October 2010 Marks my One Year Anniversary to Celebrate when I traveled last year to Spain and Amsterdam by myself. Even though I have not had an opportunity to go abroad again. I plan to go back and visit Amsterdam and stay at the same Hostel I visited last year. That is if they will let me stay! The Video below reflects my inner Diva  going abroad:  DeeNice, The Hostel Virgin Traveler.

Last evening, I had a wonderful chat on Facebook with Lulu from Indonesia. She is an English Teacher. We discuss creating an exchange program for adults so we could visit each others countries. I went on Kayak.com to check the fares. It would costs between $1300 and $1700 RT (roundtrip).

So now I need to find out what are the various inexpensive ways to travel to far out countries would be. But we both liked the idea of traveling to each others countries. Could be a new great adventure.

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Here is a new one I was not familiar with  called  SKYAUCTION.  It allows you to  bid on airfares (kinda like Ebay), hotels, vacations etc.

Kayak is a great website for travel because if incorporates all the popular travel websites like Priceline, Travelosity, Expedia etc. all at one site! Ease of use is the ticket!

It has taken about 2 weeks for me to settle back into the Washington DC routine, I had before leaving on October 14, 2009. As I reflect on my trip, it was a life-altering change for me. One I am most grateful for.

Now my goal is to take another step into the work of back-packing travel. Haven’t the slightess idea on how or what to do -just that I want to do this.

The group that I participated with were 20 Anglos (English-Speaking) and 20 Spaniards. The English speakers came from Australia, Britain, Wales, Canada, South Africa and America. We all bounded well together. The Spaniards, well it was a love feast for me. More on this later.

HOSTELS n.
1. A supervised, inexpensive lodging place for travelers, especially young travelers.
2. An inn; a hotel.
intr.v., -teled, -tel·ing, -tels.
To stay at hostels while traveling.

Oh My Gawd!

What in the hecky-wecky happened today! And how did I become the Hostel Virgin? O.K. let me not get too ahead of myself. Breathe DeeNice…

Here is the story. I had been conversing with a few folks at the English Immersion Program last week after completing my program in Spain – and they shared about their good and inexpensive travel experiences at Hostels for lodging purposes.

One of the main reasons I wanted to blog my first maiden journey traveling abroad…alone…for the first time in my life, is to encourage other folks (especially the ladies) old and young to Go Global – like my mentor Rita Golden Gelman.

So, even though I had a short flight layover in Amsterdam, Holland from 11pm Sunday to 1pm Monday.  I knew I would be tired and needed a place to lay my head, but not for 100 Euros. So I thought, “Well, let me try the hostel scene at Amsterdam Hostels.”   So early that (Sunday) morning I went online to http://www.Hostels.com and found several in the area. Now for those of you new to Hostels, they are basically rooms for travelers that are private or shared. The prices are great; the accommodations are quaint, small, yet functional, and for the most part, clean.

I found this one Hostel Orfeo, Leidsekruisstraat 14, Amsterdam for $24 dollars. They had several accommodation options, but I thought I requested the private room where we shared a bathroom.

I flew into the Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. And BTW, it is a gorgeous airport – glass and brass, and even though I came in at 11pm the eating sites, clubs, etc. were open and active.

I felt less nervous as I cautiously walker through the terminal, because all the airport signs were in English – who knew? I flew in on KLM Airlines; the airline attendants were so cordial and warm. I started to drop my City-Girl (Washington DC Native)  guard and relax a bit into my new adventure.

I had two pieces of luggage, so I decided to allow the airline to keep the one that was going through baggage, and keep my carry-on with me. This way I wouldn’t have to haul two suitcases and my backpack purse. Well this seemed to be working out well so far…yeah…so far, right.

The cab took me 15 miles for 42 Euros – “Got Dag-git” – I could catch a train to Philly,PA from DC for that much money. Remember, the US dollar is .67 cents to one Euro. Now you have to get the picture….It is pitch dark out because we set our clocks back one hour right? And I had never been in Amsterdam so…When the cab driver announced that he would have to posthumously drop me off three blocks from where I needed to be, and that I would have to walk down this very dark, weird,  alley-lookin’ street alone with my bags – it did not go over too well. What the “ham sandwich” is going on?  Guess you can see I am trying NOT to curse. When charged the 42 Euros for the excursion trip, it made me retrieve my “DC City-Gurl” demeanor. And those of you who know me well know that look I get with my “pretty brown eyes” when I ain’t feeling the sit-chi-a-tion (situation).

Gritting my teeth, I thanked him for his help. Grabbed my little beat-up purple suitcase and galloped down the dark cobbled-stoned, brown road. Even Judy Garland wouldn’t try this one.

But, this is why I need to travel more, to get out of the familiar surroundings of my City-Girl-sheltered life in America and be more flexible, open, adventurist. A thought for a quick minute, “hmmm, did I bring my switchblade and nunchucks with me?”  Oh no, they would never pass security. I muddled on.

Looking at the buildings on Leidsekruisstraat Street…42, 40, 38…Well, I must be walking in the right direction; the numbers are going down. A strong aroma of grass (marijuana) came from every direction; it’s legal in Amsterdam. I breathe deeply. A-ha! Found 14 Leidsekruisstraat – Hotel Orfeo. There were two men outside, very nice. I rang the bell and thought, “Thank You Jesus, I made it here, now I can get in my room and go to bed.”

The Hostel Virgin Arises

The front desk guy was nice, took my information and then gave me the key. And here is when things got dicey. He then announced, “You will be sharing a room with three men.” I said, “Excuse me, what did you say???”

He said, “We are full and you will have to share the SAME room with three other men.” What the? – Hell to the NO! All the DC-isms came out of my mouth – “Sir, I will not sleep in the same room with three men I do not know. That is not going to happen.” He said, “But you reserved the room.” “Yes,” I interrupted, “I reserved a room to SHARE A BATHROOM only.” He said, “But we are full.” I said, “Too bad, I will not share a room with three men.” He asked me had I been to a Hostel before, I said no, but when I reserved this on the internet, I specifically did not reserve a mixed room. (At least I don’t think I did)  He finally said, “Well, you can have the private room but it will cost 60 Euros. And you have to pay cash only.” Well I had spent more than planned with the cab so I was short on cash, and they did not take credit cards. So I had to go walk about three blocks at 12 midnight through the narrow brown streets to an ATM – oh Heck this is getting my dander up. All my Christian training (almost) flew right out the window. Thank goodness Amsterdam is extremely safe at night. Probably because everybody is high!

Took 60 Euros back to the front desk guy. And then he said, “I need another 10 Euros for a key deposit.” I looked straight at him and said, “And you tell me this now, after I walked out there and back.”

And then I decided, “Well, maybe a little humor would defuse the sit-chi-a-tion.” So I said, “You know I am a Hostel Virgin.” He laughed…thank goodness. Then he decided to reduce my private room to 40 Euros.

So now we are connecting – now we are gettin’ somewhere. Just let me get to my bed. So he gives me the key to room 17 – and then tells me – it’s on the top floor – four stories up, which I had to walk. At this point, I didn’t care, heck I just finished working in a village in Spain in the mountains, I can handle this, and even if I couldn’t it was time to get settled.

So here I am – the location is good to the area, and the front desk guy recommended I take the train back to the airport; it’s cheaper and easier. Good Advice. The front desk guy also loaned me his power converter so I could recharge my cell phone, so I could set the alarm. I planned to get up early to walk around.

Oh, there were some cool things I noticed while cabbing to the Hostel. Will share them in the morning.

So This is DeeNice,

The Hostel Virgin

signing off.