"Hostelling" is best described as an experience, rather than a place or an organization. Hostelling International (HI) and the more than 5,000 hostels worldwide (70+ countries) are the way you gain a "hostelling experience."

Hostelling International is a non-profit organization which provides to its members hostels--inexpensive accommodations where people of all ages can safely stay and meet other people from around the world. "Meeting" includes both in the Hostel and the enriching cultural, educational and social travel in the area. This travel is made possible through a Hostel network.

What is a Hostel like? That is one big feature that distingushes hostelling from all other forms of travel. There is no "typical" Hostel, but all HI Hostels must meet certain basic, international standards. There is a lighthouse-hostel south of San Francisco, a ship in Stockholm, a large hotel-style in NYC and Cologne, a delightful oasis in Australia, three in Hong Kong, a few mountain houses in Switzerland, etc. A Hostel is simply a safe, inexpensive place to stay, meet people from other cultures, and enriching tour of the surrounding area.

Most Hostels have what is called self-service or self-catering, which means there is a kitchen for all to use and even share food from other countries. Is the idea of a "Hostelling experience" beginning to take shape? Hostelling is sometimes described as "educational travel."

A very brief history. Hostelling started in 1909 in Germany by a school teacher who wanted to provide an enrichment experience for his students. He found many schools not used on the weekend, so he arranged weekend field trips into the country side. The concept of the "hostelling network" was developed from this experience. The network of Hostels has continued to expand to more than 70 countries.

There are independent Hostels from Los Angeles to Australia to France. The difference is, with Hostelling International, you can expect certain standards of accommodations. In general, you share a kinship with the fellow traveler and almost consdier them your extended family. In the past, part of your hostelling experience was to give twenty minutes of your time for "chores" as a economic necessity and a sense of working together. Generally, this is no longer required at hostels and the curfews are generally a thing of the past. Still, some longtime hosteller voluntarily perform some tasks to leave the hostel a little better than when they arrive, as a way to contribute to their own network home away from home, wherever they happen to be.