Cool prizes for backpackers in the ‘Adventures in Hostelling’ writing contest
June 26th, 2008 by The Backpackers Team
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA the ‘Adventures in Hostelling Writing Contest‘ is looking for real-life stories from backpackers like you…
“In a nutshell, we’re seeking really short (150-250 words), personal stories from travelers about their experiences hostelling. Stories can be funny, serious, romantic, touching…as long as they’re true. The winners will be chosen by a jury made up of professional travel writers and other travel industry folks, and will receive great prizes, including round-trip international airfare and Flip Video cameras! “
What they’re looking for is “real-life anecdotes that help to illustrate the range of broadening experiences made possible through hostelling” – you know the kind… tales of meeting memorable people, encountering new cultures or fresh perspectives, embarking on unforeseen adventures, making a life-altering decision, or any other hostel experience that had an impact on your life.
To sweeten the pot, there are some pretty awesome prizes:
- One Grand Prize winner will receive a voucher for round-trip, international travel on American Airlines.
- Three Jury Prize winners will each receive a Flip Video camera.
- Honorable Mention winners will each receive a one-year Hostelling International membership.
So, get those typing fingers tapping and enter online here. Deadline for entries is 15 July 2008. Good luck!
Posted in Competitions & Giveaways, Hostels
June 27, 2008 at 8:06 am
Why does every great hostel story begin and end in Amsterdam? Perhaps we all become kids in a candy shop: they have the best art, most beautiful cityscape, oh yeah, and a few available hallucinatory drugs. I found myself there on Queens Day, the national holiday, and woke up to pulsating techno music from boats on the canals, stumbled around long enough to figure out what was going on, and met, no joke, a beautiful asian go-go dancer named Ellis Dee who game me half a joint and spent the entire day filling audio tape meant for journalistic artist interviews with house music. After 20 hours of stomping around the streets, I had the best sleep of my life in the 6 bunk hostel. Ahhhhhh.
Boy, I hope I win the prize. Anyway….FAcebook is def. the best way to stay in touch and follow the lives of the amazing people you meet in hostels. Since I love rolling the dice for prizes, I am currently hooked on teh Facebook app. The Life Changing Box which functions like hot potato-if you are ‘touching’ a box while it opens, you win its prize! They are giving out trips to nyc to see the yankees! I am doing pr for them right now so have given it a full test of approval. Let me know what you think
July 19, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Nice contest! My husband is definitely the better writer of the two of us. I’ll have to tell him about it!
Especially since we take off on 09-30-08 to backpack and explore the world for a year or so. visit nomad backpackers.com
We will be visiting tons of hostels and he could write some good stories.
And Chessia…who knows they could begin and end in Amsterdam?