hostelling
Announcing the Big Blog Exchange Winners
After two months of voting and deliberation, 16 winners have been selected in Hostelling International's Big Blog Exchange, and there's a Canadian in the mix! The lucky 16 were selected out of 1,173 entrants and will begin their travels on June 7. Read more »
A beginner's guide to hostelling: Using the kitchen
This is the long-awaited second in a series introducing hostelling to newbies. Please read the first, on getting over dorm room jitters, here. Read more »
Take our Environmental Practices and Backpacker Experience survey and you could win a $150 MEC gift card
Since we’re always looking for ways to find out how we can improve, when a Masters student from 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 »
The beginners’ guide to hostelling
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 »
The History of Hostelling on Canada’s West Coast: How it all began
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 »
Hostelling Heroines
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 »
Member Notice: Roundtable Discussions
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 »
First Canadian hostel designated historically significant
Can you imagine volunteering to build a hostel? In 1933, hostelling was introduced to North America when sisters Mary Belle and Catherine Barclay put up a 12’ x 14’ canvas tent to accommodate youth travellers. Three years later, a modest wood cabin was built to replace it. It was from these humble beginnings in Bragg Creek, Alberta, that Hostelling International – Canada, and indeed, hostelling on this continent, grew. Read more »
Glamorous Backpacking
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 »
Fort Edmonton Park is best place to enjoy vacations with...