Life in Vietnam

Hard to believe I've been in Vietnam for a week already!
There was almost immediate culture shock going from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City...the contrasts in wealth and modernity are stark. Vietnam's southern metropolis is a vibrant, buzzing city with some sleek skypscrapers and a fashionably-dressed younger population.
The French colonial influence is easilly spotted in the city center, where the architecture is extremely European, and Chanel and Dior shops line the immaculate streets.
Scooters are the transit option of choice here in Vietnam, and at all times of day they zip along the streets, weaving wildly...they literally never have a red light. Only cars have to stop at red lights. To cross the street is to take your life in your hands.

I spent 2 nights in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City, since I was already all city-ed out after Phnom Penh. My main stops were the War Remnants Museum and the Cu Chi Tunnels- both worthwhile! To be honest, I knew next to nothing about the Vietnam War (they call it the American War here) before I arrived, and it was quite eye-opening. I'm told the museum information is quite biased in favor of the Vietnamese, but nevertheless it was an interesting (and disturbing) visit.

After the big city, I spent 3 nights at a beautiful, relaxed hostel in Mui Ne, soaking up the surf, sand, and sun...that is, I got very sunburnt. But it was really nice.

Then I moved on to the cool mountain clime in Dalat. It was a beautiful relief to feel a brisk breeze on my skin, and to actually have the desire to put more clothes on, and curl up under a warm blanket at night!!! While in Dalat, I visited the famous Crazy House, went Canyoning (photos to come), climbed Liang Biang Mountain, and visited a Monastery. The last two events were only made possible by inviting myself to join a group that are motorbiking down Vietnam (I am actually so jealous). I absolutely love riding on the back of the bike through the small village streets- you see SO much more of the country, and you have so much more freedom. The only thing really stopping me from joining their number is the amount of backpackers I've met with motorbike "war wounds". I'll leave the driving to others...for now.

I stayed at a hostel reccommended to me by a friend from Kamloops that visited Vietnam a few years back. Its called The Dalat Family Hostel, and it was SUCH an experience! The vietnamese family that runs the hostel are absolutely nuts- "Mama" sings, claps, hugs, and kisses you when you arrive, you are fed immediately, the "brothers" and "sisters" (are they actually family? I will never know) randomly hug you and pinch your cheek, or throw their arms over your shoulders while you are sitting around...everyone eats a huge dinner around the family table at 5 every night...its the best food...the BEST. I slept in the attic, where there are all different levels, and about 15 mattersses around the floor. It looks like the ultimate slumber party of your dreams! It was so much fun, and also just ridiculous!

Anyway, today I am in transit to the small village of Tuy Hoa, and I've had a couple hours to get some internet time in. This evening I will take a train for the first time- it was an early start this morning, so I'm already tired and can't wait to just arrive and get settled in.

I will get more photos up soon, but until then...instagram. :)

Chill Time

Its a common misconception that "traveling" is a "vacation".
This is false.

Vacations are when you leave your regular routine to rest and relax, forget your everyday worries, and basically not stress about the day-to-day problems of life.

Traveling means you are willfully placing yourself in different, often stressful, situations daily, where nothing is familiar to you and you must constantly absorb new information and problem solve things that at home you would never even think twice about. For instance, how to ask what a bottle of water costs...when there is no price label, and the clerk speaks a diffeent language. And then figuring out which of your bills you need to produce, and how much change you should be getting, when the currency is completely strange to you and in denominations of 1000's.

Besides the usual challenges of budget restrictions, city and transit navigation, and finding a places to sleep, eat, and sightsee, there are the differences of culture and language to figure out.

On top of all this, for the last week or so I have been visiting two major cities with really depressing histories: Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Ho Chi Ming City (Saigon), Vietnam. I couldn't NOT visit their museums on the Khmer Rouge and the Vietnam War, repectively. I'm glad I went, but they were quite depressing, and I left feeling sickened and heavy-hearted.

Deciding it was time for a "vacation" during my travels, I caught a bus to the seaside resort town of Mui Ne, and booked into one of the few available hostels. It turned out to be not my usual digs- its got a beautiful pool, clean bathrooms, comfortable single beds, hot showers, and a restaurant/bar with a 12-hour-long "happy hour"! The hip, modern vibe runs contrary to the falling-apart, cheapest-bed-on-the-block, grungy backpacker dives I've been enjoying for most of the trip.

But for right now, its perfect. I spent today burning on the beach, swimming in the sea, eating and drinking at the hostel, and catching up on online stuff. I didn't worry about getting all the sightseeing in, or meeting people (though I did hang out in the morning), or finding the cheapest authentic roadside foods. I even had a nap, and I haven't spoken to anyone since after 2pm.

Its been exceptionally restful.
I'm looking forward to repeating the performance tomorrow...

Siem Reap!

Sorry for the long hiatus on blogging! Its been a busy week!
Last Friday I said goodbye to all my new friends at the Fatima Center. It was bittersweet, since I felt like I was beginning to find my place there and could have done more to contribute if I'd planned to stay longer, but I was also excited to say goodbye to Bangkok and begin my travels across the rest of SE Asia!

Angkor Wat at Sunrise

Satrday morning I left bright and early and boarded my bus for Siem Reap Cambodia. I was fortunate in my seating partner- a Californian girl the same age as I am, of Cambodian heritage. She has also been doing a fair bit of traveling this year, and we talked for a really long time and really connected. We were booked into different hostels, however, so we parted ways upon arrival.

Backing up a bit...despite being warned of scams at the border, a bunch of us definitely fell for the trickers that lay in wait. Our bus was no help. The driver likely has some kind of deal with the scammers, so he dropped us off at their office which is right outside passport control. We were told this is where we got our visas, so we paid the money, waited 20 minutes, and were given our visas, and then they started to fill out our entry forms for an additional 200 B. (approx $7). Once we realized what theye were doing, we told them we would fill out the forms on our own, and headed for passport control. After completeing that, we stepped out of the office and saw a very official looking sign that said "Visa On Arrival" for about $15 US less than we had paid. Oooooh well. Live and learn.

I stayed at the European Guesthouse in Siem Reap on the advice of my trusty Lonely Planet travel guide. While it doesn't win any awards for cleanliness, it has a nice small pool, a decent bar/restaurant, and it comes at the low, low price of $5 US/night. Having lived in treeplanting camps probably helps me get over a bit of bathroom grime!

My first morning I met  (read: nosily wormed my way into a conversation and introduced myself) a Colombian girl who was also traveling by herself. We hit it off, and decided to take a Khmer cooking class and wander around the city together, and then rent bikes to ride to Angkor Wat the next morning. I am so glad I met her, as we had a great time hanging out over the next few days, and sharing my Siem Reap experience with someone made it so enjoyable!

We got up at 4am on Monday and cycled to the temple, joined by throngs of tourists in tuk-tuks and taxis. I was a bit dismayed by the crowds of selfie-sticks, but we moved to a less-popular and populaced location to watch the sun rise and snap a few photos. It was really beautiful, though I remain a bit jealous of those who had the opportunity to see the magical area before it became such a tourist hotspot.

The rest of the day was spent wandering through the main temples, riding our bikes in the hot sun, and snacking on dried mango and salted cashews we had bought cheaply at the market the day before.

On the way home, we missed a turn and ended up way off track, out towards the airport! It made for a VERY interesting ride back to the hostel as we were obliged to cycle along one of the busiest main roads in the city! It was quite an experience, and I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself for how calm I remained, especially as I have never been much of a bike-riding expert, and helmets literally do not exist here. Traffic patterns in Cambodia are different from anything I have seen before- they seem even more chaotic than what I saw in Cusco, Peru! So there we were, pedalling hard on a mix of pot-holed dirt roads and random brick sidewalks, while cars, motorbikes, and tuk tuks are zooming by, occasioinally honking at us to get our of their way (which I would have gladly done, had there been anywhere to go!), and then out of nowhere some random will cut directly across traffic, or just go right against the flow. Literally everyone is just going everywhere and hoping they dont get hit. I just kept my eyes wide open, and kept on pedaling!!! It was actually kind of hilarious. My friend and I were just like...what is even happening right now....

Needless to say, we survived, and it is something I will never forget!

Yesterday we took it easy, swam in the pool, did some skyping and facebooking, went to the market, ate some spicy frog stirfy and then delicious ginger and black sesame ice cream, stuck our feet in a tank of fish that ate our feet, and visited the night market with some new aquaintances! It was a fun, relaxing day, and a nice finale to my Siem Reap visit.

Evidently my feet have more to offer....

This morning I hopped on another bus for my next destination, but that's another story for another day!

L'expérience de la province Canadienne française

Yes, I am Canadian, and no I don't speak French. Yes I know, Canada is officially bilingual, but let's be honest here. It's really only important if you live in Quebec or hold a government job. Its definitely not that important for residents of BC, which is on the opposite side of the country. However, its really helpful to know the language if you happen to be a BC resident visiting the officially francophone province of Quebec. It was literally like entering a different country. I couldn't read any of the signage as I drove us through the very confusing (and frequently one-way) streets of Montreal.

It was vital to stop for poutine in Montreal, allegedly its place of origin.

Side note: For those who for some reason have never experienced the glory of poutine, let me explain. This delectable dish is arguably the best thing that has come of out of Montreal (I jest...I think). Start with a bed of hot, crisp, salty french fries, top with smooth, creamy cheese curds, and smother with gravy. It is glorious; a truly genius culinary creation that will tantalize your tastebuds, and send your brain to place of fat and sodium induced euphoria.
Of course, most gravies contain a significant amount of wheat to achieve a good consistency, so unfortunately I had to pass on the Montreal poutine experience. But I ate it vicariously, and this story has a happy ending which you will read about in a later post. 

I actually really enjoyed visiting Montreal, because it felt very European. Grand cathedrals, cobblestone streets, and great food. Unfortunately our time there was short, and it dumped rain the whole time. That didn't stop us from exploring the city on foot for an afternoon, though. 

It was neat to see some distinctly Canadian sights with a French-Canadian take, such as The Bay department store. 

My inner (sometimes well hidden) history nerd was dying to get my hands on a travel guide so I could look up the buildings we were seeing and read about the history behind them all. However, it was pouring rain, so it probably would have been ruined anyway. 

The amount of rain we endured was really quite ridiculous. It was like being attacked by a garden hose. I discovered that wearing a rain jacket is really not that helpful if you're not also wearing rainproof pants. All the rain just runs right off the coat onto the rest of you. I can't remember the last time I walked around downtown literally soaked to my skin. But that day, it happened. 

Fortunately, when we visited Old Quebec City we had really lovely weather. It was sunny, it was hot, and the tourists were out in full force. 

It was also one of those traveling days. When tempers are short, everyone is sleep-deprived, traffic is bad, and walking around historic buildings sounds like a lot of work, so all you really end up doing is eating at an over-priced (albeit still very tasty) eatery, snapping a couple obligatory photos because you have to prove you actually made it there, and then falling asleep on a park bench. No, but actually.

So my lasting memory of Quebec City was that it was cool to look at, but if I were to return to Quebec I would probably just head back to Montreal because it had way more personality. 

Quebec was also one of the two places that we did not have a host to stay with, so I really feel like we missed out on a bit of the authentic French Canadian experience. Oh well...maybe I'll go there again someday! 

Salzburg: Bad Day 2.0

Poor Salzburg.
I really don't think it deserves the hatred Brit and I have lavished on it since our visit. It was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, ya know?

The beginning of this ill-fated visit was extreme disappointment.
I had made plans for us to stay in České Budějovice with a couple of Czech friends for two nights before hitting up Prague. I knew them from my stint working at Strathcona Park Lodge, and was very excited to see them again after a couple years, and get the city tour from the locals!

Unfortunately, through a series of last-minute panicky events and miscommunications, it was discovered that this arrangement was not going to work and we were unable to stay with them or see them at all. Hence, the disappointment.

Salzburg became the substitute that really wasn't going to make it up for me. We scrambled to find a hostel there (I believe we ended up at YoHo International Youth Hostel, which turned out to be a nice place) and arrived on perhaps the rainiest weekend of the year.
Let is also be noted that Let's Go: Europe 2011 does not even mention Salzburg. Not once. Ridiculous, I say!

I would like to state that I did try not to wallow in disappointment. I tried to enjoy the moment. It was a struggle at times, but there are some moments that I can look back on and think, ya that was nice. And there are a lot of things I can look back on and say, that really sucked, but it sure is funny to laugh about now!

Knowing that our time in Salzburg was relatively short, we wanted to see as much as possible and pay as little as possible. We considered several tours including the Sound of Judy tour, in which a lady would show us different parts if the city involved in the filming of The Sound of Music, but sing every word instead of simply speaking. I was sorely tempted, but it was decided that we would probably be the only 2 tourists on the tour, and that might be just a little too awkward...

After dumping our stuff at our hostel, we rented bikes and struck out on our own with a free city map. Brit is a marvelous cyclist and rides her bike around our home town all the time. I on the other hand have never been particularly gifted with balance, and I am extremely uncomfortable riding a bike on the street. I told Brit she would have to be in front and go very slowly.

This worked out quite well except for the time we had to go through a narrow tunnel that was also quite steep and packed with traffic. I was terrified for my life. Emerging on the other side, however, was the charming Residenz Square & Fountain. Brit loved the Sound of Music, while I professed disdain for it.

Brit re-enacting a musical scene.

We continued our self-guided tour and saw a lot of different locations from the film (Brit had to point them out to me). By this time it was beginning to rain with a vengeance. We were becoming quite damp and tired from hours of walking and biking. Our map was soggy, blurred, and torn.

Our sodden map.

We decided to head back to the hostel. And...we got lost. Not like, oh I think we missed a turn...like, I have no &!#%$ idea where we are. Ironically, while I was the moody one to begin with, this turn of events because quite funny to me because Brit became increasingly frustrated (I know, I'm mean).

Yes! The stage behind her is where the Von Trapp family sang their farewell song!
(we were not supposed to be down there)

I think we even stopped for directions once, and became more confused than before. I don't know how we got back, but we did. It took a really long time. Once we could see the hostel in the distance, Brit said she needed to ride a bit longer to cool down. She confessed later that she hasn't been that angry in a long time! I'm just glad she was angry at Salzburg and not me!

We were both exhausted that night, but things began to look up after hot showers, a much-needed load of laundry, journal time, and the hostel's complimentary screening of The Sound of Music.
Now I like that movie...go figure.

Hostel Review: Easy Palace Station Hotel

Easy Palace Station Hotel, now known as Smart Stay Hostel
Munich, Germany

Photo credit: here

Where we heard about it: I believe I found it through hostelbookers.com

What sealed the deal: Relatively cheap, central, and close to the train station.

First impressions: Looked very hole-in-the-wall, but the receptionist was extremely welcoming and helpful!

Photo credit: here

What we paid: honestly...I have no idea. I remember thinking it was cheap. I didn't write it down, and I can't find my old receipts. This is the downside to waiting 2 years before writing about your trip.

What we liked: Again, the ol' memory is getting a little fuzzy here...I am pretty sure there was free wi-fi, optional breakfast for a small extra fee, free storage for our bags (though we felt safe enough that we just left our stuff in our room), comfortable beds, very central location- literally 1 minute from the train station, close to a grocery store and pretty much anything a backpacker needs. Friendly staff, relatively clean rooms, drinks and some food served in the downstairs lounge area...it was very chill, quiet, and comfortable.
Also a plus was the British couple we shared a dorm room with (Hi Ben & Ellie! If by some chance you happen to read this and you are coming to BC, give me a shout, I'd love to share a drink with you guys again!).

What we didn't like: The stairs were a bit brutal, but that is nitpicking. I don't remember being dissatisfied with anything here.

Photo credit: here

Internet availability: I think there was a computer you could use for a small fee, and I am pretty sure we got free Wi-Fi...but I don't really remember. Erk. This review is not turning out to be very helpful.

Would we stay there again: I really enjoyed my stay. However upon investigating The Easy Palace, I discovered it has since undergone some intense renovations! It is now called The Smart Stay Hostel, and looks very fancy schmancy! The hole-in-the-wall, run-down creakiness that I thought gave it personality seems to have been replaced by a sleek and modern design. There are loads of new amenities, and it looks like it may also have expanded. I am sure it is still a wonderful place...my only concern is that the price now reflects the shiny chrome hardware.

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The current prices can be found at http://station.smart-stay.de/

Hostel Review: Ostello Venezia

Ostello Venezia
Venice, Italy

Where we heard about it: Our travel guide (Let's Go: Europe 2011) promised great value, an array of facilities, and helpful staff. I suppose it was probably the most economical choice. As for the rest of it...

What sealed the deal: I wept many bitter tears trying to find us a sweet hostel in Venice. I think there was some kind of event happening in town on the days we were there because there was literally NO vacancy anywhere else in our price range. I booked this simply because it was the only thing available. 

First impressions: Large, impersonal, and not particularly secure, though we didn't feel unsafe. 

What we paid: It was dirt cheap. The book says 22 EUR, but I think we actually paid less than that...something like 19EUR for a large all-female dorm room. I think the cheapest place we stayed the whole trip. 

What we liked: The hostel is located right on the water, which has beautiful views of the city. Breakfast was included, and I think there was decent variety. It was cheap. 

What we didn't like: At the risk of sounding whiny, we just plain did not enjoy this hostel. I'm kind of torn about complaining about it, because I believe you get what you pay for, and we did not pay very much for our room here. However, in the interest of educating those who will follow after us...Ostello di Venezia was dirty (especially the bathrooms), insecure (there are lockers, but really, theft would not be a hard thing to accomplish in this place...also, though it said 'female only', there were definitely males bunking in our dorm, and it was easy to go from room to room), the staff were unfriendly and unhelpful, the internet system was confusing and kind of a rip-off, and it was a very large facility which means GROUPS. School groups, bus groups, etc. These groups are no fun to share a hostel with, especially when they are annoying, hyper, spoiled highschoolers. The other thing that made this hostel not-so-great was that you needed to take the vaprettos (water-taxis) to get anywhere, and that was a real hassle. 

Internet availability: 3 EUR would get you an hour on the computer, or 12 hrs on your own device. I think. I wasn't very good at figuring out their system.

Would we stay there again: If I could do it over again, I would've booked a better hostel earlier, instead of ending up at this place. That being said...it was cheap. If I was in a bind, I could stay here for a few nights. 

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The current prices can be found at http://www.hostelvenice.org/

Hostel Review: Ostello San Frediano

Ostello San Frediano
Lucca, Italy

Where we heard about it: For once, our travel guide (Let's Go: Europe 2011) offered us a decent budget hostel!

What sealed the deal: it was the only youth hostel in town! That, and it was super cheap!

First impressions: Incredibly hard to find when you are not familiar with the town at all! The hostel did not offer any directions, they simply said, "We are 200 meters from the train station" (lies!). Needless to say, we were wandering for a very long time!

What we paid: I believe it was something like 20 EURO/night for a 8 bedroom female-only dorm, with private lockers. I don't have records of it because they only take cash! But I do remember that it was cheap :)

The church part of the convent still operates. You can hear the bells toll  :)

What we liked: The hostel was HUGE and kind of cool! It used to be a convent back in the day, and it still seems a bit quiet and empty. Staff were generally middle-aged, easy-going and friendly in their own way. It kind of felt like a small hotel. There was lots of seating areas, and a garden. There were a couple breakfast options available in the morning. We always chose the 3 EURO coffee with bread and jam. The coffees were amazing!!! The dorms were large and clean, with roomy lockers and comfy beds. Overall, it was a very pleasant place to stay.

What we didn't like: There were only 2 bathrooms for the entire wing we stayed in. It was simply not enough for all the people! It meant a lot of waiting, and very little showering privacy! That, and they got dirty really fast. The locks on the doors were very difficult to work, and it was impossible to go in and out quietly. The long hallway to our dorm was not lit at night, so you kind of had to do a zombie-walk to find the door at night!

Internet availability: There was free WIFI (at least I think it was free...I don't remember to be honest), and some kind of terminal by the door I couldn't figure out that was not free.

Would we stay there again: Sure! For that price I can definitely put up with all the nit-picky stuff!

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The current prices can be found at www.ostellolucca.it

Hostel Review: Ostello Gallo D'oro

Ostello Gallo D'oro
Florence, Italy

Photo credit: www.ostellogallodoro.it

Where we heard about it: The ever-faithful hostelbookers.com! It was a toss-up between this and a few others, but in the end we chose this one based on price. I was nervous about it (as usual), and was second guessing our decision right up until we walked into the actual hostel.

What sealed the deal: Excellent value for money. We were only planning on staying one night in Florence, so we didn't feel like we had to worry too much about whether or not we liked our hostel...we just wanted a cheap place to crash.

First Impressions: Well! Let me tell you a little story...
Two haggard backpackers walked off their first night train experience at 8AM on a warm June morning in the wondrous city of Florence, and pulled out the directions to their hostel. The instructions were mostly clear, except street names could be a bit tricky to find and orientating ourselves from the train station was hard. Luckily Brit is a master navigator and got us on the right trail. We wandered through the narrow streets and ended up at a large business-y looking building. But there on the plaque it said, "Ostello Gallo D'oro", so we knew we must be in the right place. I was feeling a bit apprehensive. It had seemed like a long walk, and now here we were at a commercial office building!
After poking our heads into a few empty echoing hallways, and rereading our directions, we found the right door, and rang the buzzer. We hoped they would let us sign in, even though it was only 8:30AM, and technically it said new guests had to register at 4pm...

Photo credit: www.ostellogallodoro.it

The moment the door opened, we were overwhelmed. An enthusiastic (to put it lightly) and very friendly Italian man named Max greeted us warmly, begged us to put our bags down, and asked a few quick questions. When we told him we had just come off the train from Paris, he was so sympathetic! He told us not to worry about any paperwork right now, "just sit down and have some breakfast!". There was a great cold breakfast buffet with fresh fruit, cereals, yogurts, and all sorts of goodies, and then an equally friendly staff member, Tomas, made us delicious cappuccinos! All for free....our frugal travelling hearts were happy!

photo credit: www.ostellogallodoro.it

After we were refreshed, Tomas told us our room was not available quite yet, but we could leave our bags in their secure storage closet, use the washrooms, and access the computers. He also gave us the low-down on where to go and what to see in the city...we got a free map and he circled everything of interest!
So to sum it all up, I would say our first impressions of this hostel were extremely positive!

What we paid: (high season) 25 EURO/$36.49, 5 bed female-only dorm, ensuite bathroom, personal lockers.

photo credit: www.ostellogallodoro.it

What we liked: FREE breakfast (lots of variety), FREE internet, great super-friendly service, clean rooms, generally quiet, respectful but fun atmosphere, a puzzle table, kitchen access, lots of travel info and brochures, an all-around great place! We heard from another traveler in Venice that stayed at the same place on a weekend that they do fabulous FREE brunches on the weekends!

What we didn't like: the location was not the best available in Florence, and I don't know that I would be comfortable walking there after dark, but for us it was just fine, and everything else was so great that it didn't matter.

photo credit: www.ostellogallodoro.it

Internet Availability: FREE to use 2 computers in the hallway, with USB ports (hooray for uploading pictures!), and Wi-Fi codes too. It was never super busy, and I was able to spend a lot of time on the computer without feeling bad :)

Would we stay there again: Absolutely! I would stay for longer even. Just from checking out some of the pictures and collages hanging on the wall, it looks like university students can board there as well, and it has a very homey, relaxed feeling. I really enjoyed this place, and it might be my favorite hostel of the trip!

Ps. Google translates the name as "Hostel Golden Cockerel"...haha...

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The prices are shown as recorded on my bank statement, circa June 2011. 

Hostel Review: Citotel Le Bretagne**

Citotel Le Bretagne**
Rennes, France

Where we heard about it: I'm not quite sure. I think Brit just came across it on some website, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't hostelbookers.com.

What sealed the deal: Close proximity to the Rennes train station.

First impressions: WOW. They weren't kidding when they said it was close. Literally across the street.

What we paid: the first night was 23.51 EURO/$35 (we figured it must be some kind of weekend special), the second night was 36.65EURO/$53.99. Both were private double beds, with ensuite.

What we liked: The location was so close and convenient to both the train and bus stations, it was perfect for us, since we were using Rennes as a base to daytrip to Mt. Saint Michel. The staff were extremely friendly, even though they spoke next to no English! They certainly made the effort, and were very patient with us. Our first night we stayed in a beautiful room that seemed like it had been recently renovated. Breakfast was available for 7.50EUR (we didn't take them up on it).

What we didn't like: We were very confused about our rooms changing on the second night, if there was internet available, breakfast, etc and it was hard to communicate this to the staff. The second room was quite a lot older and more dated, and somehow I don't think there was anyone moving into our first room. I still don't know why we had to move!

Internet Availability: I think we did have free WiFi but I can't remember. The website says there is WiFi and Internet Access, so we'll go with that.

Would we stay there again? 
Ya, but I'd ask for the nice room we had the first night!


Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The prices were those recorded on my bank statement, circa June 2011.

Hostel Review: The Ideal Hotel**

The Ideal Hotel**
Paris, France

Photo Credit: www.idealhotelparis.com

Where we heard about it: www.hostelbookers.com, after scrambling for 1/2 hour trying to find something remotely within our budget that had vacancy!

What sealed the deal: Vacancy! Not costing me my firstborn child!

First impressions: A little character-less and small, but clean and quiet.

What we paid: (high season) 44 EURO/$66 CAD each, private 2xTwin Room.

Photo Credit: www.idealhotelparis.com

What we liked: After our overwhelming and exhausting day of trying to find a place to stay, sight-seeing, lugging our bags across the city, it was so nice to crash in a quiet room all our own! We even had our own bathroom that came with towels and soap (oh the luxury)! The beds were comfortable, we had a nice view out of our window (which we kept open for the breeze...still no A/C), and the staff were professional, if not especially friendly (maybe that's a Paris thing?). It was literally a 2 minute walk from the Metro station, and 15 minutes from the Eiffel tower (no directions necessary...just step out the door and walk in the direction of the big spire). The neighborhood was quiet, business-y, and felt safe for 2 girls and a small monkey to be walking around after dark. Breakfast was decent, with more variety than your general hostel fare.

What we didn't like: We only booked this place because there was nowhere else to go...it was more than we had budgeted for accommodations, so we did resent that a little. I prefer places with more personality, myself, and in more central locations. Besides the tower, there wasn't really anything else of interest very close by. The room was tiny. Breakfast cost 7 EURO/$10.50 CAD, which we didn't know until we had eaten... oops.

Photo Credit: www.idealhotelparis.com

Internet Availability: There is a computer terminal in the lobby. I never figured out how to use it, and I'm not sure if you have to pay for it. Free Wi-Fi available!

Would we stay there again?
In a similar situation, yeah I would. All in all, it was adequate, and probably decent value for money considering the going rates, but I have a feeling Paris has much more to offer.

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The prices were recorded in my travel journal, and the Canadian conversion was based on 1 EURO = 1.5 CAD, which is a rough estimate of what it was at while we were travelling in June 2011. 

Hostel Review: Le Regent Montemarte

Le Regent Montemarte
Paris, France

Photo Credit: www.leregent.com

Where we heard about it: www.hostelbookers.com (Let's Go: Europe! was not helpful in finding budget accommodations in Paris)

What sealed the deal: proximity to Gare Du Nord station

First Impressions: Cool old building, popular spot for young travelers, very interesting neighborhood

What We Paid: (high season) 39.95 EURO/$59.92 CAD Ensuite, Female-Only, 4 Bed Dorm

Photo Credit: www.leregent.com

What We Liked: Le Regent was a sweet old building with character, in a pretty nifty location. The Metro was very close, but there were a few landmarks that were walkable as well. There were lots of interesting places to eat nearby, and also a few grocery stores.
The rooms themselves were nothing fancy, but were secure (keycards) and the ensuite bathroom was clean.
Staff spoke decent English, and though they could never be accused of being enthusiastic about hosteling, they got the job done in a professional manner.
The FREE Luggage Room was very convenient, and they even let us keep our bags there after we'd checked out of our room. FREE Breakfast and WiFi is always nice!

What We Didn't Like: Sound traveled like crazy, especially since our only window faced inwards (there was like a hole in the middle of the building) towards other guests' windows! It was SO HOT and there was no AC, so you had to leave the window open for air flow, but our loud neighbors were not very considerate. Bring earplugs! Its the only thing that saved me from serious sleep deprivation.
Also, the coffee in the morning was absolutely abysmal....but that is nitpicking :)

Photo Credit: www.leregent.com

Internet Availability: 1 EURO/$1.50 CAD per 15 min, 1.5 EURO/$2.25 CAD per 30 min, 2.5 EURO/$3.75 CAD per hour. FREE WiFi. Internet only works in the small reception area.

Would We Stay There Again?
Yes! There might be "better" hostels out there, but this one was pretty good. Book well in advance. We only booked for one night, and there was no availability when we tried to get in for the rest of our stay in Paris.

Disclaimer: this is not a paid advertisement! The opinions expressed here belong only to Regis and I. The prices were found at www.leregent.com, and the Canadian conversion was based on 1 EURO = 1.5 CAD, which is a rough estimate of what it was at while we were travelling in June 2011. 

Booking Ahead vs. Wingin' It

I am not really an experienced traveler.
When I was 15, I went to Guatemala with a large group, and basically all the planning was done for me.
When I was 20, I went to Ireland for nearly a year, one month of which was spent actually backpacking. In that instance, I researched bus routes, and toted along "Let's Go: Ireland!" for ideas on where to stay/eat and what to do. I made a few arrangements to stay with friends along the way, but other than that, I booked nothing ahead. In the end it didn't matter because it was early in the season (June), and while Ireland IS a tourist destination, it doesn't get quite as busy as other places in Europe.

The Big Backpacking Adventure of 2011 is 3 weeks away, and I've been getting nervous. If you don't already know where I'm going, I won't spoil the surprise for you. I will say that it is going to be different from Ireland in that I'm anticipating the tourist hordes will be much more intense.

The advice I received was to book at least the first hostel I'm staying in, so that I wouldn't get off the plane and have to find a place when I was all jet-lagged. Makes sense to me, so I did.
Then, as I looked into things, it seemed like a lot of places were already(!) filling up. In fact, in one city I am unfortunately visiting on the weekend, there seemed to be zero availability at all! I'm guessing this has to do with a festival or concert or something that must be going on during the same dates, but it was a very scary and frustration-filled day when I decided I needed to book that place in advance! (When I thought I had finally found the Hostel O' Dreams, it actually filled up before my eyes....)

After that experience, I kind of snapped. Suddenly it was of paramount importance to book everything I possibly could, before I landed on foreign ground.

Hostelbookers.com has no idea who I am,
but I have used their site a lot over the past weeks, and I find them very useful.

However, my travel bud has gently reminded me that we do want some flexibility (we weren't going to book anything ahead, originally...), so I'm trying to restrain myself from booking anything more, at the moment.

Have you ever been traveling? What time of year did you go? How important was it to you to book ahead, and how did that work out in the end?

Travel advice and stories are highly encouraged here at RBF....