Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
packers'hostels”isanenjoyableandinexpensivewaytotravelthroughtheprovince.Gen-
erally, you need to provide your own sleeping bag or linen, but most hostels supply ex-
tra bedding (if needed) at no charge. Accommodations are in dormitories (2-10 beds) or
doublerooms.Eachalsooffersacommunalkitchen,loungearea,Internetaccess,andlaun-
dry facilities, while some have bike rentals and organized tours.
Hostelling International
You don't
have
to be a member to stay in an affiliated hostel of Hostelling International
(HI), but membership pays for itself after only a few nights of discounted lodging. Aside
from lower rates, benefits of membership vary from country to country but often include
discounted air, rail, and bus travel; discounts on car rental; and discounts on some attrac-
tions and commercial activities.
For Canadians, the membership charge is $35 annually or $175 for a lifetime member-
ship. For more information, contact
HI-Canada
(800/663-5777,
www.hihostels.ca
)
.
JoiningtheHIaffiliateofyourhomecountryentitlesyoutoreciprocalrightsinCanada,
as well as around the world. In the United States, the contact address is
Hostelling Inter-
national USA
(301/495-1240,
www.hiusa.org
); annual membership is US$28 for an adult
and US$18 for a senior, or become a lifetime member for US$250.
Other contact addresses include
YHA England and Wales
(0800/0191-700,
www.yha.org.uk
),
YHA Australia
(02/9261-1111,
www.yha.com.au
)
, and
YHA New
Zealand
(03/379-9970,
www.yha.org.nz
)
. Otherwise, click through the links on the HI
website (
www.hihostels.com
)
to your country of choice.
Whistler and the resort towns of Vancouver Island are especially popular with young
workers from across Canada and beyond. Aside from Help Wanted ads in local papers,
a good place to start looking for work is the Whistler Employment Resource Centre
International visitors wishing to work or study in Canada must obtain authorization
be-
fore
entering the country. Authorization to work will only be granted if no qualified Cana-
dians are available for the work in question. Applications for work and study are available
