Visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget

Visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget

{For Famous Hostels, January 2017}

With a reputation for beautiful people, designer interiors and an expensive bar scene, Scandinavia can intimidate backpackers – but don’t be afraid – there’s plenty of cool stuff to do if you’re visiting Scandinavia on a backpacker budget!

Scandinavia on a budget

If you’re yearning to see the wonders of Scandinavia then you don’t have to bring your own beers and live off pickled herrings – there is another way! Despite being pricier than their European neighbours, these icy countries have warm hearts and plenty of places that are budget friendly. We went in search of bicycles, saunas, ABBA looking people and trolls (the good kind…)

Visiting Copenhagen, Denmark

The Danish capital is as good looking as the people, with colourful houses lining the harbours, a cobbled old town and plenty of bicycles and boats. There’s something for everyone here whether you’re into palaces, a hippy alternative scene, partying or wooded parks. There are even beaches – yes beaches – easily accessible on the metro line (packed in summer but a little bit cold in winter). Copenhagen is a city that also offers some tranquility and nature near the city center as well as late night Tuborgs (the local beer that’s not Carlsberg).

Although the main sites, such as Tivoli Gardens from summer to Christmas, are expensive to pay for entrances, there are plenty of free museums and galleries, as well as cool places to walk and see, such as the ‘alternative’ neighborhood, or ‘free state’, of Christiania. 

The main attraction here was the hippy settlement / marijuana smoking / artist community that has lived here since the 70’s, enjoying the lakeside setting and relaxed drug laws to create a community. The harbor area is also worth walking around – the most popular tourist draw is the picture perfect Nyhavn (New Harbor) where the houses are particularly brightly coloured and have formed the backdrop for movies such as The Danish Girl. Many of the key buildings such as the opera house and palaces can be seen from the waterfront too – get on your bike!

Read the whole article here at Famous Hostels

5 Alternative Things to do in Barcelona

5 Alternative Things to do in Barcelona

Everyone loves this lively Catalan capital! Barcelona is a party city but complete with beaches, mountains, arts, architecture, culture and lots of tapas. Beyond the Ramblas and towering peaks of Sagrada Familia there are plenty of treasures to find. Here's our list for Equity Point Hostels.
With a reputation for partying and avant garde architecture, Barcelona has plenty of sights and sounds to pull the crowds, whether it’s music festivals, art or beach life. There are also a huge number of bars, restaurant and cafes to enjoy the culinary delights, so when you’ve ticked everything of your list of ‘things to do in Barcelona’, then check out our 5 alternative things to do!

Romantic Weekend in London on a Budget

Romantic Weekend in London on a Budget

London has a reputation as an expensive city, but there is plenty happening around town that is free, and lots of great options of places to eat and drink on a budget. If you're heading here for a romantic weekend, you might be surprised how many great things there are to do. Here are our top ten things to do on a Romantic weekend in London on a budget.

Check out our post for Equity Point Hostels here

10 Tips for a Romantic Weekend in Marrakech

This Moroccan city is full of charm, from romantic rooftop restaurants to camel rides in the desert. Enjoy some Arabian Nights with our top 10 tips for a romantic weekend in Marrakech.

Find our post on the Equity Point blog here

Eating and Drinking in Girona

Eating and Drinking in Girona

If you're looking to head to Girona then check out our recommendations of where to eat and drink in Girona on a budget, from the famous cafe Fabrica to typical tapas.

Here's the post we created for Equity Point Hostel, Girona

http://www.equity-point.com/blogs/equity-point/eating-and-drinking-in-girona/

Top 10 Things To Do In Lisbon

Top 10 Things To Do In Lisbon

Article for Equity Point Hostels

"From the best viewpoints in this charming historic capital, to the tastiest cakes, check out our recommendations for the top 10 things to do in Lisbon.

One of Europe’s most spectacular cities, the Portuguese capital is filled with charming hilly streets and beautifully facaded buildings, tumbling down to the sea from the city’s seven hills. With a wealth of historical monuments and tempting cafes with sea views, grab a map and set out to discover the city’s treasures."

Read more here

www.equity-point.com/blogs

What To Do In Girona This Summer

What To Do In Girona This Summer

Article for Equity Point

"This historic Catalan city of Girona is famous for its beautiful old town, riverside views and Costa Brava coast, but it’s also known as the City of Festivals. Girona is a great place to experience the Catalan culture and they love to party! Find out the best things to see and do with our recommendations of what to do in Girona this summer." - Read more here

www.equity-point.com/blogs

Why Staying in a Hostel is Best

Check out our article on Copenhagen Downtown Hostel's Blog - Why Staying in a Hostel is the Best way to Travel on a Budget
For those who think that hostels are something from a horror movie, here's why the new 'poshtels' are taking business away from hotels.
http://www.copenhagendowntown.com/blog/why-staying-in-hostels-is-the-best

London for Free - what to see in the cool capital

Check out our latest blog article for clients Equity Point - London for Free

Top tips for backpackers visiting London who want to make the best of it without spending a penny!
From free museums and galleries to the best markets and parks. Visit the Equity Point blog to read the article here www.equity-point.com/blogs/

Copenhagen Downtown Becomes a Hostel Geek 5 Star Hostel

Hostel Doctor is pleased to announce that client Copenhagen Downtown has been chosen as a Hostel Geek 5 Star Hostel.

After a competitive application, Copenhagen Downtown is now officially recommended as the best place to stay, rated on criteria such as Designer, Great Staff, Sustainable & Eco-friendly, Unique Character and Sociable! Check out our profile on hostelgeeks.com

We are proud to say that Copenhagen Downtown has been selected as the only 5 Star Hostel of choice for Copenhagen, according to Hostel Geeks website.

Hostel Geeks choose hostels around the world that they rate as the best in that location for recommending - this is done on the following tough criteria:

1. Sustainable & Eco-Friendly
2. Excellent Design
3. Unique Character
4. Social Vibes
5. Best Staff

Find out more at hostelgeeks.com

Copenhagen Downtown Launches New Bar and Creative Space

Launch of ‘Copenhagen Down Under’


Copenhagen Downtown is pleased to announce they are expanding their award-winning hostel. The number one hostel in Denmark and Europe’s Famous Hostel member is about to increase its current offering with a 300m2 new bar, Copenhagen Down Under.

Firmly on the backpacker map as the place to go, the new Copenhagen Down Under bar will provide a unique new space that will be a curious and authentic ‘must go’ experience for backpackers. This underground creative space will provide an atmosphere to stimulate and excite. The concept is to create a place for new experiences – exchanges, ideas, with the influence and creative input of travelers from more than 80 countries.

The new Copenhagen Down Under space is in addition to the existing lively bar and chill out area, taking the total space to 600msq; the largest in any hostel in Copenhagen. This means even more room for guests and locals to experience something unique to this hostel. It will have dedicated space for live music, pool tables, a lounge area and a 12m long bar, one of the longest in Copenhagen.

Excited about the 1^st May 2015 opening night party, featuring free champagne, live music, djs and more, Bar & Events Manager Luca Marson said “This will be a unique space showcasing upcoming talent with live bands, DJs and performance artists. It will be something very different to other places in Copenhagen, and the opening party will be a night to remember.”

The concept of the new exciting space has been created by Danish design gurus ArtRebels together with architects SpaceLab. Both companies have provided concepts for the look and design of the hostel space so expect more cool Scandinavian design but with an underground influence.

To find out more about the hostel or awards see www.copenhagendowntown.com

Generator Hostels open their Paris debut

Generator Hostel now open in Paris.  The latest mega hostel to open in Paris is Generator, following the lead of St Christopher's Inn's success, in Gard du Nord.
What they say: "In the emerging district of the 10^th Arrondissement, a one-time derelict office block is being transformed into a chic array of private terrace wielding private rooms and stylish rooms to share."
Find out more about the newest hostel in town here: http://generatorhostels.com/en/destinations/paris/#read-more

10 Tips for Stress Free Travel

Firstly, do you want a break from the normal routine of life? If so, then don’t approach it the same way as you do at home. Planning, organising, technology, friendships and rushing around can all be exhausting. If you want to take a break from the norm, then simplify things.


1. Chose your Companions Wisely
Hitting the open road, whether to relax or seek thrills, is a big adventure and naturally you want to share this with friends. However who you travel with is a key part of the experience and good friends aren’t necessarily good travel companion. You need to be able to tolerate them for intense periods of time (and likewise) and have the same aspirations as to how and where you’ll travel, or you’ll find yourself sneaking out in the middle of the night and boarding the next bus out of there.

2. Go it Alone
A favourite of mine for long trips that are going to be life-changing is to travel solo. It offers you a chance to explore ‘you’ for a while, so maybe go it alone and find out how good it is to be just you. You’ll always meet people along the way (whether you like it or not) and if transient or friends for life, these people will make up a part of your travelling experience just as friends from home would.

3. Pack Less
Do you really need every travel gadget out there? Simplify your luggage with a few key items of clothing and essentials. It will hurt less if it all gets lost too. I love the feel of books and swapping along the way, but a Kindle is a great way to pack all your reading needs. Likewise if you want to take a mobile phone with you, a smartphone that can be used for photo snaps, emailing home, booking ahead and using travel apps is ideal. Keep it simple – less to worry about means more time enjoying where you are!

4. Go with the Flow
I love planning trips, I love reading about the places, culture, history, and trawling through maps of where I want to go. Then I just go. Not with any plans, but just with an idea of sites and what highlights I don’t want to miss. I still always pack a guide book because I like to thumb through it, but the rest is a surprise. If you have a tight schedule or are meeting up with people, then check transport isn’t a weekly affair, but don’t get bogged down in booking every night in advance.

5. But Don’t Get Caught Out
If you’re travelling in peak season or want to be in certain places on certain dates, then book ahead to guarantee. Now the whole world is obsessed with online bookings, those people have forced a situation where no rooms are held for ‘walk ins’ – or people just arriving without warning – the old fashioned way. If you want to stay somewhere decent and it’s peak season or during a festival, you’ll only guarantee your desired accommodation by booking in advance. If you like an adventure, wing it!

6. Enjoy the Moment
Don’t be the person who doesn’t see anything because your camera is fixed to your face, or you spent all your time on your hostel wifi telling everyone on facebook what you were ‘experiencing’. Cut loose the technology and open your eyes and ears to what’s actually around you. Other people are more likely to want to talk to you too!

7. Speak the language
Or at least play the guitar. Locals appreciate you making an attempt at their language, and it’s only polite to learn the minimum. It’s also useful to be able to communicate. If you’re not good at languages, learn the guitar. Bought us a meal in India once, and you’ll definitely pick up some hippy girls along the way as a bonus.

8. Trust your instincts
If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Dodgy men, alleys, drug dealers, cops and food are all best avoided. You’ll thank yourself, the worse that can happen by playing it safe is you mildy offend someone, walk the long way or go without lunch. The other way and you’re in a world of pain.

9. Get Insurance
The downside of traveling (and life in general) is that shit happens. You can easily be drugged, robbed, fall out a tree-house, or leave all your stuff on the roof of a bus. Having done all of these, I’m an advocat of buying ‘peace of mind'; because when you need it, you really really need it.

10. Enjoy it! Don’t force it.
If you arrive at your destination and find yourself feeling disappointed, overwhelmed or even unsafe, then move on. You can always come back another time. Pushing boundaries should be more about trying water-skiing than fear and loathing. And not everywhere is exciting and welcoming either – it’s not just you.

Freehand plans Chicago hostel

Following the success of cool design hostel Freehand Miami, the company sets their sites on Chicago and Los Angeles.

The new hostel concepts, developed by the New York-based Sydell Group, plan to open Chicago in 2015 and Los Angeles is currently under construction. The company claims that unlike Freehand Miami, the Chicago sister hostel will be aimed at more business companies.

Find out more here:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-freehand-hostel-1125-biz-20141124-story.html

Top 10 Travel Apps from Huffpost

What are the best travel apps?  Here's a list of the top 10 you need to travel c/o #huffingtonpost
From Google Maps to Shazam, read the article here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/chloe-gunning/10-apps-every-traveller-n_b_6068570.html?utm_hp_ref=tw #apps #travel #traveladvice

Top 5 Tips for Marketing with Facebook

Having trouble attracting the right audience on Facebook? Try these 5 tips to help market your business

Facebook is moving towards just being an advertising tool, and as such they're developing functions and models that help marketeers. Here are some of the ways to maximise your Facebook marketing.


1. Make a New Product and Boost it Announcement

Despite all the fake accounts on Facebook - boosting posts is still relatively effective as you will stay in the Newsfeed for longer. Use this for announcements, not advertisements - by keeping it to news you don't turn people off.


2. Make use of Your Newsfeed

How often do you look at pages? Most people on Facebook interact via the newsfeed - this is where the shares and likes are won from. Avoid writing updates that require people to go to your page and leave the newsfeed, such as entering a competition. Try using ActionSprout to allow someone to sign, join, enter from the newsfeed itself.

3. Customise your Marketing to your Audience

You can target your marketing on Facebook and reach specific fans. One such tip is using the 'Custom Audience' option, especially if you post in multiple languages. You can also customise it to people who have visited your website, so know your users and set a different marketing message for them. Essentially you're getting to know your market better and targeting them based on what they are looking at.


4. Don't Run the Same Adverts

To make the most of your advertising efforts and maximise your budget - run a trial of adverts and use different keywords for each. Use only a small portion of your budget and find out which adverts have the best engagement. It may sound a hit and miss way to find your return on investment, but split testing gives the best results to find exactly what segments of the market your reaching and with which keywords.


5. Use Audience Insights

These measuring functions are there to help you and should be used! Take advantage of the insights and check when your users are most active - times of day, where and what they're looking at. This should make you better equipped to target your audience so use this as a tool and engage with them.


For more suggestions on how to market your business check out www.hosteldoctor.com

Best Hostel Views according to Instagram

Want a Room with a View?

Instagram has put together a list of 30 of the best hostels with a view worth visiting for!

Has your hostel got the best views in town and didn't get a mention? We think Equity Point in Marrakech has got a great roof top view and deserves a mention!

http://www.thehostelworker.com/30-hostels-with-a-view-according-to-instagram/

Top 5 Tips for Branding your new Twitter profile

Top 5 Tips for branding on Twitter's new Profile

Twitter's much hyped new desktop look has arrived, and with it, the expected shift to more visuals and the opportunity for better branding exposure. For those not already using the new design, all profiles will be switched by May 28th. This new look profile means companies can take advantage of the prime real estate with increased corporate messaging and imagery, creating a more dynamic profile. Follow our top tips on how to make the most of your new profile.


1.The cover photo and profile picture

The new increase visual look includes a big header image, similar to Facebook, but so far without the rules on promotions. Not only can you update this with relevant brand messages, it also doesn't have to be one image with the opportunity to create a collage of images within the 1500x500 pixels dimensions. Make sure you are able to tell the story of your brand with this visual marketing space, and keep your cover image fresh. Also make sure your increased profile picture size is updated with a 400x400 pix image.


2.Using Multimedia

The increased prominence of multimedia tweets (and on the left side and right side of your profile page) means you can manipulate your tweets to stand out more in the feed. Use the opportunity for presenting photos, promotions and video messaging also, especially useful for blogs and articles. Beware that everyone else will be doing this so quality images and messaging only - if you flood your followers' news feed with branding messages it's likely to encourage them to unfollow you.


3. Pinning and prominence

With your column of tweets now comprising 50% of your page width, there is still the emphasis on your actually tweets. Still limited to 140 characters, the type is now double the font size, so can you get your message across visually while keeping it short. You can also now 'pin to the top', as with other social sites, meaning you can chose your most important branding message to stay at the top of your profile. When thinking about which one to use here - you can also chose a tweet that received a lot of engagement, even if it's an old one, or chose to swap it with another message as it starts to lose engagement. The sizing of favourited or retweeted tweets means that your page will 'shout' out the messages that have received the most engagement, so check through that existing ones are the ones you want to stand out.


4. Your 'Favourites' and 'Lists'

This function has been used to date in various ways - some people use it to bookmark or archive articles or tweets of interest to read later, others favourite to show appreciation or thank for retweets. Now the 'favourite' option is publicly displayed, so others can check through what you've favourited. You might want to check that these are all on-brand and nothing is there that shouldn't be. 'Lists' are also more  prominent, so check the lists you have, and the lists your featured on.


5. Who you follow

Twitter now adds who you've followed recently through your profile page feed, so check who you've added recently as it's now part of your public profile. As with all online profiles, make sure you regularly check through what is publicly visible and that your brand messaging is clear.

Will more changes take place? With Twitter rapidly losing share value and posting huge losses this April, watch this space.

If you would like to more about social media, check out our website at www.hosteldoctor.com

Top 5 Tips for Using Pinterest for your Hostel

Pinterest is a way to virtually 'pin' or bookmark images and videos of interest to a board in your Pinterest account. For businesses it's a great way to create boards to showcase your product, but also to get images from your website and blog shared by other users for free. It's a great platform for the travel industry as it appeals to people as a way to collect ideas together and places to visit, engage with other users to promote your hostel.


1. Make your account a Pinterest business page

Make sure you use Pinterest as a way to represent your business not just for fun. It only takes a few minutes to set up a business page and means you can access analytics and metrics to find out users, repins and impressions. This means you can quickly analyse which types of images are engaging or appeal most. Then focus your pinning on your audience.


2. Use 'Place Pins'

Pinterest introduced 'Place Pins' in 2013 which is specifically to allow people to plan vacations. There are almost 100 million of these now being used! There's also an iPhone app to pin on-the-go. The place pins are simple to use - just add a map and drop pins with the address and telephone number. You can even create a board of your location with recommended tourist sites and restaurants ready to share with people heading to your destination. Check out Air bnb's 'Loved in Paris' board as an example of how to do it! http://www.pinterest.com/airbnb/loved-by-parisians/


3. Use all your assets

Pin all your photos but also any maps and blog images too. Make sure you add proper descriptions with hash tags and alt tags incorporated and urls where applicable, and that your website images are named for search engines, such as 'xyzhostel-Paris-bar', so when they're shared it has the correct information. You can tag people to pins too using @. If you work with a charity add a board for your photos with them and the activities you work on together. You can even add old pictures showing the history of your brand to create a story board.


4. Add a 'On Hover pin' to your web, blog and social media images

This encourages people to 'pin' an image whenever they hover their mouse over it - a great 'call to action' in marketing terms. Obviously this won't work on touch screens but is an effective way to encourage re-pinning. (Pinterest has instructions of how to do this)


5. Interact with other users

As with other social media sites, engaging with users is key. There is space to comment or converse with people pinning your pins, and equally respond to comments directed to you. Find out what boards people are placing you in, for example 'Paris Vacation Inspiration' and engage with your audience. You can also seek out influential pinners and write messages to them, for example people with the same target audience. Make sure you follow competitors and similar businesses to find out their latest news. You can also create Group Boards and invite users to collaborate (you have to be following each other to invite them).

And make sure you link to your Facebook and Twitter accounts!

Check out other hostel pages to find out what friends are doing, and see what works for you.
Good Luck!

For more advice see the Hostel Health Tips on www.hosteldoctor.com

Social Media Marketing Tips for Hostels

Research shows that 51% of people are likely to book somewhere their friends have enjoyed. And the place they talk about this? Social networks.  Don’t underestimate how important your reputation online is – so follow our tips to keep your hostel profile healthy!

Make sure you use platforms that connect with your market and brand. A facebook page and Twitter feed are great multimedia platforms for interacting with your potential customers visually and creating shares. Facebook visitors spend an average of 20 minutes online each day, and Instagram users spend twice as much time as those on Twitter. Google offers great search and has a range of applications from Maps to Google +



Synchronise
Don’t become overwhelmed - you can synchronise most accounts and focus on your quality of content not just posting to keep up. Creating a schedule is helpful if you have events to promote and showcase.

Interact
Social networks are about being social, and everyone can see them. Interact with your users, connect with potential customers, respond to requests and posts, if someone asks for advice on your page, don’t ignore it!

Keep if fresh
Keep your page exciting and engaging. Use social networks for promotions, news and events. Post pictures and videos that are relevant to your hostel, ultimately you want people to share your posts. Don’t post every day, post when you have something to say.

Use Multimedia
Your post is 39% more likely to engage users if it’s visual, so make the most of showcasing your product with photos and videos. Adding your name to your photos will promote you when shared too.

Check out our blog for advice on Facebook shares, how to use Pinterest, Google+ and top tips for Instagram and Twitter.