Second ‘Hyper-Guide' Documents Modern Hostel Phenomenon  

LOS ANGELES - Dec. 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA, December 2, 2013—“1100 Hostels: Spain, Alps & South Europe Hyper-Guide (Backpackers and Flashpackers),” (ISBN 978-0988490550, Hypertravel Books) by Hardie Karges, is available now at www.amazon.com and elsewhere online. “1100 Hostels,” together with its already-published companion “1000 Hostels...North Europe” is the most comprehensive hostel guide ever compiled to date, encompassing the old youth hostel movement and the modern phenomenal spread of backpackers’ hostels around the globe as well. Simultaneously a historical overview and travel guide for youth of all ages, '1100 Hostels' is aimed at any and all independent travelers, not just backpackers, since many backpackers have now upgraded to “flashpackers,” a more modern and tech-savvy version of the original concept. It is, in fact, specifically geared toward advanced travelers who need none of the ‘how-to’ information intended for novices, but plenty of hostel names and addresses, and lots of historical and geographical background.

“The British Isles and Germany are the historic heartland of the hostel movement,” Karges explains, “but South Europe has greater numbers nowadays, and the quality is as good, if not better.” In fact the greatest number of hostels in the world today is in the Iberian Peninsula, in modern-day Spain and Portugal. France, Italy and the expensive Alpine countries of Austria and Switzerland are here, too, now affordable with the sudden wide spread of hostels. And Greece is here, of course, with its fabulous sun-soaked islands, timeless culture, and… self-contained party compounds. But East Europe is the hottest travel destination in the world these days, and they’re full of hostels. “They’re good ones, too,” Karges adds, “not just cheap backpacker digs.” That includes the entire Balkan peninsula and several members of the former USSR, now wide open for independent travel. The history and culture there is a pleasant counterpoint to Europe's coolest surfers' hostels in Portugal. And these days most hostels have no age restrictions. All have English-speaking staff and internet capabilities. Most even have private rooms, plus dorms.

Author Karges has traveled to approximately one hundred fifty countries over the course of forty years, much of it described in intimate detail and vivid prose in his narrative travel book, “Hypertravel: 100 Countries in 2 Years.” This is the sixth book of the ‘Backpackers and Flashpackers’ series. “A happy accident of these books is that it suggests a new paradigm for travel guides, one that I would use—just the facts, and just the best places,” says Karges. After all, these books are at their best when used in advance, to facilitate a hostel-based trip. If there aren’t any hostels there, then a place just may not be worth visiting.

Hypertravel Books is a newly formed imprint in Los Angeles, CA, with the mission to promote smart travel. Advise if you would like to see a PDF or paperback copy of the book for review purposes.

Karges can be contacted at hyper.travel@aol.com and 1-916-914-8230 Pacific Time when he’s in the US.