[iceman]

is it just me or is the yha symbol now a symbol of mass globalisation, where backpackers get the same thing everywhere they stay and the hostels are even starting to look the same from the inside?

i personally dont think this is what travellers want, well its not what i want , i want atmosphere ,character privatley owned hostels who reccomend other hostels because they like them not because they have too

am i alone?

dave

[laurarwells]

Hi Dave,

No i completely agree, they not only look the same but they charge a fortune. I think the one in Sydney wanted something like $33 whereas the base next door was $25 which i thought was pricey enough!!!

They are on the whole clean and look comfortable but there're so sterile and very large unfriendly buildings.
The smaller run hostels have so much more character and i always found a much nicer crowd too.

Laura