Independent travellers or Backpackers hostels

Independent hostels are not necessarily affiliated with one of the national bodies of Hostelling International, Youth Hostel Association or any other licensing body.
The term “youth” is less often used with these properties. These unaffiliated hostels are often called “backpackers’ hostels” and can be more or less expensive. Unlike a fast food restaurant where everything is […]

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Youth Hostel - beginnings

In 1912 in Altena Castle in Germany, Richard Schirrmann created the first permanent Jugendherberge or ‘Youth Hostel’ (now a trademark of the former International Youth Hostel Federation or IYHF). These first Youth Hostels were an exponent of the ideology of the German Youth Movement to let poor, city youngsters breathe fresh air outdoors. The youths […]

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Travellers Hostels

The traditional hostel format involved dormitory style accommodation. Some newer hostels include en-suite accommodation with single, double or quad occupancy rooms. In recent years the numbers of independent and backpackers’ hostels has increased greatly to cater for the greater numbers of overland, multi-destination travellers (such as gap-year travellers, railtrippers, those on sabbaticals etc.)
The quality of […]

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Brief History

Disabled Tourism Comments (0)

Europe and United States of America share the majority of the existing companies in this niche. However, around the world many companies start to appear as the result of a growing need, pushed also by the senior tourism - a tendency verified in all developed countries due to a growing life expectancy age. Countries like Portugal, Spain, UK, Germany, France and north European countries are prepared to receive tourists in wheelchairs, as well as providing disability equipment and wheelchair accessible transport. Denmark is also one of the leading countries in wheel-chair and disabled accesibility and has been so for a long time.

admin @ March 20, 2008

Accessible Tourism

Disabled Tourism Comments (0)

In 2003 this niche represented more than 50 million disabled persons in Europe, and more than 600 million around the world. Apart from people with disabilities, seniors and those with temporary incapacities (broken leg, etc) are also part of the market dynamic. The market represents a huge opportunity with new investment opportunities and new service requirements, usually not provided by the regular travel agencies. Usual problems found by the disabled tourist when booking a holiday:

Accessible airport transfer
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
Well adapted hotel rooms
Professional staff capable of informing and advising about accessibility issues
Reliable information about a specific attraction’s accessibility (church, castle, exhibition, etc.)
Adapted toilets in restaurants and public places
Accessible restaurants, bars, etc
Inaccessible streets (cars parking in the stepwalk, etc)
Lack of disability equipment rental (wheelchairs, bath chairs, toilet raisers, electric scooters

admin @ March 20, 2008