The Hosteller - my experience with Hostels in India on a solo road trip

The Hosteller - my experience with Hostels in India

For a woman to go on a solo drive from Himachal Pradesh to Kerala is in itself a challenge in India, adding to it is the burden of finding decent stops on the highway. But my spiritual being believes that someone out there is watching me and guiding me on my adventurous journey on the planet. Just when I was planning the route and the trip, I received a message in my inbox for a collaboration with The Hosteller - India's most preferred backpacker hostel chain. I chalked out a convenient route for the season and planned strategic breaks at three of The Hosteller destinations falling on my way. For the first time I was gonna experience the hostel culture in India, which has picked up really well lately. 

The Hosteller Brand - #GetUpGo

​Flexibility and comfort of booking budget hostels for travel

Just the sheer comfort of having a place booked for me while I'm focused on my drive and the route, was such a relief on my mind! When the stays are not heavy on the pocket, it is always easier to book in advance and not worry about cancellations in case you can't make it for any reason. Or trusting a brand for its chain of hostels makes it easier for walk-in bookings as well. The Hosteller and other hostel chains in India are making an effort to build their brand value for the backpackers traveling in India.

The Hosteller Udaipur - room

​The wave of change in the Travel Industry in India

​Over the years, the travel Industry has seen and adapted to many changes in the way people travel and it is constantly evolving to accommodate travellers of different kinds. I've seen travel transforming from business only travel, corporate travel, family travel, resort based travel to adventure travel and backpacking. While I had exposed myself to backpacking many years back and had my own share of experiences with  international hostels, I felt glad to see the hostels transforming the way people travel in India. They are encouraging backpackers with impromptu travel plans & travels without any plan.

Solo Road Trip from Manali To Kochi

Hostels for safety of women travellers

All the women travellers I met in The Hosteller had a common feeling of safety while staying in hostels on their travels. When they get to meet other solo women travellers in the hostels, they overcome their fears. I've been used to traveling solo in remote places, but I always evaluate the risk I take. Hostels are the safest bet in any case.

The Hosteller - India's most preferred backpacker hostel chain

Technology transforming life in the travel industry

The moment I checked in to my room at The Hosteller - Udaipur, I was pleased to see room services being ordered from a QR code on mobile, which meant lesser agony for the staff, more transparency and better efficiency of services to the customers.
​What a way to justify my existence as a techie and a traveller!! 
​I'm always, always keen on understanding how technology transforms life for the user. We have already been a witness to technology revolutionising travel with Online Travel Bookings.

The Hosteller - services on QR code

The Hosteller - order services on mobile

Transformation of common spaces to interactive spaces

​I just love the way hostels have changed the concept of common spaces in the properties. We have seen common spaces in hotels being used for events or performances or judging other travellers. The common spaces in hostels create such a casual vibe, where strangers interact and indulge into activities with others without any awkwardness. On my stopover at The Hosteller - Lonavala, I met travellers, backpackers, solo travellers, bikers, hikers from different cities, traveling in different directions but with one thing in common - each one had interesting stories and learnings to share. The way they played games together and ordered food together, no one could tell that they had met for the first time, only to wake up early the next morning to bid good-byes!

The Hosteller says - Find people on the same wavelength

The Hosteller - Find people on the same wavelength

​Workations in hostels

Work from home that came along with covid has transformed a lot of common spaces to workations!

The Hosteller - Workations

Finding positivity in the casual vibes of the hostel culture

My experience at The Hosteller - Coorg was at a different level. Apart from the awesome property,  another factor that brought a lot of positivity in this hostel was the staff!
The head chef comes with a lot of experience working with a range of hotels in India. He cooks really delicious dishes with patience and has groomed the kitchen staff with so much maturity, that I couldn't stop appreciating his adaptability with the young crowd. He comes from the elder lot.
The cafe manager has experienced working with one of the largest coffee shop chains in India. The helper staff in kitchen comes from Uttarakhand with his own local experiences in the industry. 
The front office manager was very helpful in accommodating all the guest requests, and the hostel manager handled all the experiences & activities really well. I also got to overhear one of their regular training sessions with the brand.
They all had worked with the mainstream hospitality industry and moved to The Hosteller for better exposure. They functioned as a team and I appreciate this spirit!

The Hosteller Coorg Mini - Front Office

​While there is a huge scope of improvement in standards for the hostels in India, the casual vibes of the hostels are bringing out more flexibility and adaptability in the Millenials & Gen-Zs, customers & staff inclusive. They are learning to share the planet with others without any prejudices.

Am I again hopeful for a better future??

The Hosteller: https://www.thehosteller.com

Instagram: @thehosteller