Hostelling is, in part, the act of traveling and staying in hostels. Referred to as "backpacking" in many parts of the world, it's perhaps best described as traveling cheaply with an adventurous spirit. The terms hosteller and backpacker are basically synonymous. Backpackers tend to travel for longer periods than the typical tourist. In many countries, especially Australia and New Zealand, it's customary for students and recent graduates to take trips of up to a year or more! While hostelling, you see the world from a perspective that the average tourist will never see. You meet local people, learn customs, eat local food and often have opportunities to do things you never imagined. Trips are usually only roughly planned without itineraries to allow for last minute changes when something unexpected and exciting presents itself. Basically, backpackers stay longer, see more, and do more for less money!

People from all walks of life and every corner of the world stay in hostels. Many are misled into thinking that this form of accommodation only appeals to the younger generation of travelers but there are some exceptions. Hostels provide a great way to meet new people and experience new things which is why they appeal to such a diverse range.

You'll probably need identification of some sort. Because some hostels are dormitory style more information is needed about guests than is needed in the private room arrangement of hotels. This is for your protection so that if something happens the hostel is aware of who was staying in the room with you. Common identification used to stay in hostels includes passports, photo driver's licenses and state or country identity cards.

They come in all shapes and sizes. There are hostels in castles, in teepees and in railroad carriages. They are in sleepy towns, sprawling metropolises and everything in between. Some hostels are huge, providing beds for hundreds; others consist of a single room in a friendly family home. Some are mountain huts that require extensive hiking to get to while others are in urban jungles of towering skyscrapers. And this is what makes the entire experience so appealing to backpackers, you really dont know what you?re going to get from one hostel to the next.

Sometimes you will find yourself in bed by 9 pm and up at 6 am with the chickens gathering eggs. In other case you may party until all hours in a world-class cosmopolitan city and sleep until three the next afternoon.

There will be between 2 and 16 people sharing a room with bunk beds.

Of course! Feel invited!

Yes, most do. Self-catering kitchens are another way that hostels can save you money. They are usually equipped with basic cooking utensils including pots, pans, and dishes. Hostel kitchens also serve another really popular purpose however. They are a great meeting place where you can sit around and talk with fellow guests for hours on end comparing tavel notes.