1. Maps of the nearby tourist spots.
The city centres, the landmarks, the museums, the monuments. Alright, no visitor to Paris ever had trouble tracking down the Eiffel Tower, but what else is there to see in that area? Getting lost in an unfamiliar place can be a fun experience, but sooner or later you're going to want to know where on earth you are, and where everything else is.
2. Maps of the surrounding area.
Youth hostels are very rarely right in the middle of the action; instead, they're tucked away on a sidestreet or in a suburb, often a bus or train ride away. You're going to want to get to know the area quickly - good restaurants, post offices, cashpoints, bus stops, and all those basic, essential locations.
3. Directions.
Directions to everywhere, at all times of day or night. Train timetables and bus schedules are just the start - even better are specific guides on where and how to catch these vehicles. Idiot-proofed, if possible. I have seen hostels make their own train station pictures guides with a Polaroid camera, complete with annotated arrows to make losing your way practically impossible.
4. Computers.
The more the better. Wi-fi is an especially welcome bonus. You'll want to be able to look things up, to best plan how to spend your time. Also, true, you're on holiday, exploring a place you've probably never been to before - but Facebook won't check itself!
5. Knowledgeable staff.
Insider knowledge is very useful. When you want to find somewhere cool to go for a drink, it can get a bit depressing to have to resort to aimlessly wandering the streets. It's infinitely better to get a friendly point in the the right direction.
6. Bar/lounge.
After a long day's exploring, sometimes you just want to sit back, possibly with a can of something cold, relax, and share your experiences. Social areas like this are good places to swap advice, find travel/drinking buddies, reminisce, or just meet people.
7. Events.
Youth Hostel events can (or possibly should) cover local culture, from crafts to cooking. More importantly though, they should just be ways for the guests to socialise. Youth Hostels aren't hotels, everyone can be friends. At any one of them is a large percentage of solo travellers, all dying to find people to trade stories with.
Map Moose, by the way, does some of this stuff too. We've got maps that you can download, which should hopefully mean you can spend less time figuring out where places are and more time actually visiting them! |
