Winnipeg’s ”Hostel 2”

Many people have commented on current horror movies that depict Hostels as dangerous places owned and operated by serial killers, which from the release of sequels appear to be successful franchises.
The real experience couldn’t be farther from this myth.
Hostels have been shown to be safer places for young people to stay when compared with hotels. Hostelling is still a new idea in Canada and most visitors to Winnipeg are foreigners rather than Canadians.
Dylan Rutherford, Director of Winnipeg’s Hostel International spoke to me and pointed out that Hostel International (HI)has specific quality assurance guidelines with respect to comfort, welcome, cleanliness, and security and these are even above expectations from City or Canadian guidelines.
Hostels are meant to be safe places for travelers to arrive and stay. All HI guests must provide identification. No one from Winnipeg may stay which prevents them being used as “flop houses”.
For the past 5 years that Dylan has worked here there have been no petty thefts, nor incidents of violence or altercations.
Guests are either in dormitory – segregated or mixed, or private suites of their choice.
Hostel International has additional security including keycard access and lockers in rooms.
Security cameras placed in hallways and outside also provide additional security. Better lighting outside also works with the neighborhood to add a light corridor to provide safety for everyone.
These security features are standardized and provide a safe environment for travelers to meet and rest.
Hostelling International subscribes to certain standards and doesn’t recommend hostels outside of HI but Dylan encourage travelers to research further. Websites like hostes.com and hostelword.com regularly review and critique hostels.
Winnipeg’s Hi has moved into the Gordon Downtowner which is being remodeled to bring travelers to Winnipeg downtown close to both Greyhound terminal and the CN bus station. A new pub /art gallery will be run inside as well.
HI provides regular informational sessions such as “Hostelling 101”, “Females Traveling Solo” and “What to Pack”.
These programs will be resumed after the new Downtowner Hostel is established and will be announced at hihostels.ca. People interested in hostels may contact Dylan at info.mb@hihostels.ca.

One of the great things about hostels is that they allow for a different experience for visitors allowing a closer experience and better understanding of the new country. If you are on a budget hostelling allows vacationers to stretch their time away and see more while away. If slasher movie producers like Quinton Tarantino had better travel experiences themselves and truly understand the value of meeting new people equally with a better understanding of the human condition we might even now have better quality movies instead of sadistic and cruel films like Hostel 2.