Hostel Environment

From alpine forests to urban jungles and tropical savannahs, youth hostels offer a friendly atmosphere for global eco-travelers. Since the international youth hostel movement began in 1907, nearly 5,000 hostels have sprung up around the globe--and some are taking on environmental agendas.

The first hostel was on the classroom floors of Germany's Nette School, where teachers cleared away desks at night and set out thin straw beds for young travelers to stay on. In the mornings, guests helped clean up the rooms to earn their keep.

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