Backpacker Buzz

Summer in the Rockies is short and sweet but what it lacks in endurance, it makes up for in intensity. HI's wilderness hostels are already gearing up for summer. We've got details on summer operating hours so you can start planning your summertime wilderness escapes now. Read more »

Hostelling International members from around the world can get in on a new discount in Calgary. It involves movies! Read more »

The fine folks at the Slovenian Tourism Board and the Bank of Tourism Potentials in Slovenia are running a contest that could bag you a trip to Slovenia worth 3000 EUR. All you have to do is describe the 3-day trip of your dreams, with an emphasis on responsible travel and ecotourism, and you'll be in to win. Read more »

It’s been 4 weeks since I left Canada to spend time in the mountains of Italy and then Austria for the end of the European ski season, but all the adventures of Canada and the Olympics still hold strong in my mind..... As things wind down and I have to think about getting ‘back to reality’ I wanted to reflect and send out some massive, massive thank yous.... Read more »

Over the years, the people at HI-Canada-Pacific Mountain Region have been working hard to make the hostels of Western Canada environmentally friendly and sustainable. Find out what's been done recently in the region, what's still to come and let us know what you think we should work on. Read more »

Hostels are some of the most eco-friendly accommodation options out there. Check out a few ways hostels are helping the planet in Norway, Iceland and New Zealand. Read more »

We're always looking for new ways to get our members a good deal. Here are just a few new discounts on offer in Vancouver and Edmonton. Read more »

Give a nod to the planet this Earth Day with HI and friends at HI-Vancouver Jericho Beach. HI is getting together with the Jericho Stewardship Group and Evergreen to offer some earth-friendly activities and information on a day dedicated to the planet. Read more »

Andrew Renton is an accomplished Travel Writer, Photographer, Adventurer and Storyteller. His lack of ability to speak Chinese gets him into all kinds of hilarious trouble, which he plans to share in his next travel talk, Three Fascinating Faces of China, at the Vancouver Public Library on April 26. Find out how you can win a pair of tickets after the jump. Read more »

Taking some German courses at the Université Laval helped Stéphane Larrivée of Québec land an internship in an HI hostel in Germany, the country that gave birth to hostelling. Sound intriguing? If you’re an HI-Canada member, you can do the same thing. Read more »