability, and our statement on concentrating on youth.

Snacks and beverages will be offered at the meetings. Please RSVP to dialogue@hihostels.ca no later than one week before the meeting of your choice. Read more »

New York, New York; it’s a wonderful town, but hard on your wallet. I’ll give you some tips on how to save in some areas so you can splurge in others. Read more »

Take HI to go. Our iPhone app just launched, and it’s designed to make booking hostels easier than ever. Read more »

I thought I coined the term “glampacking” this morning (inspired by “glamping”- glam camping), but an internet search for that term brings up a ton of results, including the eponymous Glampacker.com. Well, it may not be original, but we’d like to bring you our firmly tongue-in-cheek twist on what you should pack to hostel in style. Read more »

Treat your friends and family to a unique Christmas gift this year! Do your friends and family love to travel and enjoy weekends away? Then an HI Membership would be an ideal gift for them. Read more »

Smartphones are fantastically handy for travellers- you can carry so much information literally in the palm of your hand. Here we’ve picked a few of the most helpful apps for travel. BTdubs, all these apps are free to download except for Lonely Planet. Read more »

It was my second visit to San Francisco in three years, so I didn’t need to go back to Alcatraz or Chinatown. And while I did go back to the Ferry Building for the Saturday farmer’s market and then to Fisherman’s Wharf to look at the sea lions and line up for an hour to take the cable car, I heartily regretted every overcrowded, heavily-touristed, teeth-gritting minute of it.

What I did enjoy…

Your HI Membership card gets you all sorts of fantastic discounts on restaurants, attractions, and more. We want to improve the value you get with your HI Membership, and we need your help to do that. Please take our short survey, and you will be entered into a draw to win a 16 GB iPad 2.

Start the survey >>
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