Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Chat Forum > The HUBB PUB
Where would you open a hostel?? Where would you open a hostel??
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
The HUBB PUB Chat forum - no useful content required!

BUT the basic rules of polite and civil conduct which everyone agreed to when signing up for the HUBB, will still apply, though moderation will be a LITTLE looser than elsewhere on the HUBB.
Photo by Helmut Koch, Vivid sky with Northern Lights, Yukon, Canada

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Helmut Koch,
Camping under Northern Lights,
Yukon, Canada



Like Tree9Likes
  • 2 Post By Tony LEE
  • 3 Post By Tim Cullis
  • 1 Post By *Touring Ted*
  • 1 Post By
  • 1 Post By
  • 1 Post By

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 29 Sep 2018
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 21
Where would you open a hostel??
Hey guys so it has been on my mind for a while to open a hostel/overlander point/moto rentals

Ive traveled a lot of the world on and off a motorcycle but still never found an exact place i think i would settle in.

Any ideas guys? somewhere that is still emerging and not overly touristy yet. and where the bureaucracy wont be too much trouble
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 30 Sep 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Brunei
Posts: 935
Georgia
__________________
EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 1 Oct 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NSW Australia - but never there
Posts: 1,235
Too many of those who use hostels are so broke that I couldn't see how anyone would make any money running one.
__________________
Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 1 Oct 2018
Tim Cullis's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London and Granada Altiplano
Posts: 3,079
About a decade ago I spent a couple of years including an extended period of six weeks in the Azrou area of Morocco looking for land to buy to build a biking/4x4 base. Azrou is an area of outstanding natural beauty and one day ride from the entry ports into Morocco. In addition to accommodation of varying quality/costs from bunkhouse to suites I envisaged an outstanding route planning research facility, the chance to drop unwanted gear and pick up on the way back, on-site workshop facility, the offer of locally guided track rides, and even the offer to meet guests off the ferries to escort them to Azrou.

In the end I decided not to proceed. I realised I didn’t really want to oversee a two year building project. And I wasn’t sure whether I could hack being a friendly ‘mine host’ to some of the twerps I was sure to meet.

Azrou whilst nice is fecking cold in the winter which would also have hit my enjoyment.

Ideally you want as close to an all-year round riding area as possible, somewhere with safe property laws, a few expats for company. And inexpensive for buying land, building and taxes.
__________________
"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2 Oct 2018
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,659
You and everyone else mate :)

I've got a few places in mind. But there are MASSIVE gambles involved.

If you want to make a living then you HAVE TO follow the tourists. And then is that somewhere you want to be ??

And then expect a lot of hard work, stress and never having a day off. Owning any type of accomodation is a huge commitment.

One thing that has stopped me from opening a biker/traveller hostel is that travellers who I would like to accomodate are usually cheap arses !

They don't want to buy your food, beer or rent an expensive room. They want a cheap place for their tent and they will buy their own beer in town and cook their own food on stoves while making a mess of your kitchen..

Those who are not on a budget will just stay in a nice hotel. And that's not something i'd be interested in.


But to answer your original question. Find the popular routes and stick somewhere on it. But you will have to offer something special/different to stick out and make a good living from it.
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 3 Oct 2018
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Posts: 1,045
Best place like that I've encountered was QT's in Northern Vietnam. They have one of the biggest rental operations in Ha Giang, and a good hostel there in town that caters to not just bike tourists. They also have affiliated hostels all over the Northern Loop, so it's very easy to get essentially a full package from one place. But what they don't do, is cater particularly to people on their own bikes. (You can't bring in a foreign-plated bike into Vietnam for all intents and purposes, but there are plenty of people who buy local bikes to ride around the country.)

I think you have to make a business case for it as a hostel first, and add the biker bits as kind of a hobby. Having a dry garage with a lift and a set of cheap tools and/or a relationship with a local mechanic is not that difficult or expensive to set up. But making the business case of, specifically, a biker stop - that is extremely dependent on a combination of circumstances.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Kotor, Montenegro hostel zitro79 Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 24 Aug 2017 17:30
Skopje, Macedonia hostel zitro79 Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 24 Aug 2017 17:20
Belgrade, Serbia Hostel zitro79 Sleep and Eat, Europe 0 24 Aug 2017 17:17
Open Face Helmet Options? kentfallen Camping Equipment and all Clothing 46 6 Aug 2016 14:55
Open Street Map for Overlanders Jan van Bekkum Route Planning 7 16 Feb 2015 21:27

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:11.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top