Tips on Hostel Life

Staying in a hostel is a wonderful thing! I've met some amazing people while staying in hostels, and I've had some truly memorable experiences. What's even better is through careful research, I've been able to avoid any bad experiences.  Here are my top tips for having a great experience out there in hostels across the world.


1) Pick a safe, clean hostel
This is far and away the most important aspect of ensuring you have a stellar hostel experience. No one wants to sleep in a sketchy bed full of bugs, dirt and much, much worse. I've heard of hostels with a "chess room" that was available by the hour - aka it had very little to do with chess, but had a locking door. Ew!

I've avoided these really gross hostels by doing a ton of research ahead of time! I like to look on hostelworld.com for the safety and cleanliness ratings. Generally I aim for AT LEAST an 80 percent, but preferably a 90 or above. These hostels are still going to be affordable but will be WAY safer than hostels that scored in  say the 50th percentile for cleanliness and safety. It's worth the few extra bucks per night to feel safe. Trust me.


2) Don't forget sheets, towel and lock (depending on the hostel)
Depending on where you're staying you may need to bring some of the basics with you. Believe it or not, some hostels don't even provide sheets! It's important to check on those sorts of things before you go. If you aren't keen on traveling with a full set of sheets and a towel, oftentimes you can rent them from the hostel for a small fee. I've done this in the past and it's been fine - just make sure you factor the cost into your budget!

And always always always bring a lock! Majority of hostels provide lockers, but not many provide locks.

3) Use a locker
My next tip is to use that locker! Even if your bunk/roommates seem like amazing, nice people you just never really know.  Locks keep honest people honest. I have never had anything stolen from a hostel (knock on wood), but I'm also very careful to always lock up my valuables, even if I'm stepping out for just a minute or two.

4) Don't be afraid to socialize
Finally, HAVE FUN! Hostels are a great place to meet people from every corner of the world. I personally love to hang out in the hostel's common room or bar. It's a great way to socialize with strangers while having a bit of a safety net - there are usually staff nearby that can step in if needed. A lot of hostels even have movie rooms, game areas or a communal book shelf. Take advantage of these! If you invite someone to play monopoly and they say no... who cares? You probably will literally never see them again. And if they take you up on it, you may just make a life-long friend!

Me with some new friends in a hostel in Florence, Italy

Hostels are a great option for travelers on a budget - just make sure you're prepared! If you'd like some help planning out your next trek, visit MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

The Travel Tag! (30 Questions)

1. Where are you from in the world?
I was Born in New Jersey, USA, but I spent my childhood in Holland. We moved back to the states when I was still young, but we still moved around a bit. I guess I consider my "Hometown" Mt. Airy, MD since that's where I spent my high school years!

2. Have you been overseas? When/Where?

I have! I actually have been to over 20 countries in the last 4 years, but when I was little we traveled to even more places! Some of my favorites are:  Spain, Ireland, Germany, Holland, South Africa, Thailand and Singapore!

                                       

Blankenburg, Germany

3. Do you prefer summer or winter? Why?
I guess Summer, but Christmas trumps all! Especially in Paris! I love Christmastime in Paris - oh and Barcelona too!

4. Summer or winter fashion?
Winter - I'm all about the boots.

5. Where is somewhere you would love to travel to?

I'd love to go to Iceland, Japan and so many more places

6. Name your essential makeup items for the beach
Sunscreen!

7. Are you currently saving up for a trip?
We are getting ready to book our honeymoon to Portugal this fall!

8. Do you like/dislike travelling?
Absolutely LOVE it!

9. Name a place in the world you would love to shop.
I'm honestly not a big shopper.

10. Who is your favourite beauty guru and where do they live?

Zoella - Brighton, UK

Ingrid Nilsen - California, USA

11. What accent in the world is your favourite to hear?

Australian

12. How many countries have you visited?
More than 20

13. Why do you travel
I've always traveled and it's just a part of me!

14. Favourite city or country?
Barcelona!

15. Most memorable experience abroad?
Probably swimming with elephants in Thailand or bungee jumping in South Africa

16. Best item purchased abroad?
I got some awesome soccer shoes in Barca.

17. Advice for those who want to travel but think they can't?
Just start saving! I promise you can do it :) 

18. Travel accessory you always pack?
Adaptors and converters
19. Can you recite your passport # from memory?
No... probably should though

20. Preferred method of travel: planes, trains or automobiles
Probably airplane because it's fastest, but I love trains too.

21. Top 3 Travel items?
Converter, Good walking shoes and a camera

22. Hostel or hotel?
I love hostels!

23. Are you a repeat visitor or do you explore new places?
I would absolutely be happy to revisit places, but I want to explore new places as much as possible!

24. Do you read up on your destination for culture, history or safety or do you wing it?
I absolutely do! Did you know you can be caned for spitting gum on the streets of Singapore?? Research people!

                                 

                                                                      Singapore

25. Favourite travel websites?
Lonely Planet, Hostelworld.com

26. Where would you recommend a friend to visit? City and why?
Barcelona! Soccer, food, beautiful architecture! LOVE IT

27. You're leaving tomorrow, money is no option, where are you going?
Probably Australia and New Zealand.

28. Favourite landmark you have visited?
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel tower or Notre Dam.

                        

29. Beach holiday or travel/explore holiday?
Travel and explore! But I do enjoy a good beach day

30. To travel is to...

adventure

I own a travel company called MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and would love to help you coordinate your next adventure!

Here's where I got the questions! http://www.fashionarttravel.com/2014/09/the-travel-tag-30-questions.html

My Favorite Hostel in Florence

I've stayed in hostels all over the world, but the one that sticks out the most is the Hostel David Inn Florence in Florence, Italy. Florence itself was beautiful and my experience was made even better by staying at this particular hostel. Nadia greeted me by name with cookies at the ready. She was very welcoming, the beds were clean, the people were nice and there was a kitchen available for my use. I personally like to have a kitsch available so I can save some money and cook my own dinner

I really connected with the other guests and actually wound up going out to eat with people from Canada, Japan and Korea too! It was a really amazing experience. It almost felt more like staying at grandma's house than a hostel.

Here I am (right) with Nadia (center) and a new Canadian friend!

The hostel was much smaller and intimate than most hostels I've stayed at. I actually found that I liked it! The only downside was there weren't any lockers available and I tend to like to lock up my bag before heading out for the day. Other than that, it was great! It definitely helped that I was staying with a great group of travelers, but Nadia (the host) was very sweet and even offered to do my laundry at no charge because it rained and I got soaked! I ended up just line drying my clothes, but it was a very genuine and kind gesture.

The hostel was also remarkably close to several must-see sights! It was a short walk away from the legendary Duomo and it was literal steps away from the museum where the Statue of David was housed. Nadia was always ready to offer advice on where to go, what to see and of course, help us find the best gelato!

All in all, Florence was a wonderful experience, and I'm lucky to have found such a welcoming and affordable place to stay. If you'd like to plan your own adventure to Florence (hostels or hotels) I'd be happy to help! MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.

My Solo Backpacking Trip Through Italy

With Valentine's happening this week, it made me realize how nice it is to have an awesome fiancé  who is willing to go on adventures with me. It also made me think about how much fun you can have traveling on your own. One of my all-time favorite trips was my solo backpacking trip through Italy a few years ago. I was completely by myself, took trains and stayed in hostels - the whole nine yards.

I started in Venice. Coming off the plane and making my way to the hostel was a little nerve-wracking, but I did it! One thing I will say is, Italy is COLD in January. Way colder than Spain and other parts of Europe! I was definitely glad to sit outside and enjoy the boat ride, but I could have really used another layer or two.

I'll go more into the cities another time (or else this post would be ridiculously long), but Venice was beautiful, and my hostel was even on an island! The only downside of that being, I had to take a boat taxi to get anywhere which was quite pricey. But the hostel itself was pretty great. I had so much fun chatting with people from all over the world! Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Japan, Korea even some from somewhere in Africa (couldn't quite fully understand their accents, but they were nice!). I had done quite a bit of research ahead of time, so I felt safe in this hostel. I'm not much of a partier, but the atmosphere of the hostel was so fun I actually wound up staying down in the bar for quite some time. It was in the bar that I actually got tips on my FAVORITE book store in the entire world, Aqua Alta. Hostels are wonderful places.

Aqua Alta - Venice, Italy

Next up was Florence. Florence was a very special experience. The train ride down was easy, finding my hostel went fine and I was excited to be out exploring! My hostel was not what I expected - I was greeted by name with homemade cookies. The owner of Hostel David Inn Florence is quite the person. Her name is Nadia and it was like your mom was there, but in a cool way. She really helped bring us together and I found myself enthralled with her story. I bonded with my fellow hostel-goers and actually wound up going out for pizza and even attending museums and shopping with a few! It was amazing to meet new people and have adventures together. To this day, I'm still friends with several of them on Facebook. This hostel also had a kitchen which was nice. I opted to cook dinner at the hostel several nights to save some money.

My new friend Carmen and the host Nadia!

My hostel-cooked dinner of Italian pasta and sauce!

While in Florence, I opted to take a day trip out to see the leaning tower of Pisa - it was worth it! While I ended up having to wait around a bit to catch my train back, I shamelessly asked other tourists to take my picture (classic holding up the tower pose etc.) and then relaxed at a nearby cafe who served me what I'm convinced was just a bowl of melted chocolate. DELICIOUS.

Being touristy in Pisa

"Hot Chocolate" - Pisa, Italy

Finally, I ventured onwards to Rome. Once again, spectacular. I liked that the hostel had a kitchen so I could cook my own meals. I also tended to pack my lunch, so I could save some money while in touristy areas. Yet again, I wound up venturing out with fellow travelers whom I met in the hostel. They showed me where the best gelato was and how to avoid paying extra fees at attractions. I even befriended the hostel worker (named "Blue" for her blue hair) who wound up walking me back to the airport when I left. Once again, I made friends.

The BEST gelato!

My favorite reading spot in Rome - on the Spanish Steps!

Even if you aren't the most sociable person, the beauty of a hostel is there is a built in conversation starter - Where are you from? How long are you here? Where are you going next?

Don't be scared to take a leap and venture out on your own. Just be smart and careful when you do. I avoided going out at night (I'm not big on the night scene anyway) and I always locked up my belongings when I left the hostel. I did plenty of research ahead of time to make sure where I was staying was safe - hostelworld.com is great for that! The world is huge, so get out and explore - with or without a travel buddy.

Oh and it's a good idea to work on your selfie game, or else you'll end up with pictures like this one:

CHEESE! #Fail

If you'd like help planning, I own a travel company called MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com and I'd love to help you out!

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution to Travel

Happy 2017! It's a new year and that means it's time to start acting on those New Year Resolutions. For many of us adventurers, a top resolution is to travel and explore new places! Here are some tips on how to make those dreams a reality.

1) Pick a place! There are a few things to consider when deciding where you want to go. If you are wanting to go far away  or even all the way to the other side of the world, that is going to take some serious preparation. If you're traveling with a friend, talk over ideas and have fun brainstorming and research! Just don't forget to take your budget into account. It's important to set realistic goals and destinations. Bigger trips will take longer to save for, so plan accordingly!

2) Start saving! Budgeting can be a pain, but it makes a huge difference. Start saving little by little and before you know it you'll have enough for that trip to Australia you've always dreamed of. I know budgeting can be incredibly difficult, so keep an eye on this space for a travel budgeting blog post coming soon!

3) Set a date. Setting a concrete date can make a trip feel real. Even if you don't have the money for the plane ticket just yet, pick a target month and start a count down! It'll help you stay more motivated to budget, save and plan.

4) Plan the trip! While you are saving and preparing for your trip, start planning! For me, this is the best part of the preparation process. Get together with your travel partner (if you have one) and start researching! I like to set a goal for the main sights I want to see while I travel, while still leaving time for spontaneous adventure.

No matter where your travels take you in the new year, remember to take it all in. Traveling is a beautiful thing, but often it does require some planning. If organizing is not your thing, don't forget my company Miles Into Memories Travel can always help you out!

Florence Fun

I had a blast in Florence. I think if I did it again I would leave more time. I was already cramming four cities into a little over a week so I only stayed in Florence for two days. One of those days I actually spent the afternoon out in Pisa!

I stayed at the most adorable little hostel called The David Inn. It's run by this lovely woman called Nadia. She really takes care of everyone who comes through. She was there to greet me by name with a plate of cookies. She is so sweet and personable. I highly recommend the hostel for anyone staying Florence! 

The first night I just tried to get a feel for the city and ended up buying myself a lovely leather jacket. I'm very  happy with my "big souvenir" of the trip! It is so soft and fits me perfectly. I went back to the hostels and met some very nice people. One was from Canada and two were from South Korea. We had a great time getting to know eachother.

The next day I got up early and went and saw the Statue of David! It was really pretty incredile. I learned about it in depth in middle school and I always wanted to go see it for myself. 

Right afterwards I found the grocery store (finally!) and bought myself some food for the next few days. I sort of followed this sweet old italian lady around and picked the brands of pasta and sauce she did... slightly creepy but it totally worked! They are delicious! And both the Florence and Rome hostels have kitchens so I'm set :)

I then hoofed it to the Ponte Vecchio bridge and the Michelangelo square for a pretty view and some shopping. The bridge was a little pricey for me and it turned out there was a crane in the way and a BILLION steps so I ended up just going halfway to the Michelangelo square, but it was still beautiful.

I then booked it across town to catch my train to the leaning tower of Pisa. It was pretty wonderful. I took some funny pictures ( I mean you have to right?) and then I went to a cafe that had a lovely view and ordered a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was so so good. Basically they just melted a chocolate bar in a cup and served it. Hey man, no problem here.

I caught my train back to Florence and wandered back to my hostel. We ended up going out as a group for the world's biggest pizza! It was so delicious We ordered some pasta for the table as well. It was a good authentic Italian meal and I got to share it with some new friends I met in the hostel. It's been great so far with hostels!

This morning I got up early and me and a girl from the hostel went to the Iffuzi museum. It was beautiful and I enjoyed just soaking up the atmosphere. We made a quick stop back at the Ponte Vecchio bridge for some perusing then I went back to my hostel to grab my bags and hug Nadia goodbye.

I made it to the train station and had an easy ride to Roma! The walk to the hostel wasn't my favorite. I got turned around a bit and was too stubborn to catch a cab. I got here eventually, but boy am I tired.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Vatican!

Lots of love,

Malena

Venice Day 2

 Today was a pretty great day. I started off on the right foot by going up the Campanile Tower with hardly any wait. I got some pretty phenomenal photos! Afterwards I headed over to Doge's Palace and again had no wait because I booked online. I had a wonderful time. I just went my own pace and took in the beautiful art. On top of that I got to go to 3 more museums for the cost of the one! And even then it was discounted because I'm under 26. SCORE! One of the bonus museums was even a historical library which is pretty darn awesome in my book. I definitely enjoyed today. I came back to the hostel for dinner and ran into some nice girls from South Korea and Michigan. The Korean girl had had her entire luggage stolen! But from the street, not the hostel. She left it for just a few minutes to get a coffee and it wasn't there when she came back. I felt bad for her, but hopefully she learned not to trust cities! She still had her passport and she has a friend in Milan who speaks Italian so she has some help in filing police reports. 

Me and the girl from Michigan tried to help her out a little - she had just been in Australia and South Africa or something so she had a skirt and flip flops in her purse which she had with her. So she has that and what she was wearing and that's it. The other girl gave her some pants and a flannel and the hostel even let her dig through their lost and found so that was really sweet of them. I luckily had an unopened toothbrush that I gave her so I'm glad I could help at least a little bit!I felt so bad for her. At least she had her passport in her purse. That would have been a disaster.

She also had her phone and charger so that's good! The Michigan girl told us about this beautiful bookstore in Venice so I think tomorrow we are going to try and go find it!!

I need to leave the hostel for the train station by 11am so hopefully we can make it!

Hostels are really a wonderful place.

Malena

Venice Adventure

I woke up mad early but successfully navigated my way to Venice! It was a little confusing but I got the hang of the water taxis soon enough. I checked into my hostel and dropped my bags to go explore until I could get in my room at 2. I really just wandered around and got a feel of the city. It's beautiful here. You know when something just feels right? That's how it feels. I have missed being on boats. I used to spend a ton of time on boats when I was little and it brings back great memories.

At 1:30 I came back to the hostel to gameplan and move my stuff up. The hostel is pretty nice - the shower door is see through. That's not so great.

I was very strategic about when I wanted to do certain things. I noticed the lines were really long for a few things like the Basilica, the Doge Palace and the Campanile Tower so I devised a plan - I would hit the Basilica just before it closed (totally worked), buy a ticket for the Doge Palace so I could skip the line and wait until first thing in the morning for the tower. 

I wound up going to the Basilica at the perfect time and went up to the museum/upper level, It was a great 5 euro spent. I absolutely loved just sitting and soaking up the culture. There were signs everywhere asking you  to respect the holiness of the place but there were an unbelievable amount of people taking pictures, so that was a little annoying, but oh well.

I had an awesome time wandering around the city afterwards and even found the cutest little book store. If the books hadn't been so ridiculously overpriced I totally would have bought some. As it is I bought some beautiful street art as my little souvenir from Venice.

I caught my boat back to the hostel (it's on an island!) and met some people from Australia, China, and Brasil. We hung out and talked over some really yummy drinks at the hostel bar. A good time was had by all, but I peaced out early to head to bed. I'm still exhausted from last week!

Lots of love,

Malena