HOSTEL NEWS: DECEMBER 94
Sugar722
PRESENTED BY
THE HOSTEL HANDBOOK FOR THE USA AND CANADA
AT SUGAR HILL INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, NYC
(see end of file for ordering info)
AND
SUGAR HILL INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
722 ST. NICHOLAS AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10031
TEL (212) 926-7030
FAX (212) 283-0108
EMAIL: Suga...@AOL.COM
**************************** WHAT ARE HOSTELS ************************
For some of you this may be an introduction to hosteling. Knowing a
bit more about the concept will help you get along.
The youth hostel movement was started by Richard Schirrmann, a German
school teacher, taking his students from a coal mining city on weekend
outings to the countryside for fresh air and interaction with nature.
This quickly evolved into an international peace movement with hostels as
places where students and other young people from diffrerent countries
could get to know each other on a student's budget -- usually on the
rough. The original concept included an ethic for moving on one's own
steam -- hostelers were expected to walk or ride a bike to the hostel.
In these early hostels there were often age restrictions, strict
curfews and other rules imposed on the youths by hostel "wardens".
Indeed, some vestiges of these rules can be found in hostels today.
However, not often, and not in North America. In fact, the word "youth"
has been almost dropped completely.
Hosteling has been transformed into a different concept that is best
typified by the paramount hostelers of today -- the Australian and New
Zealander backpackers; intrepid travelers with a travel ethic quite
different from that of North America. A young person is expected to take
time off and travel -- considered odd if they don't. And when I say
travel, I mean TRAVEL. A two-year trip is short.
The reality is this: suppose you have $5,000 and a lot of time --
you have taken a year off school and worked for a while and are taking
some time to travel. You could spend this amount in a few weeks at
expensive hotels and restaurants OR you could stretch this money and
travel for . . oh, two years. This is where modern hosteling fits in.
Today, there are no age restrictions and few rules. In fact, the
HI-AYH offers many services and programs for senior hostelers. The
hostel "warden" has been replaced by an owner or manager who wants to
provide the three S's: shelter, shower and security. The hostel is an
incredible alternative to staying in the more expensive motel or hotel.
At night, there is no opportunity to lock yourself away in your private
room -- you share the common room or dorm and hear stories about where
people ate that day, or what they saw or where they are going next. It is
a dynamic environment with people on the move -- eager to share their
experiences and learn of yours. Typically you share all of the
space: the bedroom (or dormitory), the kitchen, and the bathrooms. The
beds are usually bunkbeds and the top bunks may be the only one's
available. Some places have segregated bathrooms, some not. It may be
difficult for some people to enjoy hosteling and maintain a very high
degree of
modesty. On the other hand, the hosteling population is accustomed to
sharing space and generally give you privacy even if you are in eye sight
-- it usually isn't and shouldn't be an issue.
Hostelers usually provide their own bath towel. It is a good idea to
travel with a sleeping sheet . This is a kind of sleeping sack --
required by Hostelling International locations. It is a good idea to
travel with at least a single large sheet. This can be used as bed linen
in a pinch. Many places provide bed linens -- some free -- some for a
small one-time charge. Many hostelers travel with sleeping bags and
many hostels do not allow them for sanitary reasons.
It is best not to have preconceptions about the site and the services
at a hostel. Wait and be surprised. AND keep in mind -- you are not
paying for a five star hotel and it won't be one.
Most hostels will not accept local residents. Many hostels limit
their population to various groups. For instance, some hostels accept
only international travelers: to check in you must have a passport
and, perhaps, an on-going ticket to prove you are traveling. One
explanation is that the aim is to provide low-cost accomodation for
international travelers. If the beds are filled with local travelers,
then the aim is defeated. Some places require American hostelers to
prove their international traveler status by showing travel documents,
passport, etc.
If you have neverr stayed in a hostel be prepared to get used to
some things:
** Services and hours are limited to keep costs down. As you speak with
other hostelers you will find that they might change a lot of things but
not if it raised the price.
** Many hostels are small places and the staff is limited. Be aware
that going to a hotel's desk at 1 AM would be ok. Knocking on the
managers door at 1AM is not. He or she may have closed the hostel office
at 11PM and will open it again at 8AM. Be considerate and remember the
hours.
** Americans will meet mostly international people with perhaps a more
objective view of the U.S. and its foreign policy -- listen and you will
learn a lot! -- that is what hosteling is all about, But be prepared for
some critical views.
** It's a balance -- you lose some privacy and certain comforts, but you
have a rare opportunity to meet other people. If you like to travel
because you like to meet people, then you will like hosteling!
** Finally, you may be used to more privacy, services and creature
comforts than hostels provide. Take a hint from the other travelers and
appreciate the atmosphere, info on low-budget fun things to do, AND the
interesting people you will meet.
Hosteling means appreciating the experience of hosteling - the social
aspects, the information, the different views, etc. -- things that you
don't get when you stay in a standard hotel or motel.
There are exceptions but most hostels are not in the "high rent
districts" . Many are located in minority communities for the lower
rents. These communities are usually very safe and have their own
special things to offer you.
********************************************************************
**********************NEW YEARS IN NYC***************************
**********************************************************************
NYC
New Years in The Big Apple -- NYC, doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
If you are thinking about wathcing the ball drop in Time Square, check
out this great list of hostels in The Big Apple.
CITY OF NEW YORK
(New York City -- The Big Apple. You Know. Great Public
Transportation., $1.25 per trip on train or bus. Pay attention as you
would
in any big city -- it's the same. Most hostels provide security for
your documents etc so use it. It's a fun city. There is a free bus
from JFK Airport to the A Train of the Subway system. Phone the hostel
first to confirm the price and get directions.)
BIG APPLE HOSTEL, 119 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036 (212) 302-2603 AAIH $17
BLUE RABBIT INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, 730 St Nicholas Avenue
New York, NY 10031 (212) 491-3892 U $12
E-Mail: Suga...@AOL.COM
CHELSEA CENTER , 313 West 29th Street
New York, NY 10001 (212) 643-0214 U $18B
CHELSEA INTERNATIONAL HOSTEL, 251 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011 (212) 647-0010 AAIH $18
GERSHWIN HOTEL, 7 East 27th Street
New York, NY 10016 (212) 545-8000 IC $17
HOSTELING INTERNATIONAL-NEW YORK, 891 Amsterdam Ave.
New York, NY 10025 (212) 932-2300 HI-AYH $22
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, 500 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10027 (212) 316-8436 U $25
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CENTER, 38 West 88th Street
New York , NY 10024 (212) 787-7706 U $12
MCBERNY YMCA, 206 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011 (212) 741-9226 YMCA $32
MID-CITY GUESTHOUSE, 608 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10018 (212) 704-0562 U $15-$18
NEW YORK BED AND BREAKFAST, 134 West 119th St
New York , NY 10026 (212) 666-0559 U $20
NEW YORK - BANANA BUNGALOW, 250 West 77th Street
New York, NY 10024 (800) 6-HOSTEL AAIH $15
SUGAR HILL INTERNATIONAL HOUSE, 722 St. Nicholas Ave.
New York, NY 10031 (212)926-7030 U $12
E-mail: Suga...@AOL.COM
UPTOWN HOSTEL, 239 Lenox Avenue (@122nd Street)
New York, NY 10027 (212) 666-0559 U $12
********************Hostelling International*****************
********************announces great packages**********
******************** at their locations********************:
Washington, D.C.-
Skiing doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. With Hostelling
InternationalAmerican Youth Hostels you can go skiing without paying ski
resort prices. HI-AYH has 30 hostels near some of the USA's premier ski
areas - from Killington and Stratton Mountain to Vail, Copper Mountain and
Alpenglow.
Some offer special programs and features for the skier. HI-Hilton Creek,
located in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, has an Introduction to
Ski Touring Program. The hostel also has cross-country ski equipment for
rent and a hot tub to soak away the aches and pains of the day.
Six HI-AYH Colorado hostels make the state's legendary slopes accessible
to the skier on a budget, including Hl-Winter Park which has even arranged
discounts on ski rentals for their hostel guests.
In Oregon, HI-Bend Alpine Hostel is conveniently located near Three
Sisters, Broken Top, and Mount Bachelor. The hostel is only one block from
the free ski shuttle to Mount Bachelor, one of the finest U. S. resorts
for both cross-country and downhill skiing.
Idaho offers three facilities. HI-Kellogg offers special skiing packages
and is near the famed Silver Mountain Ski Area. Silver Mountain has the
world's longest gondola, stretching 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) from the
valley floor to the upper terminal.
In the Midwest, HI-Laona (Wisconsin) and HI-Mississippi Headwaters (Itasca
State Park, Minnesota) offer excellent cross-country skiing. Six
Pennsylvania HI-AYH hostels are near both downhill and cross-country
skiing, including Hl-Crystal Lake Camps and Ski Center in Hughesville
which has discounts on rentals, lessons and lift tickets.
The HI-Trojan Horse, in Ludlow, Vermont, is near the Okemo Mountain Ski
Area and within 25 miles of nine other ski areas, including Killington and
Stratton Mountain. Cross-country ski trails radiate out from Ludlow.
Today's HI-AYH hostels provide affordable dormitory-style accommodations
for travelers of all ages. Separate rooms are provided for males and
females; many hostels have couple and family rooms available. Most have
fully-equipped kitchens, dining areas, and common rooms for relaxing and
socializing. Some hostels even have unexpected amenities such as hot tubs,
saunas and
fireplaces.
Hostelling International-American Youth Hostels is a 60-year-old,
not-for-profit corporation and a member ofthe International Youth Hostel
Federation (IYHF). With 5,000 hostels in 70 countries, it is the largest
network of accommodations in the world. HI-AYH promotes international
understanding of the world and respect for other cultures and the
environment through its educational, recreational, and travel programs.
Hostelling International and the Blue Triangle are the new trademark and
seal of approval of the IYHF, assuring quality budget accommodations and
travel programs for all ages.
For more information Hostelling International Hostels in the USA, contact:
Hostelling International
American Youth Hostels
733 15th Street, Suite 840
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 783-6161
####
Editor's Note: The following is a listing of HI-AYH hostels with the ski
areas they are near, along with discounts they offer to HI-AYH members, is
attached. Please feel free to contact any hostel individually, or Toby
Pyle at the HI-AYH national office (202/783-6161) for additional
information.
ALASKA
Anchorage
HI - Anchorage
(907) 276-3635
(near Hilltop Ski Area, Alpenglow and Alyeska)
Juneau
HI-Juneau
(907) 586-9559
(near Eaglecrest Ski A rea)
CALIFORNIA
Crowley Lake
HI - Hilton Creek
(619) 935-4989
(eastern Sierras; hostel has "Intro to Ski-Tounng" program)
COLORADO
Breckenridge
Fireside Inn
(303) 453-6456
(near Breckenridge Ski Area & Copper Mountain Ski Resort)
Glenwood Springs
Hl-Glenwood Spnngs Hostel
(303) 945-8545
(near Sunl@ht, Aspen & Snowmass; discounts at Vail & Aspen)
Grand Junction
HI-Grand Junction
1/800/430-4555
(near Powderhorn Ski Area; discount ski packages to Powderhorn & Aspen,
including
transportation)
Pitkin
Hl-Pitkin Hotel and Hostel
(303) 641-2757
(cross-country skiing; near Monarch Ski Resort and Crested Butte Ski
Area)
HI-Alpen Hutte
(303) 468-6336
(within miles of four world-class ski areas,
including Copper Mountain & Vail)
Winter Park
HI- Winter Park
(303) 726-5356
(Winter Park Mary Jane Ski Area; 113 trails, 20 1ifts;
discount on ski rentals)
IDAHO
Gooding
Gooding Hotel
(208) 783-4374
(near Silver Mountainand Sun Valley Ski Areas)
Kellog
HI-Kellogg
(208) 783-4171
(Near Silver Mountain; ski packages and discounts)
Naples
HI-Naples
(208) 267-2947
(Near Schweitzer Ski area in the Selkirk Mountains)
MINNESOTA
Itasca State Park
HI- Mississippi Headwaters
(218) 266-3415
(cross-country skiing: near Buena Vista Ski Area)
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Peterborough
HI - Peterborough
(603) 924-9832
(down hill at Temple Mountain; cross country nearby.)
NEW MEXICO
Taos (Arroyo Seco)
Hl - Taos
(505) 776-8298
(near Taos Ski Valley, Sipapu & Angel Fire ski areas)
NEW YORK
Syracuse
HI - Downing International Hostel
(315) 472-5788
(cross-country; nearSong Mountain & Labrador Sky Area, Toggenburg Ski
Center)
OHIO
Akron/Cleveland
HI - Stanford House
(216) 467-8711
(cross-country & downhill at Boston Mills Sky Resort & Brandywine Ski
Area)
Malabar Farm State Park
HI - Malabar Farm
(419) 892-2055
(Cross-country in the park)
OREGON
Ashland
HI - The Ashland
(503) 482-9217
(downhill at Mount Ashland, cross-country nearby. reduced rate passes at
Mount Ashland)
Bend
HI - Bend Alpine
(503) 389-3813
(near Mt. Bachelor, Broken Top & Three Sisters Ski Areas)
PENNSYLVANIA
Gettysburg
HI - Gettysburg
(717) 676-9076
(near Round Top & Ski Liberty; cross-country nearby)
Hughesville
HI - Crystal Lake Camps & Ski Center
(717) 584-2698
(25 miles of cross-country trails; 3 lifts & lighted slopes; discounts on
rentals, lessons, and lift
tickets )
Ohiopyle State Park
HI-Ohiophyle
(412) 329-4476
15 miles from Seven Springs & Hidden Valley Ski areas: cross-country
nearby)
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
HI-Ironmaster's Mansion
(717) 486-7575
(cross country fron the hostel -- downhill nearby)
Quakertown
HI-Weisel
(215) 536-8749
(cross-country nearby; near Sping Mountain & Doe Mountain Ski Areas)
Schellsburg
HI-Living Waters Hostel
(814) 733-42 l 2
(downhill at Blue Knob State Park Ski Area; cross country nearby)
TENNESSEE
Sevierville
HI-Great Smoky Mountains
(615) 429-8563
(near Ober Gatlinburg Ski Area)
VERMONT
Ludlow
HI-Trogan Horse
(802) 228-5244
(near Okemo Mountain Sky Area, Killington, & Stratton Mountain:
cross-country)
WASHINGTON
Bellingham
(206) 671-1750
(near Mount Baker Ski Area)
WISCONSIN
HI-Laona
(715) 674-2615
(cross country nearby; near Paul Bunyan Ski Hill & Kettlwbowl Hill Ski
Area)
****************** END HI-AYH SKI ARTICLE *******************
For more information about the hostel handbook contact Jim Williams at
Suga...@AOL.COM. To receive a copy of the handbook, send Jim $3 in check
or money order payable to JIM WILLIAMS to 722 St. Nicholas Ave., New York,
NY 10031 (212) 926-7030