20 Gorgeous-Yet-Affordable Hostels Around the World

Whether you’re an avid world-wanderer or just someone who likes to get away for the occasional weekend, it’s ALWAYS in your best interests to plan out your trip. A few minutes of research can save you so much money and aggravation with flights, accommodations, and everything else.

Hostels can be a bit of a crapshoot, as any seasoned traveler knows. That’s why this list of 20 hostels all over the world that look pretty swanky but won’t totally empty your bank account is CRUCIAL.

Take a look at these hostels and see if maybe you can squeeze them into your next travel itinerary.

1. 99 Surf Lodge, Tola, Nicaragua

2. Central Backpackers Hostel, Catba, Vietnam

3. Lucky Lake Hostel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

4. Hostel Celica, Ljubljana, Slovenia

5. The Farm Hostel, Bali, Indonesia

6. Away With the Fairies Hostel, Hogsback, South Africa

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Who says backpackers don't take baths?

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7. Rodamón, Marrakech, Morocco

8. Zostel Ooty, Ooty, India

9. Bambuda Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama

10. Jumbo Stay, Stockholm, Sweden

11. Fauzi Azar Inn, Nazareth, Israel

12. St Briavels Castle, Gloucestershire, UK

13. Sydney Harbour YHA, Sydney, Australia

14. Caveland, Santorini, Greece

15. Red Boat Hostel, Stockholm, Sweden

16. The Circle, Da Lat, Vietnam

17. Sunset Destination Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal

18. Héraðsskólinn Hostel, Laugarvatn, Iceland

19. Cascada Verde, Uvita, Costa Rica

20. ArkaBarka, Belgrade, Serbia

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#Belgrade#serbia #Danube

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Now, who’s got the travel bug?!?!?!

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Check Out the 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World

Is the cost of living absolutely insane in your city? I live near NYC, and yeah, it’s pretty brutal.

That said, I was actually pretty surprised by some of the entries on this list of the world’s most expensive cities. San Francisco didn’t even make the cut, which seems kind of insane given the horror stories I’ve heard about rent in SF.

As recently reported, there is actually a three-way tie for the most expensive city in the world right now between Hong Kong, Singapore, and Paris.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This analysis of the world’s most expensive cities was done by the Economist Intelligence Unit and this is the first time in the Unit’s Worldwide Cost of Living report that three cities tied for first place.

The group took over 400 items into consideration to compile the list, including the cost of food, school, recreation, clothing, household fees, etc.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Singapore has been named the world’s most expensive city for five years in a row but this year it has company with Hong Kong and Paris. A strong U.S. dollar means more expensive American cities. New York moved up six spots and Los Angeles jumped four spots on this year’s list.

Take a look at the top 10 below.

1. (3-way tie) Hong Kong, Singapore, and Paris, France

Photo Credit: Public Domain

4. Zurich, Switzerland

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

5. (2-way tie) Geneva, Switzerland and Osaka Japan

Photo Credit: Good Free Photos

7. (3-way tie) Seoul, South Korea, Copenhagen, Denmark, and New York City

Photo Credit: Pixabay

10. (2-way tie) Tel Aviv, Israel and Los Angeles, California

You can download and study a full copy of the report HERE.

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If Driving and Shooting Real Tanks is Your Idea of a Great Vacation, We Got You

If you’ve always been itching to drive, shoot, and handle real war tanks, a south Texas ranch might just be the ideal destination for your next vacation.

Around 100 miles west of San Antonio, a post on an 18,000 acre ranch allows holiday-makers to handle tanks through courses or over old vehicles. Other activities at DriveTanks, include shooting mortars and firing machine guns.

Photo Credit: Instagram

Former active duty Green Beret and Houston police officer Todd Digidio conceived the idea of providing tanks and guns for the unique experience of operating them as they were originally designed.

His collection includes American, Russian and German tanks, anti-tank guns, mortars and machine guns from every period and country.

Photo Credit: Instagram

After a little training, participants are set to satisfy all their adrenaline-junkie desires – perhaps a drive and shoot on the 1944 Sherman tank, the same model featured in the Brad Pitt film Fury. The one at DriveTanks is the only fully operational Sherman E8 left in the world.

Photo Credit: Instagram

Fun this powerful comes with a price tag. Set-up and shoot one of the big guns, like a U.S. 105 mm Howitzer from WWII, for a few hundred dollars. Fire some rounds on the machine gun of your choice for about the same. Or go whole hog with a tank and track package that will set you back about $3000. All-inclusive lodging is available on site too.

Guests have said having access to all this incredible firepower is better than any roller coaster. So, if you’re burned out on crowded amusement parks and boring beaches, get in touch with these guys about a day crushing cars on a Chieftan MK6 tank. All ages welcome.

Photo Credit: Instagram

Because the best RNR is smoke in the air and dirt in your hair.

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15 Things People Didn’t Realize Were “So American” Until They Traveled Outside America

Americans: you may not realize it, but there are a lot of things you do that are considered totally weird around the rest of the world. Things like smiling all the time, or tipping. Who knew, right?

Here are 15 more things you might not realize make you stand out as “totally American” in countries across the pond.

#1. Constantly refilled.

“Having your drink constantly refilled ay restaurants. I just wanna drink a ton of water alright?”

#2. Being loud.

“The stereotype about us being loud is true. I never thought of myself as being loud until I went abroad and would hang up the phone after speaking in what I thought was appropriate volume to find everyone around me was staring at me, and realized how much more quiet they were lol whoops”

#3. Smiling and being friendly.

“I moved to England from Texas about six years ago. One of the major things that I noticed was that smiling and being friendly towards strangers was considered bizarre. This is a bit true in any metropolitan area, but especially in the UK. In Texas I was used to smiling at people, asking for directions if I needed them, and being friendly towards strangers. I learned very quickly that smiling at someone on the tube, or asking someone for directions on the street immediately makes someone think you’re trying to scam/rob them or you’re crazy.”

#4. Drive-thrus.

“I’m from northern europe but have visited USA couple of times. Their love for SUV cars and drive-thru is unreal, like there is a dunkin, subway and three kinds of fast food place next to each other and all of them have a drive-thru.

Edit: meant drive-thru, not drive-in.”

#5. A made-up crime.

“Jaywalking. The rest of the world thinks this is a made-up crime you only see in movies with corrupt cops.”

#6. Yes it is.

“I’ve never been abroad. Is that American enough?”

#7. Violently American.

“Tailgates. I’ve lived in the states my entire life, but when my Spanish girlfriend came to visit I wasn’t sure what I could show her that really exhibited American culture. There are plenty of American stereotypes you see on TV, but it wasn’t until I took her to a tailgate that I realized how violently American the whole experience is. A huge parking lot full of drunk twenty year olds bouncing on trucks bigger than most European apartments, with half the trucks blaring country, and the other half blasting rap. Solo cups and beer cans all over the place, grills, corn hole, etc. I’ve traveled to quite a few different countries, and I can’t really see a tailgate happening most other places.”

#8. American flavored.

“Ranch flavor Doritos in the Netherlands are called “Cool American” flavor.”

#9. How large grocery stores are.

“how large grocery stores are here. My wife is not american and we lived in China and were in HK all the time… they had large international stores that were great and she didnt really grasp the size of american grocery stores till our first week in the USA and there’s 150 feet of cereals on one aisle”

#10. Ketchup isn’t free.

“At a buffet in Germany, I had to pay for ketchup.”

#11. The size of cars.

“I did an art history course in Italy. What really stood out to me was the size of cars over there. Over here you have a mix of mid sized sedans and pick up trucks/SUV’S, with the occasional compact car (back when I went compact cars here were incredibly scarce). Over there, it seemed like most everyone drove a compact car, with the occasional sports car. I remember counting six pickup trucks in the 10 days I was there (for comparison, I can name more than 6 people I know with a pick up here).”

#12. The whole of Ireland.

“Massively wide roads/lanes. The whole of Ireland made me feel claustrophobic, but when I got back home the roads felt like way too much wasted space.”

#13. Portion size.

“Portion sizes.

My high school senior trip to London, as a typically ravenous appetite 18 year old, I couldn’t get over how small everything was standard.”

#14. I think you underestimate the size of our avocados.

“Small avocados.

Went to puerto rico. Was like, ‘yo ill have like 6 of those stuffed avocados’. Buddy was like, ‘yo gringo, i think you underestimate the size of our avocados here. Just have one and ill being you more if you want after’.

I had half of one. It was like a football.”

#15. Types of soda.

“Getting to choose from like 50 different types and subtypes of sodas.​

Hearing commercials advocating you to go to the doctor and demand a prescription for whatever fantasy pill is new to the market on the radio like it is no big deal.”

Go ahead and travel anyway. People are generally forgiving.

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Travel Blogger Shares Her Best Tips for Women Traveling Alone

Traveling is an essential experience that expands your horizons in ways you could never have experienced at home. Traveling with people to share that experience is definitely awesome, but traveling alone is a great experience too!

That said, traveling solo isn’t without its challenges – particularly if you’re a woman. Let’s face it, if you can get harassed walking the block in your own neighborhood, you certainly should trust fate in places where you don’t know the lay of the land or speak the language.

That’s why Ciara Johnson, a popular Black travel blogger on Instagram, shared a series of solo travel tips for women.

Photo Credit: Twitter

“I’m a woman and I travel the world alone, from Mexico to Morocco to Cuba to Bosnia to many other countries. Here’s a thread on how I stay safe,” Ciara wrote on Twitter.

First, Ciara is “hyper aware” of her surroundings. “Scan your surroundings,” she said. “Is someone walking close to you? Does someone appear to be watching you? Did that car just pull beside you & slow down?” If you notice something awry, don’t hesitate to get out of there. Always trust your gut.

As Ciara writes: “It’s better to look a little paranoid than to be harassed, robbed, or worse.”

Photo Credit: Ciara Johnson

Second, Ciara recommends doing a lot of research before you go. You can never be too prepared, so look up “cultural norms, customs, how to dress, scams, natural disasters, political climate, etc.,” she writes. She also recommends looking for accounts by other solo female travelers, and checking reviews for hotels.

Third, Ciara uses technology wisely. She avoids pulling her phone out randomly on the street. But she does use Google Maps, translation apps, Uber. She makes sure to have access to data to keep her family and friends aware of her location.

“Make sure someone, anyone… knows where you are & where you’re staying,” she said.

Photo Credit: Ciara Johnson

Fourth, Ciara trusts other women before other men. Solo travelers have to rely on strangers to some extent, but don’t trust just anyone. “If I need directions, I usually ask a woman. This is not to say all women can be trusted, but I feel more comfortable trusting a woman on first instinct.”

And fifth, Ciara avoids giving out information that could be used against her. She doesn’t let her massive social media following know exactly where she travels until after she’s left, for example. She lies if someone asks if she’s travelig alone.

Armed with these tips, there’s nowhere you can’t go – and the experience is totally worth it!

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9 of the Craziest Airbnb Experiences People Have Ever Had

As winter keeps dragging on, there’s a good chance you already have a request for some time off sitting on your manager’s desk. Maybe you’ve even started browsing Airbnb for that perfect spot to stay at. If so, check out these 9 reviews of places that range from downright weird to absolutely incredible.

1. Helpful hint?

Photo Credit: Reddit

2. “Staying at an Airbnb and I woke up to their kitten this morning licking my face. Instant 5 star review.”

Photo Credit: Imgur

3. Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy

Photo Credit: Reddit

4. Siding with the host on this one.

Photo credit: Reddit

5. Was hoping for free K-Cups, but this is nice too.

Photo Credit: Reddit

6. Set phasers for romance.

Photo Credit: Reddit

7. “cockwomble”

Photo Credit: Reddit

8. Melissa, I think I see what you mean…

Photo Credit: Reddit

9. MI;NL (moving in; never leaving).

Photo Credit: Reddit

So, tally up your paid time off and get ready for adventure. Because booking your vacation with a phone app means not exactly knowing what you’re in for.

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China Had to Close their Everest Base Camp Because It’s Basically Just a Pile of Garbage

That’s gotta be humiliating!

China recently had to tell tourists that their Mount Everest base camp is closed… because it is too full of trash.

Photo Credit: Twitter/PretoriaRecord

According to Xinhua Net, that not only are tourists prevented from entering the zone, but climbing permits will be limited to only 300 per year. That’s a third fewer than normal.

So, is this China’s fault?

Nope.

This has been a problem that has been happening for YEARS.

According to South China Morning Post, Nepal has implemented a $4,000 trash deposit cost per team due to all the trash that climbers leave behind.

Only problem with that are climbers are usually rich, so they don’t care about the deposit. Only half the climbers in recent years have been bringing down the required amount of garbage.

And that doesn’t even take into account the fecal matter. Because, yes, people go to the bathroom on the mountain. 12,000 lbs. worth every year.

Here’s hoping that China can figure out how to get their camp clean, and then help work on the rest of this mess.

Yuck.

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15+ Lucky People Whose Airbnb Reservations Came with Adorable Animals

Whenever you book an Airbnb, you’re always rolling the dice to a certain extent. There’s always the chance that the place you booked could be a total dump. Then again, it could also be a total hidden gem.

OR, you could have a great surprise in store and end up with a new furry friend that you didn’t expect. Which is exactly what happened to these Airbnb guests.

1. “Airbnb Host Was Concerned I Would Cancel Because He Had Puppies. Instead, I Stayed An Extra Week!”

Photo Credit: Reddit

2. “This Sweet Boy Benny Greeted Us With His Teddy Bear When We Got To Our Airbnb”

Photo Credit: Reddit

3. “This Very Good Boy Lives In Our Airbnb Apartment. He Was Rescued From The Beach By Its Owners A Few Days Ago. He Is Such A Heartthrob”

Photo Credit: Reddit

4. “Staying At An Airbnb On A Farm, $22/Night And All The Animals You Can Pet”

Photo Credit: Reddit

5. “Arrived At My Air Bnb For The Night And Made Friends With The Cat, Turns Out He Doesn’t Even Live Here!”

Photo Credit: Reddit

6. “When Your Airbnb Comes With A Cat. My Airbnb In Flagstaff Had The Best Host. This Is Hector Who Kept My Head Warm All Night At No Extra Charge. 10/10 Would Book Again”

Photo Credit: Reddit

7. “This Majestic Beast At My Airbnb”

Photo Credit: Reddit

8. “Heard A Lot Of Airbnb Horror Stories. This Is Not One Of Them”

Photo Credit: Reddit

9. “Arrived Back At My Airbnb In Japan To Find This In My Bed”

Photo Credit: Reddit

10. “This Is Burger, Our Airbnb Host For Our Stay In Tromsø Last Month. He Likes Licking Ears”

Photo Credit: Reddit

11. “Last Month We Hit The Airbnb Jackpot”

Photo Credit: Reddit

12. “Our Airbnb Came With A Flying Dog!”

Photo Credit: Reddit

13. “First Time Airbnb… Never Saw This Cutie Before. Slept The Whole Night On My Blanket”

Photo Credit: Reddit

14. “My Airbnb Host Has A Dog. I Got Up To The Bathroom, Came Back To This”

Photo Credit: Reddit

15. “At An Airbnb This Weekend. It Also Came With Pearl, A 23-Year-Old, Three Legged Cat. She Looks Grumpy, But Is An Absolute Sweetheart”

Photo Credit: Reddit

16. “I Rented A Place Off Airbnb And It Said There Were A Few Dogs On The Property. This Little Fella Was One Of Them. Best Rental Ever”

Photo Credit: Reddit

17. “Staying At An Airbnb And I Woke Up To Their Kitten This Morning Licking My Face. Instant 5 Star Review”

Photo Credit: Reddit

18. “My Airbnb Has A Bellhop Now”

Photo Credit: Reddit

19. “This Is Belle. One Special Goat Friend At Our Airbnb (Our Host Assured Us She’s Fine)”

Photo Credit: Reddit

20. “Woke Up Next To This Guy At An Airbnb Room I’m Staying At”

Photo Credit: Reddit

These all look like perfect getaways to me.

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Brilliant Uber Driver Wins the Internet with Menu of 5 Different ‘Ride Types’

Uber has undeniably revolutionized the transportation business. One of my favorite aspects of Uber is the rating system, which lets drivers and passengers rate one another out of 5 stars.

One Uber driver recently went the extra mile to give his passengers more control over their ride experience. This was first brought to the world’s attention via Twitter user @LuisLovesGoats.

Photo Credit: Twitter

The options include: Stand Up, Silent Ride, Therapy Ride, Creepy Ride, and (surprisingly) Rude Ride.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Since Lui was feeling a little down that day, he chose the “Therapy Ride.” It wasn’t long before Lui’s tweets went viral.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Naturally, people absolutely loved it.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

Sadly, Lui only had the driver’s first name (George) to go off of, and he had some difficulty getting in touch with him to let him know he’d gone viral. But, the internet being what it is, people eventually tracked him down.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

George even got on Twitter himself to thank everyone.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Thanks to the exposure, George now has thousands of new followers, and he shared a clearer shot of his menu for people to enjoy:

Photo Credit: Twitter

He also added how humbling and enjoyable this entire experience has been.

Photo Credit: Twitter

Photo Credit: Twitter

If you’d like to show some love to George, you can hit up the GoFundMe he started to get an automatic car, since Seattle’s hilly terrain can be pretty rough on his transmission.

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Santa-holics Will Want to Live at This Gorgeous Inn Where It’s Christmas 365 Days a Year

Sure, Christmas has been over for months now, but there are some people whose Christmas spirits never die. These are folks who are always wearing a reindeer shirt underneath their regular clothes, who have a shrine dedicated to Santa Claus, and who drink eggnog year-round (ok, that last one I can get on board with).

If that’s you, then you may want to visit 119 Christmas Tree Lane in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, also known as The Inn at Christmas Place. There, nestled at the foot of the Smoky Mountains, Christmas lovers will find that all of their wildest dreams have come true – it’s Christmas every single day of the year.

It’s basically Disneyland for the people who count down the days until they can put up their tree every year.

No matter what month it is, no one at the Inn at Christmas Place will shame you for reveling in holiday magic – in fact, they go out of their way to create it. The lobby features a year round, fully decorated tree, there’s a glockenspiel playing Christmas carols, every room comes with a wreath, and a Singing Santa has been serenading guests for more than a decade (he even reads stories in the lobby a couple of days a week!).

The inn also offers modern amenities like an indoor pool and spa, a business center, and an on-site gym (all of which appear decorated by someone with the holiday enthusiasm of Buddy the Elf, of course), but for the most serious celebrators among you, the Santa Suite is where you want to be.

It comes complete with over-the-top decor, a balcony that overlooks the courtyard, a two-person whirlpool, a fireplace, and your own personal Christmas tree.

Oh, and Santa Claus himself will hand-deliver you a special present sometime during the night (make sure you’re asleep, or no dice!).

As if you needed further enticement to book your trip, the inn hosts several special events during the year, like Christmas in July and Mountain Fest (make your own soap and apple butter while dancing to mountain music and blowing way too much cash on homespun crafts), and it offers special packages, like one that includes tickets to Dolly Parton’s nearby Dixie Stampede.

Everyone knows a country Christmas is the best kind of Christmas, after all, and there’s no better place to find one of those than deep in the heart of the Smoky Mountains.

I could keep going, but we both know I had you at Santa Claus. Happy travels!

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