Your backpacking travel planner

Mallorca became one of Europe’s most popular summer destinations for a reason. There’s no denying the island boasts stunning beaches. Unless you have a boat, though, it’s impossible to escape the crowds; don’t believe anybody who tells you any different. Even beaches proclaimed by locals as Mallorca’s most off-the-beaten-track were crowded when we recently went to investigate. Don’t even think about Magaluf, Palma Nova or Cala Millor, these are the spots to lay your towel – or rent a sun-bed!

* ES TRENC – for many sun-worshippers, this is Mallorca’s most sublime stretch of sand. Popular with naturists, this long, skinny beach is certainly a beauty, with pristine, aquamarine water and snowy sand. Reached by dirt roads and tracks through small sand dunes, it may not be the easiest beach to get to, but it still gets crowded.

* TRAMUNTANA MOUNTAINS – while you’ll need a boat to get to the best swimming spots on the spectacular coast skirting the majestic Tramuntana mountain range, there are some alluring beaches that can be reached by skinny tortuous roads, including Cala de Sa Calobra and the slightly more accessible, Cala de Deià. While it's not an easy drive to reach them (especially Sa Calobra), and it’s mindboggling how buses get here, they get very busy and it’s a long hot walk from the car park in summer.

* PORTO COLOM – several tiny crescent-shaped sandy beaches on an attractive bay; they’re miniscule but picturesque, backed by pine trees, with casual beach cafés overlooking the water. A marina and fishing town with cute fishing sheds beneath colourful houses, and good restaurants and bars, Porto Colom is one of the most alluring and laidback of Mallorca’s holiday towns. It's incredibly popular with Germans and Scandinavians who rent houses or dock their yachts at the marina for a while; most signs and menus are in German.

See part 2 for more beaches... pictured? Let me know if you can guess. This one was hugely popular but difficult to locate, and it's in my least favorite part of Mallorca I have to say.

Of course experiencing local culture is not high on every traveller's list of priorities - as we were often reminded in Mallorca. Some people simply want to lie in the sun and read a book, others just want to have fun with friends, and they don't care where they do it. But when I write, I write with a different audience in mind - one for whom experiencing local culture, language, history, art, and cuisine and so on are just as important than lying by a pool. Unfortunately, Mallorca has for too long focused its sights on promoting sun and sand - or bucket and spade - tourism. And through its efforts to make the holiday experience for sunworshippers cheap and easy, the island has lost much of its culture and destroyed some of its coastline in the process. I'm talking about the wall-to-wall high-rise hotels, the once-pretty coves now backed by ugly concrete apartment blocks, the menus in four languages and featuring beef stroganof and fish and chips, and an abundance of tacky souvenir shops, Irish bars, British pubs, betting shops, and lap-dancing clubs. This is what I don't like about Mallorca. Mass tourism in its ugliest form. And sadly, it can be a challenge to escape it. It's not a handful of towns that have given over to package tourists, as is the case in Cyprus, but a whole stretch of coastline west of Palma, another in the north, and dozens of other spots in the east and south. And don't think Mallorcans are happy about this. Most we met are not - especially the younger generation - but they seem powerless to do anything about it and admit they've lost control. Why? Because much of the development is foreign-owned. Mallorca makes a great case study for how not to develop tourism. But on a positive note, it's also a brilliant candidate for an experiment in sustainable tourism and how to turn a destination around.

So what did we not enjoy about Mallorca? Well, Mallorca is not for everyone. Sure, that could be said about a lot of places, but there are some destinations that few people dislike: Paris, Italy, Thailand for instance. And perhaps it's just that - despite the stunning landscapes, fascinating people, beautiful hotels and fabulous restaurants - Mallorca is not for me. Would I go there again? To work, absolutely. I'd happily go back and talk to the island's talented chefs or write about its burgeoning wine industry. Off-season though. Would I go there on holidays? No, most probably not. And for us, that's one of the criteria we use to judge a destination. If it's the kind of place where I think "I'd prefer to be lying on that beach than writing about it" or a place I make a mental note to return to one day, then I place it fairly high on my list of great destinations. But it's more complex than that. There are other things I disliked about Mallorca. Mainly, that Mallorca did not feel like Spain. Nor did it feel Catalan. Juxtaposed with Barcelona, where we spent five days after Mallorca, that was even more apparent. Barcelona is a cosmopolitan, multicultural city, immensely popular with tourists, with a reasonable-sized expat population - yet it's still retained its unique Catalan identity and essential Spanish-ness. Mallorca, sadly, has lost a lot of the characteristics that make it Mallorcan. They are still there, of course - the language, cuisine, arts and crafts, traditional customs, etc - they're just very hard to find. We located them of course - because that's what travel writers do - but I continually wondered how tourists there for a week fared. Mallorca is a place where you most definitely need to use a quality guidebook, follow some good local blogs, have a local guide, or quickly make local friends, if you want to experience the 'real' Mallorca - or as the Mallorquins like to say, 'the other Mallorca'. Unfortunately, for most tourists visiting the island, the closest they'll get to Mallorcan culture are artificial experiences (as fun as they can be) like La Granja, pictured.

We've finished our work on Mallorca - Terry shooting photos for three books, and me updating a travel guidebook. It was nearly seven weeks in total, and by the end of it Terry felt like a contestant on Survivor, desperate to get off the island. Did we not enjoy Mallorca? We did - absolutely - to a certain extent. We met some incredible people, both Mallorquins and expats, from chefs and sommeliers to hotel owners and bartenders. The people were definitely the highlight of our stay. We also checked in to some stunning hotels, ate some extraordinary food, and drank some superb Mallorcan wine. After that, it was the landscapes that took my breath away - the spectacular coastline with sheer craggy cliffs that dramatically drop down to the sea, crystal clear aquamarine water lapping white sand beaches, sailing boats bobbing in the sea off-shore, and the typically-Mediterranean scenery that I have always been besotted with: mountains thick with pine, cypress and cork-oak trees; terrace hillsides covered with vineyards, olive groves and citrus orchards; countryside fragrant with wild lavender, myrtle and thyme; and old villages that tumble down hillsides, dominated by monumental churches and charming cafe-filled squares, with cobblestone lanes lined with sandstone houses. And in Mallorca there was an added bonus - the ramshackle windmills scattered across the whole island. But...?

Pictured is Pollenca, one of my favorite Mallorcan towns in the north.

The city of Thunder Bay, at the head of Lake Superior, Northwestern Ontario!

Thunder Bay and its surrounding areas offer something for everyone. For the rural explorer; a wide range of parks, conservation areas, trails and green spaces within the city limits and short distances away. For the urban enthusiast; the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, Magnus Theatre, OLG Casino and Art Galleries.

Plan an evening at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium to hear the sounds of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Stop by Magnus Theatre, the only professional theatre company in Northwestern Ontario and delight in the skilled acting, writing and direction of the region’s best. Enjoy a first class gaming experience at OLG Casino conveniently located in the heart of the City - play roulette, blackjack, hold em’ poker and slots. Take in one of the many eclectic exhibitions at one of three art galleries. Delve into the contemporary work of First Nations artists with a visit to the Thunder Bay Art Gallery. Observe cutting edge installations, paintings and films at Definitely Superior Artist-Run Centre + Gallery. Tour the Lakehead Visual Art Gallery for a glimpse of original works in a variety of mediums created by regional artists. Get active or relax - just be sure to take some time to appreciate the clean air, culture and stunning environment.

The four hostel locations in Thunder Bay--Sibley Hall Residence Hostel and Conference Centre, Lakehead University Residence and Conference Centre, Sleeping Giant Guesthouse, and Thunder Bay International Hostel--are proud to have the beautiful city of Thunder Bay as a sponsor of Backpackers Hostels Canada. Come spend a few days exploring the scenery of Thunder Bay and you'll never forget it!

To plan an unforgettable vacation, visit www.visitthunderbay.com.

Feature of the Week, July 20th to July 27th 2009
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

The UK’s summer season is kicking into full throttle, and even if you’re short on cash, there’s no reason to be left out!

Popular electronic dance shindig, Glade Festival, is looking for volunteers to man their bars and join their litter-picking team (‘treasure-hunting’, they prefer to call it). In return for a free ticket, all you have to do is a bit of not-too-taxing work to help keep things running smoothly.

As we travelled around Mallorca over the last (gulp) six weeks (a long time to spend on the one island), we spent a lot of time visiting Mallorca's beaches - although sadly not spreading our towels out on them. Rather, Terry was photographing them, and I was checking them out for an update of a guidebook - so every visit was a hit and run. I admit that I may well be out of touch when it comes to inflatable beach toys, but I was astonished to see the variety of blow-up beds, lounges, tubes and toys, some especially whacky, like this double tube being carried by these guys in the picture. I wondered if floating about on this thing together was something they found to be lots of fun (they looked a bit too old to me), or whether a silly inflatable was simply a cool beach accessory. Nothing quite says 'summer holiday' like carrying one of these under your arm as you traipse along the sand.

Corfu Backpackers, Corfu Greece

"Corfu Backpackers Inn is located on the west coast of Corfu, beside the long sandy beach of Agios Gordios with its amazing sunsets and variety of water sports. It is the perfect place for a cheap Corfu beach holiday and ideal for independent travellers looking for a budget holiday - whether staying for just a night or for a longer visit to Corfu.

Agios Gordios village is just a three minute walk from the hostel and its attractions include two beautiful old churches, souvenir shops, small cafes, a large choice of restaurants with both local Corfiot and international cuisine, music cafes, shops, and a regular bus service to and from the centre of Corfu Town.

During the day Corfu Backpackers Inn offers a wide range of activities and daily adventure tours including Quad Bike Safari; Boat Trips; Hiking and Trekking; Horse Riding; Tours of Corfu Town and the island; Scuba Diving for both beginners and advanced divers; Trip to Aqualand Water Park; and Kayak Safari. We also offer car rental, boat trips to nearby secluded beaches and bays, cliff diving, snorkelling, volley ball court, basketball court, pool tables, table-tennis, satellite TV, pool size jacuzzi, as well as a private beach on the Ionian Sea.

There is also plenty of nightlife and action to suit everyone with a night-club offering Theme Nights, Toga Parties, Greek dancing and plate smashing, and lots of fun for all tastes.

Facilities at Corfu Travelers & Backpackers Inn include free breakfast & dinner (serving Greek food!), free pickup at port or airport, internet access, air-conditioning, laundry service, cinema screen, 24 hour bar, and bus service to and from Athens.

Corfu Backpackers Inn makes a great base for an all-inclusive Corfu family holiday, including young children and teenagers. We are affiliated to, and part of, the Pink Palace Beach Resort complex."

It is a fascinating read about the history of the island of Corfu. There are also many more photos of Corfu. Here is some information and photos of activities and adventures to be had all withing one hour's drive of Corfu Backpackers.

Feature of the week, July 13th to July 20th, 2009
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

As we've spent a long time living in the Gulf we've seen a lot of kooky round- abouts. Al Ain in the UAE probably wins the prize for kitschiest with its giant coffee pots but Mallorca follows pretty close behind with some of the most surprising roundabouts around. One I like features a traditional stone wall and wooden fence of the kind you typically find leading to fincas in the countryside here, but the most bizarre one must be this roundabout boasting a big deckchair at Can Picafort, a busy resort town on the northeast coast where tourists moved around on family-sized pedal-vehicles on the main road and they have eateries named Pizzeria Hamburg and Taverna Bavaria. Apt? Had any experience with kitschy roundabouts? Where is the most bizarre one you've seen? Or simply the most memorable?

I love shooting signs on our travels. They reveal so much about a place, its culture, norms, codes of conduct and acceptable behaviour - all of which can often be in conflict, or at least very stark contrast to those of tourists visiting the place. Many churches (and mosques) throughout the world require modest dress codes of visitors. In Italy, the signs outside churches prohibit you from entering in shorts, short skirts and revealing tops. In Mallorca, the typical tourist's street 'attire' warrants this sign. If you saw people walking around the street, you'd completely understand. At Palma airport, minutes after a young male British traveller arrived and collected his luggage from the baggage carousel, he was already pulling off his t-shirt.

Can you ever get enough sunsets? I can't. And it seems people in Mallorca can't either. We spent a couple of nights at Port de Soller (from where we could see the sun setting over the sea from our terrace at the Hotel Esplendido), and observed the nightly sunset-watching ritual. Locals and tourists alike take up their positions at cafe tables and benches along the promenade, or perch on the rocks on the seafront with the fishermen to take in the scene in silence. The moment the sun sinks beneath the horizon there's applause all around. We also enjoyed a wonderful sunset from our balcony at Ca's Xorc with a glass of cava in hand. As the sun sank over the mountains, creating silhouettes of the palm trees and olive groves, the whole sky turned pink, before the big ball of fire disappeared into the sea. Sigh.

Uk-based budget airline BmiBaby is celebrating summer by offering backpackers and other cash-strapped travellers the chance to fly for as little as £9.99.

The deal applies to selected flights for July and August, and are one way.

Book before 14 July 2009.

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As you'd know if you follow me on Twitter, Calabrian-based blogger Michelle Fabio over at Bleeding Espresso has been running an interview with me this week about writing our Calabria guidebook, travel writing, travelling, the writing process, and our lives as travel writers. She's also running a contest to give away 5 copies of our Traveller's Calabria book. All you have to do is post a comment on her blog at the end of the Q&A and at the end of the week (tomorrow), she'll pick the 5 winners and give them a book each. So, what are you waiting for? Get over there! Here's part 1 of the Q&A, part 2, part 3, and part 4, and you can read part 5 tomorrow - last day, so don't miss out!

Pictured? The beach at Scilla - in Calabria of course.

We found 19531 properties matching your
criteria ...


Best Western Antea Palace (Hotel)

Best Western Hotel Amber is situated in Sultanahmet, within a walking distance
to the most historical sites such as St.Sophia, The Blue Mosque...
Kucuk Ayasofya Cad. Cinci Meydani Yusuf Askin Sok, Sultanahmet, Istanbul

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Constanta Residence Apartments (Apartment)
The apartments offer individuality and independence and are a perfect base
either for leisure or business trips.
Hortensiei 15, Constanta, Mamaia

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Guesthouse La Casita (Guesthouse)
' La Casita' is a house kills placed to less than 100 meters of the 'la caleta'
beach , tells with 2 bedrooms with 2 individual beds every bedroom, a lounge
with 3 sofas, 1 of
Paseo Salvador Rueda 6, Malaga

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Hostal Alcaravaneras (Hostel)
Welcome to the Hostal Alcaravaneras located in the one of the nicest areas in
Spain.
Luis Antunez 22, Las Palmas de Gran Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las
Palmas

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Hostel Empedrado (Hostel)
Empedrado hostel is an modern house just four blocks away from downtown Mendoza.
Patricias Mendocinas 1959, Mendoza

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Hotel Veracruz *** (Hotel)
Hotel situated in the Mediterranean village of Sitges, to 20 mts to the best
golden beaches of Sitges, 40 mts of the shopping center an the gastronomic zone
as well as of the exciting and shameless 'sinned' street, a myth in Barcelona.
Avenida Sofia 12, Sitges, Barcelona

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Hotel Villa Matejuska (Hotel)
Hotel Villa Matejuska is protected by UNESCO. It is a stone house of original
Dalamtian architecture in
Tomi�a Stine 3, Dalmacija, Split

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Little Dragon Hotel (Hotel)
Welcome to Little Dragon Hotel.
8B Dao Duy Tu Lane, Hanoi, hoan kiem

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Noosa River Hostel (Hostel)
Nic's Noosa River Hostel. Take time out from the normal hustle and bustle of a
busy backpackers and enjoy the relaxing ambience of Noosa in boutique hostel.
52 Elizabeth Street, Noosaville, Noosa, Queensland

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Palace Hotel (Hotel)
The Palace Hotel offers accommodations in rooms, apartments and studio
apartments.
J.J.Strossmayera 10, Zagreb

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Paradise Sun (Hotel)
This charming resort is set in tranquil lush gardens, fringed by the soft, white
beaches of the C�te d'Or, in one of the world's most romantic locations.....
Anse Volbert, Praslin Island

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Solverde Spa & Wellness Centre Hotel (Hotel)
On the oceanfront in the north of Portugal, the city of Espinho proudly stands
as a calm and...
Avenida da Liberdade, ,Espinho -,Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto

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Tibetan House (Guesthouse)
The owner, great traveller and lover of the East has furnished this apartment in
essential and modern style four rooms, each with private bath, air conditioned
and fridge.
Via Dignano 1 - Padova, Padua

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Y Hotel Hyde Park (Hostel)
One of Sydney's best budget hotels - backpacker, budget and deluxe accommodation
at affordable prices...
5-11 Wentworth Ave, Sydney, New South Wales

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A Paziella (Hotel)
Just around the corner from the famous �Piazzetta�, you can find the leafy
avenue of the hotel driveway, the air heavy with the scent of Mediterranean
flowers and lemons.
Via Fuorlovado 36, Capri

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Auberge de Paris Youth Hostel (Hostel)
'Auberge de Paris Youth Hostel is a newly renovated century house providing two
sorts of accommodation - a youth hostel and a hotel.
901A, Sherbrooke E., Montreal, QC

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Bestplace' in Paddington (Hostel)
BIG DRINKERS WANTED! Stay here if you love Beer! Fantastic location with 24 Hour
drinking! Clean, Comfortable, Safe and Fun! Any questions? See you soon
308 Edgware Road, London

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Bestplace' in Waterloo (Hostel)
GREAT CENTRAL LOCATION!!only 8 minutes to PICCADILLY CIRCUS,24hr bar!!Fantastic
meal deals+FREE POOL from midnite till dawn, all that and great accommodation.
41-42 Cosser St, London

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T-Walleke (Guesthouse)
Bed & Breakfast 't walleke offers you 3 luxurious guestrooms equipped with lots
of love, to make your stay in Bruges an unforgettable event...
Carmersstraat 41, Bruges, West-Vlaanderen

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Villa del bosco' Farm Holidays (Guesthouse)
The family atmosphere in our farm stay is warm and we welcome guests from all
over the world as well as guests from right here in Sicily...
Villa del Bosco, contrada Marzuco, Castellammare del Golfo, Segesta, Trapani

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KM Hostel (Hostel)
0 KM Guesthouse, locates 500 meters east to the Polata Palace, in No. 13,
Lingkor North Avenue, Lhasa Tib
No. 13, Lingkor North Avenue, Lhasa

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Central Hostel (Hostel)
Located in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires in a recently restored building,
with modern facilities, 06 Central Hostel offers varied and comfortable
accommodation, and the best location to visit Buenos Aires at a very accessible
price...

'Maipu 306, Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires

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A Apartman Marija (Apartment)
High class apartment from !!! Benefit with our early booking saving plan!!!Fully
equiped high class apartment, with high space/guest ratio. (74sq. m.)
A. Starcevica 20, Dubrovnik

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Apartment Aurora (Apartment)
Beautiful 2 bedrooms apartment located in the historical centre of Rome, next to
Spanish Steps and Via Veneto...
Via Aurora, 31 (apt.# 14), Rome

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Cora Terrace (Hostel)
1 Cora Terrace, Port Elizabeth is positioned in the historical centre of the
city. Built in the 1850's, this backpacking lodge is full of character
PO Box 7171, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape

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The recession may be bad news for most
people, but for backpackers looking for travel discounts, it’s a pretty good
time to be on the trot. UK budget airline

BmiBaby has slashed all fares by
up
to 40% for flights between now and the 16th of December 2009.

Midlands-based airline covers a variety of
European and UK routes and services destinations such as
Alicante,
Prague and even
Perpignan.

Creamfields is one of the UK’s biggest shindigs, with a lineup that would make any dance music fan weak at the knees. Think Basement Jazz and Tiesto, think Paul Van Dyk, Too Many DJs live, Mylo live and Dizziee Rascal and you’re just getting started.

And, there’s great news for dance-loving backpackers out there: Creamfields 2009 has reduced its ticket prices!

Creamfields 2009 is an explosive end to the Summer, with no stone left unturned with the line up, and ridiculously good value for money, dance festivals don’t get much better than this! It’s what August Bank Holidays are for…

So, head over to www.creamfields.com and be a part of this music-lovin’ action.

Via Opodo comes the news of a big sale on British Airways flights.

Catch a worldwide sale flight in any direction with these offers from British Airways across five continents. All of these flights depart London and are direct (except Sydney which has a technical stop in either Singapore or Bangkok).

Weekend supplements may apply, and of course all the usual terms and conditions.

Sale ends 14 July 2009.

Tiger Airways is offering backpackers 50% off existing one-way fares.

The Singapore-based budget airline operates on various routes in the Asia-Pacific, visiting major cities such as Bangkok, Perth, Kuala Lumpur and more.

To get 50% off flights out of Singapore, visit www.tigerairways.com by 24 June 2009.

Backpackers exploring Europe this summer and hoping to save a few bucks on travel costs, listen up. The ever-vigilant Kathleen who writes About.com’s student travel blog explains the special better than we could:

“Love this Eurail sale on now: buy a qualifying Eurail pass by June 30, 2009 and Rail Europe will give you a credit voucher good for 25 percent of the value of that pass, which can be used toward up to 75 percent of any rail travel purchase made by December 20, 2009, provided your second purchase is at least 1.34 times the value of credit. Okay, this is how it works:

For example, buy a $586 Eurail Youth Global pass (that’s the already discounted student price) and get a voucher for $146.50 (25 percent). Subsequently save $146.50 when you buy any Rail Europe passes or tickets worth at least $196.31 (1.34 times the dollar value of your credit ) next fall. That could be up to 75% off a different pass or a point-to-point ticket which you discover you need to buy on top of your pass. “ (more of that here)

Whilst you’re at it, you can also score an extra two days of free train travel if you book a Eurail 8-day Select Pass through Rail Europe from June 1 to July 31, 2009 (you’ll need to have an ISIC card). More about that here.

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Welcome to the new look, new feel, new just-about-everything . It’s been quite some time since we’ve made a big change and this one’s definitely in the realms of ‘overhaul’. We hope you like it!

Our funky new site is centred around a Travel Blog, updated daily, with two major themes: upcoming festivals and highlighted destinations. Plus, as before, you can make online hostel bookings and air your views in our ever-popular travel forums!
Upcoming Festivals

We’ll be bringing all you party animals out there the scoop on the best upcoming festivals around the globe.

From the more famous festivals like the Running of the Bulls (San Fermin) in Spain and the beer-guzzling Oktoberfest in Germany, to the weird and the downright quirky ones like Camel Wrestling in Turkey, we’ll get you all the latest news and tips for survival.

Plus, like we’ve done before, we’ll organise ticket giveaways and festival passes for awesome dance parties like Godskitchen’s Global Gathering and Creamfields!

Destination Highlight

We’ll continue with our habit of featuring a new destination every month. But, we’re not going to try to be just another destination guide. We’ll point you in the direction of traditional destination websites, sure, because they do know their stuff, but who better to tell you about a place than someone who’s there right now, or a traveller who has visited recently and wrote about it?

Every day we hear about great sites, old and new, covering the ins and outs of each and every known destination, from first-hand experience. From now on you’ll get the story from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

Plus, every backpacker loves freebies, so we’ll have loads of destination-related competitions and giveaways to help you stretch that ever-restrictive budget a little bit further!

Hostel Bookings

As before, you will be able to choose from over 10,000 hostels world-wide, at the best internet rates available (no mark-ups!). No waiting in line, no frantic phone calls, just a simple online service you can access from anywhere at any time.

Check out some of our latest work In print and online, including a review of Pierre Gagnaire's extravagant restaurant Reflet at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City in the latest issue of Gulf Air's in-flight magazine Gulf Life. You can read the online version of the review here and you can also take a look at our first review of Reflet on Fodor's Hot List if you missed it last year. In the same issue of Gulf Life you'll also find some photos that Terry took of Chef Mohammed Hellal at Damascus' Four Seasons hotel. We also interviewed the Chef two years ago while we were there updating the Syria section of Lonely Planet's Syria and Lebanon guide (we had written the Lebanon section and front matter for the 2004 edition). If you're heading down under to Perth (pictured) in the near future, rip out Walk This Way: Perth and test out my walking tour around Western Australia's capital which features in this month's issue of Connect, the Business Traveler magazine of Carlson-Wagonlit; you can print up the online version here. If you ever get a chance to do it, let me know what you think.

Go Hostel, Edmonton Alberta

Go Hostel has persevered and has finally re-opened its doors in Edmonton Alberta in a new location. The hostel can now be found on 10209 - 100th Avenue. The people at Go Hostel are pleased to welcome you to the beautiful city of Edmonton.

Dorm rooms are available with beds between $25.00 and $28.00 per night + tax. Private rooms are also available (single, double or queen) for between $70.00 and $80.00 per night.

Large group bookings are also welcome.

"Join Go Hostel Facebook Group"

Hostel of the week, July 6th 2009 to July 12th 2009
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

Manor houses transformed into magical museums, remote hilltop monasteries boasting breathtaking views, and verdant botanic gardens providing relief from the sun have all captivated me far more on this trip than any beach resort. And yet I have to admit that I am one of those people who occasionally likes to spend a week soaking up the sun on a stunning stretch of sand somewhere, and who has secretly been dreaming of a holiday doing nothing but reading books by a hotel swimming pool. Probably because these are the very things I no longer have time to do, despite spending some 300 nights on average a year in hotel rooms. Yet most of Mallorca's beaches are too crowded for my taste and their surroundings are often marred by ugly hotel developments. A place that I found especially enchanting was the lush Jardines de Alfabia near Soller. While the gardens themselves are lovely, with their leafy walkways, tinkling fountains and tranquil ponds, it was the splendid residence that they're tangled around that once belonged to the Moorish viceroy of Mallorca, that I found even more compelling. Sumptuously decorated with rich brocaded furnishings and colossal works of art on the walls, it was one of those places that took you back in time for a while when the world was a very different place. Take a peek inside here and let me know what you think.