Returning home to Scotland, I spent two years as Deputy Manager of a large Edinburgh Hostel. During this time, I built the website hibackpacker.com which brought a 40% increase in email enquiries - a clear demonstration of the important part the internet plays in the hospitality industry.
After two trips to South America, it was clear that many of the smaller, locally run hostels and tour companies were at a massive disadvantage in having no web presence. Seeing a gap in the market, I decided my next trip to Latin America would be one to make a difference - as such, the project of HostelTrail.com was born.
Working in hostels both in South America and at home has been a great experience, allowing me to understand more about people, languages and of course the hostelling industry. This project has been a great way to combine what I have learned, both travelling and working, to help others make the most of South America - as travellers or from the business point of view. It's a great way to share first-hand information and advice with like-minded travellers and an excellent way for local businesses to get their name out there!
Katinka is an eager budget traveller from Holland who, after graduating from university, has explored the sights of South-East Asia, Oceania and Central America and has now begun her journey through the South American content. She plans to spend several months here helping to improve the Southern sections of HostelTrail.com.
Daphne is an Italian student in Communication and Marketing, with a passion for
backpacking, foreign languages, and writing. She has been an exchange student
in the USA, Mexico, Denmark, France, and has volunteered in several European
organisations. Taking a break just before graduating to discover South America,
she looks forward to contributing to HostelTrail as she travels from Buenos Aires
to “the end of the world”.
Andrew and Chloe both hail from Devon in the South West of England. Having studied Modern Languages, Fine Art and Photography, they have embarked upon a 7-month journey through the Americas; beginning in Seattle in November 2009, travelling through Central and South America and finishing in Buenos Aires in July 2010.
Through their previous travel experiences in Europe, Russia and Asia, they realised there was a need for more information for budget-minded travellers, in particular access to smaller, independent businesses. Therefore writing for HostelTrail not only combines their interests in language and photography, it gives them an ideal opportunity to help others following in their footsteps.
Alicia, a professional photographer, and James, a freelance writer, are traveling from Panama to Mexico. Their style of travel is decidedly slow and independent. They are never in a hurry to leave and enjoy giving a place time to unfold and reveal its hidden gems. A passion for surfing and all things eco, strongly influences their travel choices.
James and Alicia have visited over 35 countries and lived in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and Fiji. They can total up eight years on the road; one and a half of those years have been spent traveling together.
Since meeting in a crowded Oxford pub several years back, Andrew and Anthony have set about exploring the remotest and most inaccessible corners of the world together, following brief interludes in the legal and actuarial professions. Since that time Anthony and Andrew have travelled together to Morocco, the Lake District, the South of France (twice), Hong Kong and Borneo. Currently the duo are in South America and have kindly offered to lend their assistance in adding new hostels and tour companies to the website from Ecuador southwards.
Rosie and Ryan are both from Devon, England and are about to embark on a trip from Panama through Central America to Mexico City. Having benefited from personal recommendations and advice of fellow travellers the pair thought it was about time they shared some thier own tips via the HostelTrail site!
Before coming to South and Central America the couple spent time travelling around Europe, North Africa and India and the aim for the last few years has been to get Latin America. Always keen to explore the outdoors and get involved in adventure activities, Rosie and Ryan plan to hike, bike and chicken-bus their way through Central America!
Born and raised in the midwestern United States, Travis inherited the will to travel from his parents, who spent much of the 60s and 70s wandering Latin America, cooking rice and beans over a campfire and sleeping on beaches. Trained as a biologist, Travis has given himself over to his love of Latin American culture and literature and set out to trace the footsteps of his favorite authors through Central America and Mexico, writing and reading along the way. He looks forward to sharing these experiences with HostelTrail.com.
Will, a journalist and Stacey, a drugs worker, are both originally from County Durham, England but quit their jobs, rented out their house and sold their possessions to travel Latin America for nine months.
They were attracted to the area by a love of food, culture, photography and outdoor pursuits. That said, they are on a tight budget so recognise the importance of making sure wherever you stay and whatever you do, you are comfortable, safe and having fun - all for a good price.
Before hopping across the Atlantic, the pair had spent time travelling the world both individually and together.
Pha joins the HostelTrail team in Southern Colombia where she'll update the Colombia section before moving south and tackling some of the likes of Argentina, Brazil and Chile. A people-watcher with incurable wanderlust, Pha hopes to bring fresh anecdotes and practical information to our readers.
Pha is a freelance writer from California. Her work has appeared in International Living Magazine, Salon.com, the San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and New America Media.
