Cost and character

I was in Europe for a few months and the idea of staying in a monastery guest house had a fascinating spiritual aura about it. And not just because the budget. In fact the cost had little to do with the desire. It was more about authentic character and immersion in history, as well as the wish to be a momentary part of a long tradition, even going into the chapel to experience the music and the silence, and the deep sense of prayer and tradition. Read more

The idea of volunteering in another country has long been considered the province of students and recent graduates; images of intrepid twenty-year-old Peace Corps workers in a remote Sierra Leone village might spring to mind. Today, however, the idea has reached far beyond that to become accessible, and highly popular, among travelers of all types and ages. Volunteer travel has grown so popular that a term has even been coined for it: Voluntourism. Read more

Mark Baldwin saw the potential to match cash strapped travelers with people who need a hand and has set up Helpandhost.net Read more

Hostel Bookers are paying attention to women travellers on a budget through putting together information especially for women:

• about travel for in different countries
• Where are the Hottest Men – results of a survey
• Hostel Bookers blog posts about women and travel
• Results of survey of Women Travellers Read more