The concept of hostel(s) was not one that caught on very fast in Romania. Whether it is coastal tourism, mountain tourism or city breaks, for Romanians pensions (Bed and Breakfasts) have remained the supreme alternative to hotels. Cheap, small and chic, pensions are hard to match in terms of the influx of tourists they receive, especially since they are omnipresent in both rural and urban areas, many of them being built with European funds.
However, major cities could not rely exclusively on hotels and pensions, especially since the number of tourists city-breaking in Romania is on the rise. Thus, hostels slowly made their way into the market, being generally preferred by foreign tourists, already familiar with the concept. The big advantage of the hostels is that of the price, much lower even compared to pensions, especially if tourists are willing to share a room with foreigners. Additionally, their central location is also an important advantage, allowing guests to reach the heart of the city straight from their room.
As Sibiu is the most visited city of the country, it is no surprise that the largest hostel in the country is there. Located obviously in the center of the city, the accommodation has not less than 180 beds, offering tourists many other facilities, from free wireless to a games room, from a quiet room to a chillout area. Besides that, tourists can also enjoy an appetizing burger at the ground floor restaurant, having access to an international library in the hostel as well.
The atmosphere is a relaxed one, the vast majority of tourists who prefer hostels are passionate travelers, looking for adventure and extremely flexible in terms of their travels. This typology of an exploratory tourist is growing in Romania, especially among young people who are also the ones who have opened hostels in the country, and success has not avoided them.
Claudiu Bolcu
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