Kelly

Edinburgh’s Budget Backpackers is more than anything an awesome location in an awesome city. You don’t even have to take one step from the hostel’s door to get one of the best views of the famous castle and you can even see it from some common room windows. And being close to the castle by all means involves being close to everything you’d like to see and do in Edinburgh.

The hostel itself is even better than the location. The place is huge, however, so you might have a hard time when checking in and checking out if you get a room upstairs (no lifts, either). The whole place is very stylish, colourful, and with a great atmosphere. Everything is clean, the common rooms are huge, and even have beds for watching the TV or just lying around. The kitchens are very well equipped and even include some free food, and the bathrooms are very private and look as new as they can get. The dorms, however, could be a bit more spacious. If you don’t get lucky and your room is full, you might have a hard time coordinating actions not to hit each other when getting out of bed and so on.

The place is very safe—it’s monitored by CCTV, and has a very smart entering protocol that makes it almost impossible for someone from outside to get in. Sometimes it gets stuck, though, when receptionists get too overwhelmed with work. They seem not to be enough to handle it all, so you usually have to wait for a fairly long time if you want anything else besides checking in or out.

I spent June, July, and August volunteering in the Dominican Republic with a youth-based organization, Amigos De Las Americas. I lived in a remote town for those three months, living and breathing Dominican. I spoke Spanish 24/7, and I recommend that you at least have a basic Spanish vocabulary. You may not find English speakers outside of the capital, Santo Domingo. The culture is beautiful, a complete and utter change from the United States.

Bachata and Merengue music provide the beat of your stay, and is played at every street corner, store, and house. You will learn how to do these dances while you are there, most likely. The beaches are gorgeous, and there are many good ones to choose from. My favorite is Barhona, which is gorgeously nestled in the mountains, but it is a popular tourist attraction. So if you want a beach that is more private and local, I suggest asking the locals, or people at the hotel.

As for Spanish speakers, if you are looking for stuff to do, I suggest to check out places like San Juan and Azua, which are big cities. They have basic stores, grocery, and clothing, along with anything else you need. Just know how to barter, that is all I suggest.

I would love to answer more questions if you have any! Have a great trip.

-Kelly

ps) the enclosed picture is one my friend took in Barhona.

mehh. it was okay. i went there when i was a kid, and it was cool to see how th cheese was made, and there was enough samples to feed a homeless person for years.

but other than that, it’s just okay. good ice cream.

I went here. They have a pretty cool cupcake store in the main city, and the beach is wonderful. Everyone gathers there at night time, to have a beer, play some frizbee, and watch the sunset.

I have a complete and utter fettish for Scottish accents. Hey, what can I say. When you can’t beat them, join them.

I saw pictures of this place in an article I read, The Most Beautiful Places In The World. It is the worlds largest salt flat, in Bolivia, and is 3,650 meters high. When it is covered in water, the salt reflects the sky, and if you walk on it, it looks like you are walking on water. I hear that you will be engulfed with it’s natural beauty.