Interning this summer at HI Chicago has been a fun,
educational, and frustrating experience. Why do I say it’s frustrating? Because
it has me itching to travel! The symptoms of the travel bug have returned
(although I’m not sure if I’ll ever be cured of this) due to being constantly
surrounded by such an international environment consisting of people on all kinds of adventures. I find
myself looking up flight prices and great vacation deals, all in the hopes that
I might be going somewhere. However, if my bank account stays where it is now,
that won’t be happening anytime soon. But hey, a girl can dream, right? That’s
why I’ve compiled a list of my top three dream travel destinations. Believe me
when I say that there are an infinite amount of places I would love to visit,
but as of late, these destinations have been on my mind.
Costa Rica
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| Arenal volcano-view from the hostel! |
I think my imaginary love affair with Costa
Rica began after I saw some pictures of friends’ study abroad and volunteer
experiences. There were pictures of them zip-ling through the rain forest,
lying on a beautiful beach, eating delicious food, white water rafting, and
posing with the cute, local children. Costa Rica offers something for everyone
because of its diverse ecosystem. If you’re adventurous you can hike a national
forest, go bungee jumping, surfing, and more. The activities are endless. If
it’s relaxation you crave, there are some gorgeous, sandy beaches with crystal
clear water on both sides of the country, as it is bordered by both the
Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. It’s also a popular destination for those looking
to give back. Many non-profit organizations are stationed all over Costa Rica
and offer a variety of volunteer experiences to those who are interested. I
know that personally, I want to do all three types of travel. And even better,
Hostelling International has three different hostels around the country. My
favorite is the one located in La Fortuna. La Fortuna lies in the shadow of the massive
Arenal volcano, part of Arenal Volcano National Park. This is where you can
find many of the adventure activities that sound like an awesome time! However,
it’s also not too far from the ocean. The hostel, a restored farm house,
provides lots of information to travelers about what to see and do while
surrounded by this beautiful landscape!
Argentina
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| Whale watching in Puerta Madryn! |
Once again, I learned about Argentina from
a friend of mine, who I met while studying abroad. She’s from Buenos Aires and
was more than happy to share her Argentine culture with us. Argentina is such a
large country, that I know I couldn’t possibly see it all in one, or even two
weeks. I would love to travel around the country for at least a month,
experiencing the diverse landscapes- from the bustling cities of Buenos Aires
and Córdoba, to the near arctic scenery of Tierra del Fuego. I could learn how
to tango, eat meat and then more meat, and go whale watching. Lucky for me, HI
has almost 50 hostels in Argentina! Hostel Puerto Madryn- El Gaulicho seems
like a good choice! It’s in a central location of the cute beach town and
offers great information about whale and dolphin watching tours!
Thailand
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| Floating Lantern Festival |
Known as “the land of smiles”, Thailand seems
like an incredible place to visit. I think one thing that is most appealing to me is
the very unique culture. The majority of the nation is Buddhist, and with that
comes many temples with golden Buddha statues and intricate deals that line the
pointed, ornate rooftops. It would be unlike anything I have seen before. In
addition to the amazing architecture, it has DELICIOUS food. Thai cuisine is
one of my favorites and I would be in heaven eating from the various street vendors. I
would also be able to have two incredible experiences: riding an elephant, and
seeing the Floating Lights Festival. Trekking through the jungle on the back of
an elephant and then witnessing the festival where thousands of lanterns are
lit and launched into the air would make for one incredible trip. No matter
where you want to go in Thailand, HI has you covered. Specifically, I think HostelSukhothai would be a great place to stay!
It’s a family run hostel situated in an old wooden building, which used
to be where the family actually lived back in the day. And it’s in a great location
for visiting the Si Satchanalai World Heritage Sites.
Now are you convinced about adding these to your top travel destinations?
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