G Adventures’ new 18-35 brand Roamies, which launched at the end of last year in partnership with Hostelworld, aims to ‘change the face of youth travel’.
The brand wants to combine the social experience of hostelling with small group adventure travel.
30-something adventurer Claire Scott is currently on a Roamies Ultimate Europe trip and has given Travel Gossip a snapshot of what she’s been up to so far…
Days 1 and 2
In Amsterdam, I meet my 10 travelling companions – aged 18 to 31 and from all over the world, including Australia, the US, UK and Canada – and our Chief Experience Officer (CEO) Federica Ostoni.
Our stay for night one is in Generator Amsterdam, Oosterpark, a converted university building complete with a lecture-hall style bar.
Day 2: On our way to Berlin, we stop in the chocolate-box town of Quedlinburg for a wander through beautiful cobblestone streets.
About 10 minutes south west, via a cherry tree-lined path, is the curious rock formation of Teufelsmauer or Devil’s Wall.
We arrive in Berlin in the afternoon and check into St Christopher’s Inn Alexanderplatz, a really social hostel with a great atmosphere.
Days 3 and 4
The sun is out and walking shoes are on. Our tour guide, historian and archeologist, Daniela Marinelli is a ‘real Berliner’ and takes us to see some areas that are unexpected, like the art deco apartments at Hackeschen Hoffe.
Day 4: We stop first in Dresden to see some mind-blowing Baroque architecture, then take a rewarding hike on the Czech border through leafy trails in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park to see the biggest natural sandstone arch in Europe, Pravcicka Brana.
Days 5 and 6
The Czech Inn hostel is a great base in Prague. The trams and metro into the heart of the city are just a short walk away and the hostel has fun theme nights, such as singles night for solo travellers.
Prague matches and exceeds everything I’ve been told about it. Just strolling around the streets with a coffee is a joy.
On our way to Vienna, we call at the town of Cesky Krumlov.
A boat tour is a great way to see the extraordinary buildings, the 13th century castle is really something to behold. After a three-hour drive from Cesky, we arrive in Vienna and check into the Be Free Hostel, a very fun, social hostel – think hippy vibes.
There’s a cosy basement area where you can play card games and have a beer. This is one of the favourite hostels of our group so far.
Days 7 and 8
We break up our Vienna-Salzburg trip with easily one of the most scenic places I have ever been to: the jaw-droppingly beautiful Konigsee in Bayern, Germany near the Austrian border.
It’s a lake that formed after the melting of glaciers and is now one of the most glorious places for a swim in the world. It’s surrounded by steep Alpine mountains including Watzmann Massif, a beautiful snow-capped peak.
Next up is a short visit to Salzburg, the hometown of Mozart. We’re staying in the modern A&O hostel, perfectly located next to Salzburg Central Station, where we grab a train on to our next destination, Munich, where the adventure continues.
The verdict…
Combining bucket-list spots such as the Berlin Wall and St Vitus Cathedral in Prague with spending an afternoon in Konigssee, Bayern Germany and visiting Cesky Krumlov meant I visited amazing places that I would never have known to go to.
Our group has been getting on so well and we’ll be picking up some more backpackers in Munich. Our attitude is ‘the more the merrier’.
Hostels can get a bad rap but Roamies properties are handpicked from the best of Hostelworld and selected for their cool social areas – perfect for meeting new friends.
The hostels we’ve stayed in so far are incredible. Loads of amenities and are just fun places to hang out after a day of touring.
Roamies offers both mixed and same-sex dorms as well as private shared rooms. We have all thoroughly enjoyed the dorm style of living.
See more about the Ultimate Europe: Berlin, Tuscany and Greek Temples.
Find out more information about Roamies here.
