What is hostelling?

Hostelling can be formally defined as educational and economical travel, both local and global, that uses programs and hostels to facilitate interaction between travelers and community members. Hostelling promotes discovery of oneself, local cultures and the world. Hostels are inexpensive, safe and clean. Hostels range from urban high-rise buildings with hundreds of beds to small, remote hostels in rural settings.

Hostelling began when Richard Schirrmann, a German school teacher, started taking his students on weekend field trips to the countryside for fresh air and interaction with nature. He was concerned about the health and welfare of his students growing up in a coal-mining town. School buildings, empty on weekends, were used as overnight accommodations. The concept of a student “youth hostel” network developed from this experience. The hostelling movement grew quickly in Europe. In 1932, the first international meeting was held in Amsterdam and the IYHF was formed to create hostel quality standards. In 1934, the first U.S. youth hostel opened in Northfield, Massachusetts by Monroe and Isabel Smith. Within a year more than 30 hostels were operating throughout New England.

Hostelling International USA (HI-USA)

Hostelling International USA (HI-USA), formerly known as American Youth Hostels (AYH), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit membership organization founded in 1934 to promote a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling. HI-USA is a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF). The entire network, known as Hostelling International, offers more than 4,000 hostels in 80 countries.

HI-USA has 30 regional councils. These councils provide HI-USA members, travelers and our community with a wide range of special programs, events, trips and activities. Each local council works with the HI-National office to oversee 80 hostels throughout the United States. There are more than 100,000 HI-USA members in the U.S. and 3.2 million Hostelling International members worldwide.

The Los Angeles Council of HI-USA is led by an Executive Director and Board of Directors, and with the assistance of hard-work and valuable volunteers, who together are responsible for Council operations and programs in the greater Los Angeles area. The Council provides programs to both hostellers and the local community. Additionally, the Council participates in fundraising events and seeks opportunities to expand hostel development. Currently, the Council operates hostels in San Pedro (60 beds) and Fullerton (20 beds), and is a joint venture partner with HI-National in the HI-Los Angeles/Santa Monica hostel (260 beds). In 2009, these three hostels recorded more than 78,000 overnights. Finally, the Council operates the HI Travel Store, next-door to the HI-LA/Santa Monica hostel, in Santa Monica. The HI-Travel Store provides travel products such as guidebooks and maps, HI-USA memberships and trip planning services to budget-conscious travelers of all ages. Through Council operations and in the capacity of the HI-Travel Store, the Council conducts a series of educational programs and honors the public with awards that promote the HI-USA mission: Discover Your World Program, Clean Water Program, Cultural Kitchen Program, Girl Scouts' Weekends, World Travel 101 Budget Travel Workshops, Spirit of Adventure Award and the HI-Travel Grant.

If you are interested in joining the Los Angeles Council of HI-USA as a volunteer, please see more information on our volunteers page.