Index Definition of hostel History Differences between hostels and hotels Shared accommodation Structures and types of hostels Hostelling International (HI): Independent hostels: Boutique hostels: Mobile hostels: Definition of hostel Hostel is a type of accommodation or a holiday accommodation among other budget-oriented types such as: bed and breakfast, guest house, airbnb, etc. Looking up the definition of the word hostel in English in a dictionary, the online Oxford Dictionary provides us with the following: A facility that provides low-cost accommodation and food for a specific group of people, such as students, workers or travellers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay According to a web page that proclaims to be the world's largest community of hostel professionals, hostel will be defined as: budget-oriented, shared-room ("dorm") accommodation that accepts individual travelers (typically backpackers ) or groups for short-term stays and which provides common areas and services. To be considered a hostel, the property must provide shared short-term (dormitory-style) accommodation for individual travellers, although many hostels also provide private rooms. The word "dorm" refers to a room in which travelers self-book single beds in a shared room instead of booking entire rooms as in a hotel or guesthouse. However, on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, where the definitions are usually a mix of all those found on the internet, we read: Hostels provide cheap and sociable accommodation where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory and share a bathroom, a living room and sometimes a kitchen. Rooms may be mixed or gender-specific, and private rooms may also be available. Hostels are often cheaper for both the operator and the occupants; many hostels have long-term residents who they hire as front desk agents or housekeeping staff in exchange for experience or discounted accommodation. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Australia, the word hostel sometimes also refers to facilities that offer services for longer periods - term accommodation. In India, Pakistan and South Africa, hostel also refers to boarding schools or student dormitories in resident colleges and universities. In other parts of the world, the word hostel mainly refers to establishments that offer shared accommodation to travelers or backpackers. Within the "traveller" category, another distinction can be made between hostels that are members of Hostelling International (HI), a UK-based non-profit organization that encourages outdoor activities and cultural exchanges for youth (formerly IYHA), and independently managed hostels. Backpacker hostels originated in Australia and New Zealand and differ from hostels by being open during the day, often shortened to simply "Backpackers". History In 1912, at Altena Castle in Germany, Richard Schirrmann created the first permanent Jugendherberge or "youth hostel". "These first youth hostels represented the vision of the German Youth Movement to give poor urban youth fresh air in the open air. Young people would run the hostel themselves as much as possible, doing housework to keep costs down, develop character and get active outdoors. Differences between hostels and hotels With a growing number of "boutique hostel" options, hostels are beating hotels for budget-conscious travelers who require more than just accommodations per day of todayhostels offer free breakfast, free snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, and add-ons once expected only in more expensive hotels. Shared accommodationThere is less privacy in a hostel than in a hotel. Sharing a bed in a dorm is very different from staying in a private room in a hotel or bed and breakfast and may not be comfortable for those who need more privacy. Hostels encourage greater social interaction between guests thanks to shared sleeping areas and common areas such as lounges, kitchens and internet cafes. You need to pay attention to personal belongings, since guests may share a common living space, so it is advisable to protect guests' belongings. Most hostels offer some sort of system for safely storing valuables, and a growing number of hostels offer private lockers; there are also other things to consider when choosing a safe hostel, such as whether they have a curfew for guests, comply with fire codes, 24-hour security and CCTV. Noise can make sleeping difficult on occasion, whether due to snoring, talking, someone coming home late or leaving early, or the proximity of so many people. To mitigate this problem, some wear earplugs and/or sleep masks. Structures and types of hostels To make comparisons in the quality of service, some classification systems have been introduced. The star rating system is the most popular of all with ratings from one to five stars, where a higher number of stars indicates a better quality of services and facilities. The star rating system is also based on guest reviews and ratings, as some online hostel booking platforms provide: Hostelworld.com, Booking.com etc. In an effort to attract more visitors, many hostels these days provide additional services not previously available, such as airport shuttle transfers, internet cafes, pools and spas, tour bookings, and free car rentals. Some hostels may include a hot meal in the price. The traditional hostel format featured dormitory-style accommodation. Some newer hostels also include en-suite accommodation in single, double or quadruple rooms, although to be considered a hostel they must also provide dormitory accommodation. In recent years, the number of independent and backpacker hostels has increased dramatically to cater for the greater number of overland and multi-destination travelers (such as gap year travelers and train travellers). The quality of such places has also improved significantly. While most hostels still insist on curfews and daytime closures, very few require occupants to do other household chores beyond washing and drying clothes after preparing food. Throughout the world in terms of hostel type we can distinguish: Hostelling International (HI), independent hostels, boutique hostels. , mobile hostels: Hostelling International (HI): Richard Schirrmann's hostel idea quickly spread abroad and eventually led to the birth of Hostelling International, an organization made up of more than 90 different youth hostel associations representing over 4,500 youth hostels in over 80 countries. Some HI Youth Hostels cater more to school-age children (sometimes through school trips) and parents with their children, while others are more suited to travelers intent on learning new cultures. However, while many hostels emphasize exploring different cultures and places, particularly in cities or.