There was a time when all holiday-makers used to just take two week package holidays. But in recent years this traditional holiday has been cast aside, as more and more people opt for multi-destination travel.
Independent travel, backpacking, globetrotting - call it what you like, everyone from 18 year-old gap year travelers to 40 year-olds on sabbatical are getting involved. Everyone, in short, is waking up to the fact that the best fixed itinerary is no fixed itinerary at all!
And there's another thing that unites them all: the need for a good supply of affordable accommodation - B&Bs, guesthouse, and, especially, hostels. Traveling for anything from a couple of weeks to a year's around the world tour, you need to make your money go further.
Travel Directory Articles
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Since the days of the Grand Tour, Europe has been the time-honored travel destination. Cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London (among countless others) are overflowing with historical and cultural riches that never fail to delight their many visitors.
As arguably the backpacking center of the world, it's not surprising that, spread across the continent, is some of the best budget accommodation around. <a href="http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/western_europe" target="_blank">Hostels in Europe</a> tend to fall into one of two categories: the large, independent youth hostel, that's cheap and functional.
Then there's the quirkily stylish 'boutique' or flashpacking hostel. These have multiplied lately to provide a bed for the hordes of cultural backpackers, and popular destinations like Krakow, Seville and Lisbon have gained a reputation for having given the hostel concept a real facelift.
US foreign policy has banned competitors of HostelBookers from offering accommodation in Cuba, Myanmar (Burma) or Syria. As a British-owned company, HostelBookers are not bound by this travel ban, and continue to offer the best in budget accommodation in these destinations.
Australia: few places have quite as much to offer the independent traveler. <a href="http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/australia" target="_blank">Hostels in Australia</a> are often big, bold and bursting with backpackers. With their stylish, cosmopolitan locations, Sydney hostels and Melbourne hostels attract the greatest volume of backpackers.
But it's only a matter of time before they look to broaden their horizons. Road-tripping in Australia is enormously popular and there are plenty of companies in the major destinations where you can pick up a cheap car, and experience the unique freedom of the open road.
