Your backpacking travel planner

Urban Oasis Guesthouse, Sudbury Ontario

Urban Oasis Guesthouse is situated in a colourful neighbourhood in downtown Sudbury. The exterior setting is Urban while the interior setting is an Oasis. The objective of the guesthouse is to ensure that guests feel welcome, relaxed, at home, and part of the Guesthouse family that is present during their stay. Michelle and Spirit (cat) live in the guesthouse and are the hosts.

SUDBURY'S ONLY BACKPACKERS HOSTEL is very clean and bright. Guests have access to: kitchen, living room (board games, book exchange), quiet area for reading, travel information room, lovely front porch for relaxing, and four three piece bathrooms (no line-ups). The guesthouse is walking distance to Laundromat, restaurants, grocery stores, entertainment, Science North, Dynamic Earth (Big Nickel), and Ramsey Lake.

Hostel of the Week, March 29th to April 4th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

Sun Peaks Hostel, British Columbia

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME!

"Sun Peaks International Hostel offers you ski-in/ski-out accommodation from $29 per night! You'll have all the amenities of home at this winter getaway including a fully equipped kitchen, large relaxing lounge area, TV/DVD, free WiFi, lockers, laundry facilities and private rooms!

We certainly have no shortage of activities like Golf & Horseback riding during the summer and our lifts are open for Bikers & Hikers to enjoy our mountains and we endeavour to help make your stay full of fun and excitement."

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Hostel of the week, March 21st to March 29th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

Premier Mountain Lodge

Not your typical hostel...in fact not a hostel at all--Backpackers Hostels Canada does list one or two hotels. Premier Mountain Lodge is a high-end hotel with lower prices geared to 'budget travellers' (A double room is $90.00 in the summer season, for example.)

"Premier Mountain Lodge offers breathtaking views of the mountains from all suites, and is only a 1.5 hour drive from Jasper.

The hotel also offers complementary coffee & tea, indoor pool & hot tub and a restaurant onsite with Licensed dinning room. All rooms have satellite TV and offer free local calls.

We hope you will come by and check us out as you plan your summer vacation in beautiful British Columbia!"

Hostel of the Week March 16th to 22nd 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

For any young backpacker considering making a trip around the many great cities that Europe has to offer it is essential that are fully up to date and kept abreast of the local cultures and traditions that dictate the social norms of the country or city. Alongside this before planning the next place to visit on any major backpacking tour of Europe young I would always recommend that travelers also fully ensure that they are completely up to speed with the latest travel plans and news and any potential political developments in their destination - as these critical factors can naturally have a major bearing on any traveling or backpacking excursion and your personal safety. Reading travel guides for the city you are planning to visit, checking the regional train and transport timetables, understanding the cultural habits and traditions of the locals and preparing for the type of climate in the locale you are traveling to are in my mind also highly critical factors - and because all these things can vary so much across Europe depending on the region or city you arte visiting, then pre planning and close studying of a good quality travel guide prior to the commencement of your trip is highly advisable in order to ensure that your backpacking experience in Europe’s great cities is a positive one. At the end of the day you need to remain safe and behave within the laws and social norms of the place you are visiting but also have fun - so keeping yourself informed with the latest travel news can get you one step ahead of the game.

If you are looking for a European country that can provide you with a great opportunity for a romantic vacation break with a partner, a short city break with a loved one or even the perfect location for a magical wedding day or honeymoon - then there are surely fewer more suitable countries you could consider in the region than Italy. Italy vacations offer the visitor a vast number of diverse yet equally stunning, beautiful - and of course highly romantic rural and city locations that can provide the perfect backdrop for you and your partner on that most special of days. Whether your tastes are for the unique architecture offered up on the streets of renaissance Florence, the classical city backdrops of Rome, or even enjoying a peaceful summer evening with your loved one on the canal ways of Venice - then Italy undoubtedly has something very special to offer you in order to make your wedding vacation a memory that will be treasured by you and your partner for a lifetime. It is well known that Italy weddings are becoming increasingly popular amongst young couples who are looking to get married and celebrate their special day or honeymoon abroad, with the warm Mediterranean climate making it a highly attractive holiday and wedding location - particularly in the spring and summer months. So why not check out the fantastic holiday options that Italy has to offer.

If you’re looking to discover the wonders of Emerald Isle but haven’t got a massive wedge of cash to spend, then rather than checking into one of the big swanky hotels that Dublin or Belfast may have to offer - but that may cost you an arm and a leg - why not instead spend your hard earned money more wisely this spring on one of the many great holiday cottages in either Ireland or Northern Ireland. Self Catering Northern Ireland offers excellent quality holiday accommodation for the young backpacker, world traveler or even a family holidaymaker that is on a tight budget the opportunity to enjoy the stunning natural countryside and rolling scenery of Ireland and Northern Ireland - without breaking the bank with a huge hotel bill that may take many months of hard work to pay off. There are many great locations to visit that offer such packages including Donegal, Antrim, Kerry or Cork. So why not save money on your holiday accommodation this spring season - as well as on the price of food and of course eating out - when you can cook your own healthy meals at your own leisure in one of these great holiday homes Northern Ireland.

Cross-Cultural Solutions

As a Cross-Cultural Solutions international volunteer, you're making a meaningful contribution, working side-by-side with local people and sharing in the goals of a community that warmly welcomes you. You're experiencing another culture like never before and really getting to know its people.

You'll gain new perspectives and insight into the culture and yourself. It's an exciting and personally inspiring experience, and you'll develop memories that will be with you forever.

Enjoy the flexibility of choosing from 12 countries, start dates year-round and programs from 1-12 weeks long. CCS offers international volunteer programs in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand. Wherever you choose, our in-country staff welcomes you to the CCS Home-Base, your home away from home.

Feature of the Week, November 2nd to November 8th 2008
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

The Hostel Bear, Canmore Alberta

Stay with us at Canmore's Newsest Hostel! Located one block from downtown Canmore!

Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised with the standard of The Hostel Bear. We're here to bring you the best quality stay possible.

The Hostel Bear is a truly outstanding hostel style accommodation.

Our lodge provides an elegant, affordable and secure environment.

We feature a large fully functional kitchen, free wireless access, full in-room bathrooms & showers, secure in-room lockers and more...

Our friendly, helpful, outgoing staff are here 24 hours a day to ensure your stay exceeds expectations.

• Ideal for business and tourist
• 45 minutes from Calgary
• Close to town center & nightlife
• Clean environment
• Large communal kitchen
• FREE Parking & Wireless Internet
• Large common area with games room

Hostel of the Week, March 8th to March 14th 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

* We also had a couple of pieces on the Viator blog, including UAE: a Winter Wonderland, and a piece introducing our Grantourismo project (Viator is one of our project partners).

Pictured: a wall of graffiti in Kuwait City, against which Terry shot fantastic portraits of Kuwait's heavy metal heroes for our Jazeera magazine story.

The island of Majorca has for many years now, proven to be one of the most popular and frequently visited holiday destinations in Spain for holidaymakers from the UK and other countries in Western Europe. Situated in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean, Majorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and has always had a great deal to offer visitors of all types. Indeed, whether you are looking to soak up some summer sunshine and relax on the beach or by the swimming pool with your family or children, or are alternatively looking for a wilder and booze filled party holiday with the lads, Majorca holidays have always offered affordable and fun packed times for its visitors of all types and demographics. From the UK it is very easily accessible by plane - with flight times in the region of two to two and a half hours. There are also many great package holidays to Majorca available at fantastically low prices these days so a holiday in the sun wont cost you an arm and a leg either. The towns on the island are famous for their great nightlife and restaurants, and during the day there are many great activities for all the family such as water parks and beautiful sandy beaches. If you are looking for a great holiday this summer why not check out a holiday for you and your family or friends now!

Brier Island Backpackers, Westport Nova Scotia (60km SW of Digby)

"Brier Island Backpackers is located at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia. Brier Island requires travellers to cross two car ferries to reach it . The effort is definitely worth it to experience Nova Scotia’s best known whale and bird watching area.

Spend your day hiking our coastline, visiting one of our three lighthouses, fishing for harbour pollock from the government wharf, or join one of the daily whale watching cruises. Evenings are a great time for a bonfire on the beach, dining at a local restaurant or buy some live lobster and prepare them yourself in the hostel kitchen.

Our cosy hostel has twelve beds including a family room , a fully equipped kitchen and a common room overlooking the harbour. Our large deck is a great place to watch the sunset."

Hostel of the Week, March 2nd to March 7th 2010
Submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada

Mt. H'Kusam View Lodge, Retreat and Hostel

Mt. H'Kusam View Lodge is in the Sayward Valley on northern Vancouver Island, a beautiful location where you can just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, view the wildlife and scenery, or take advantage of the many opportunities for outdoor activities.

Your hosts, Jill Tyndale and Chris Watkiss, retired in 2005 from running their organic goat dairy and cheese company, McLennan Creek Dairy, in Abbotsford, B.C. We fell in love with this beautiful part of the world, and decided to make it our home. At the dairy, we were hosts to many Canadian and international volunteers and interns through the WWOOF program. We decided to start a hostel here in Sayward as our retirement project, so that we could continue to enjoy hosting travellers from all over the world.

The lodge is a combination of a hostel and a country inn. The five-room hostel has 15 beds with a lounge with wood stove, kitchen and dining area, games room, library, sauna, TV and wireless internet. Upstairs are comfortable private rooms, some with ensuite bathroom. We serve delicious breakfasts and dinners for hotel guests in our licensed restaurant. In the summer, The Lodge Restaurant opens on the weekend, serving gourmet fixed-price menus and a selection of cocktails and fine local wines and beers.

We are also an ideal choice for work groups, tour groups, retreats or small conferences.
For more information, call 250-282-5547 or email info@mthkusamviewlodge.com.

Hostel of the Week, February 23rd to March 2nd 2010
submitted by Kennedy Jones
Backpackers Hostels Canada