Beijing Youth Hostel

Guest post from Monica Wong, author of A Pair of Panties and Boxers

Hutongs in Beijing are slowly becoming a thing of the past. But there are nooks and crannies that shed light to the old school way of life. If you’re looking for insights on the lives of the locals, you will find it in the daily interactions of the people living in hutongs.

The Far East International Youth Hostel is the perfect place to integrate into the local customs and lifestyle. Their accommodations are geared towards budget travelers. To score additional discounts, you can:

• Show them your student ID and ask for a student discount
• Offer to pay in cash if they could lower the rates
• Ask if they have lower rates for an extended stay

Complimentary breakfast is served daily at the café next door. Across the road is a mini mart that has everything at a super cheap price. The hostel is a 10-15 minute walk away from Tiananmen Square, two blocks away from the He Ping Men subway station and a short walking distance from the Beijing railway station.

The hostel includes a traditional courtyard and an entertainment center complete with:

• flat screen TVs
• surround sound
• multiple shelves of the latest movies
• Internet access
• a pool table
• a dart board.

There are multiple ways to get to the hostel via public transportation. However, many taxi drivers have a difficult time finding the hostel. Many drivers migrated from poor rural areas in search of work. As a result, they are not familiar with the smaller roads and alley ways that lead into the hutongs. I’d recommend taking bus #9 or the subway at the Beijing railway station to He Ping Man station. From there, the hostel is only two blocks away.

For additional information, you can contact the hostel below.

• Far East International Youth Hostel
• 90 Tie Shu Xie Jie
• 010-5195-8811
• http://www.fareastyh.com
• courtyard@vip.sohu.com

FAR EAST INTL YOUTH HOSTEL – BEIJING, CHINA is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here

HABITAT HOSTELS, Singapore’s only boutique flashpackers hostel, is the best choice for budget travelers looking for an environment of personal service, pampered luxury and chic furnishings, coupled with an excellent location.

Fully air-conditioned rooms feature pod dorms (following the Japanese pod-style capsule idea) which provide backpackers with unparalleled privacy and personal space. The pod is self-enclosed while remaining spacious, and features its own reading light and a small ledge for personal items.

Personal services that includes regular social activities, games, outings, and in-house themed parties (Popiah party, anyone?) serve as an excellent icebreaker amongst guests at the hostel.

Habitat Hostel is housed in a 3-storey pre-war shophouse with a charming Chinese Baroque façade. They are the only hostel strategically located at Devonshire Road, just a short 2-minute walk to Orchard Road – Singapore’s epicenter for premium shopping and entertainment. Habitat Hostel is a stone’s throw away from Orchard Road and Somerset MRT stations, giving travelers easy access to the city, yet remaining far enough away to provide peace and quiet. Its rich heritage, charming ambiance, and relaxing atmosphere makes this the perfect location for a boutique hostel concept.

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HABITAT HOSTEL – SINGAPORE is a post from: Lay Your Head Here

© 2009-2010 Lay Your Head Here