I'm just 50 (and retired) and meet the same criteria. I stayed at the YHA in Seattle this last weekend (and had a free night coupon, saving $29). I've never got caught up in hotel programs, splitting my money between priceline and hostels- just depends where I end up and what's available. There's plenty of different forums to discuss the hotel chains, but not a single one that focuses on hostels/backpacking. I'd like to see one

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=461400

Here's a thread asking specifically about hostels. In that thread you see evidence that he was confused where to post, and his dismay over having posted in the wrong forum.

Personally, I have had to substitute my need for hostel information off-site because I was worried that my posts would be inappropriate. I've been going to www.bootsnall.com

If flyertalk holds the position that they don't address that type of travel discussion and backpacking discussion is better conducted off-site, then I understand, but if this topic is welcome I feel that it could much more easily be conducted in its own forum.

I have no doubts it would be wildly successful, and probably even attract more visitors.

On 25 Aug 2005, the Talkboard voted 6-3 in favor of recommending the establishment of a 'Budget Travel Forum' for the purpose of discussing low-cost travel (hostels, pensiones, camping, bus and train transport, LCCs, charter flights, inexpensive restaurants, etc.)

Voting for: attorney28, Dovster, kempis, Spiff, Starwood Lurker, wharvey

Voting against: gleff, missydarlin, ScottC

The results and the recommendation have been passed on to Randy's people to act upon.

Sincerely,


William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services

[email protected]

^ ^ ^

Living in the future, Spiff?

Always!

As Dovster said in another thread, I would also encourage Flyertalk members to examine candidates' voting records when making their own voting decisions in the upcoming TalkBoard elections later this year (not saying this out of personal interest, as my term will not be up yet).

Spiff, as always, is forward-looking.

I, generally, am not.

But let me make an exception here and look into what could be the future for this forum.

Although I think it was an excellent idea and supported it very strongly, I can see two ways for it to fail and wind up being removed from FlyerTalk.

The first is for it not to get much traffic. If it doesn't get at least 100 threads started in the first year after it opens it faces a bleak future. (Indeed, TalkBoard may be reviewing all forums with this in mind.)

The other is for it to get the wrong kind of traffic. TalkBoard did not vote to create this forum in order to have it go into competition with existing ones. If you find a good price at a Hilton, post it in the Hilton forum. If a major airline makes a freakish mistake and is offering JFK-CDG for $9 this is not the place to discuss it -- take it to Mileage Run.

This is the forum to discuss ongoing ways of getting travel in at rock bottom prices. If you found a good charter airline, talk about it. If you know of a restaurant in Tel Aviv when you can fill up for $5 let the rest of the posters know. (And if you want to know where to find one -- ask.)

Good experiences with hostels? Fill us in. Bad ones? Tell us that, too.

There are places in Rhodes where you can rent cars for pennies and in Turkey where motorscooters are available. You don't have to fly from Israel to Greece, you can take a boat. In Italy, a pensione is often the lowest priced accomodation and sometimes the most comfortable.

Restaurants in Paris can be budget-breakers but you can afford a good meal each day in a brasserie and some delicious snacks in sandwich shops.

If you are going to school, a student ID card can save you a lot of money.

Share the info you have and ask for the info you need. It also will help if you build up a camaraderie by sharing stories of your experiences -- both good and bad.

Lastly, many of you have friends who are backpackers. Let them know about FlyerTalk and this forum. The more the merrier -- and it will help make the Budget Travel Forum a permanent F/T institution.

Thanks! This will be a great asset.

can I moderate it? I'll PM randy

WAHOO!! democracy lives! thanks everyone for the votes. I think this new forum will be a hit, and attract more ft'ers. now only if i could moderate. hmmm. anywho, thanks again looking forward to reading it.

Sweet!!

Thanks for all who voted for this forum. I think this will be a valuable addition to the FT community.