Hostel Interviews

Languages
France Italy Germany Spain

Melody Riedy

  1. Current Age?
    45

  2. Nationality
    USA

  3. Where do you live now?
    USA

  4. When it comes to travel accommodation (but leaving out crashing with friends, family or people you meet on the road), how often do you stay in hostels?
    This was my first time hosteling

  5. Where have you hosteled?
    Europe

  6. Would you stay in a hostel again on future trips?
    Yes

  7. Why or why not?
    The price and location was right, the people who worked there were wonderfully friendly.

  8. Out of all your experiences hosteling, what was your:
    • Best Moment
      Getting an egg at breakfast!

    • Worst Moment
      When we knocked over a lamp at 6 am and broke it trying to check out quietly.

    • Biggest Hurdle, Obstacle or Difficulty?
      Absolutely none!! Was wonderful!

    • Biggest surprise?
      That "private bathroom facilities" does not always mean that the bathroom is in "your" room :)

  9. Do you ever book any of your hostel accommodation in advance?
    Sometimes

  10. Why or why not?
    This was my first time and we planned only a portion of our trip in advance. We weren't sure what we were going to do at the latter part of our trip.

  11. Who is the most memorable person you met in a hostel and why?
    Luciano Roto at the B&B Roto in Venice. He was so pleasant and friendly. Offered us a cup of coffee or tea the minute we walked in the door and took us on a tour of his facility. He was wonderfully kind.

  12. Why do you stay in hostels, as opposed to other types of accommodation?
    We chose hostels because we were on a limited budget. We wanted a safe place to stay. Frills were not important to us.

  13. Is there a hostel you'd recommend to other travelers? If so, what is it and where?
    B&B Roto, Venice, Italy

  14. What is the biggest myth people have about hostels and hosteling?
    That you have to be "young" to stay in them.

  15. Why do you like to travel?
    I love meeting people from all over the world and learning about how they live and about their culture. Making new friends, and hopefully having others see a good display of Americans so we won't be hated so much. Show them that we are appreciative of all walks of life and that we are good people.

  16. What is your advice for other travelers wanting to stay in hostels?
    Be kind to everyone you meet and more appreciative of travelers in your own country. We are all people who want to learn in peace. We should all be instruments of that peace. Make a friend whereever you go.