Plush digs zap the old stereotypes of hostels
Scott Petersen
Province
For skiers of snowboaders on a budget, the Banff hostel affords affordable digs.
A new breed of traveller is finding his match in a new style of hostel nestled in the Rockies.
Hostelling International’s Banff Alpine Centre still fills the majority of its rooms with the youthful backpackers hostels are known for. But they’ve also branched out by providing more upscale private rooms and separated cabins, and launching programs to appeal to others who are looking to escape the city for fresh mountain air and some social buzz.
Ken Campbell, HI Banff’s general manager, has overseen the projects aimed at destroying the myth that hostels are just a haven for teenaged backpackers and bedbugs. He’s seeing the early results and thinks the best is yet to come.
“I’ve always found that our primary guest demographic is the backpacker but that group is becoming more sophisticated and a bit older,” he said.
“They’re not necessarily interested in the ’70s hostelling experience. Some are still fine with the dorms but others want more than that.”
HI Banff is graded a “superior” hostel by HI’s standards, sticking out from the others with a relaxed log-home theme and pine finishing that runs throughout both main buildings and the three cabins. The common rooms and cabins all have fireplaces and the two spacious kitchens have stainless-steel counters and are cleaned frequently by in-house staff.
Both a restaurant and bar are also on-site and become social traps where people congregate to swap travel stories, relive adventures of the day and pick up tips for future excursions.
The cabins have been an immediate hit with groups and even families. They sleep five and allow for increased privacy, with the option of getting involved in the hostel atmosphere and cooking your own meals.
Their addition seemed like a natural step to Campbell after finding the private rooms were always solidly booked.
A number of travellers liked the hostel atmosphere and the bonus of cooking their own meals, but wanted the guaranteed quiet of their own rooms at night.
© The Vancouver Province 2006
