1,000 FREE Travelnroam mobile SIMs up for grabs!

Hostelworld.com along with our new Travel Store partner Travelnroam has joined forces to bring you a VERY limited giveaway!

To be in with a chance to get one of these 1,000 SIMs all you have to do is make a booking on Hostelworld.com from 00.01 GMT on Tuesday 22nd September. 1,000 lucky bookers will then receive a FREE Travelnroam mobile SIM card worth €15 preloaded with €5 free calling credit.

To learn more about the competition (including Terms & Conditions) and about Travelnroam just click here.

Oslo - Day 4

Got up early this morning to head out to Bygdoy so I could record my final Oslo podcast at the Viking Ship Museum. A really interesting museum, it holds the remains of three huge Viking Ships. I'd really recommend anyone visiting Oslo to have a look in here. Also, just down the road you'll come across the awesome open-air Norwegian Museum of Cultural History. As well as a plethora of old-school buildings, you'll see people wandering around in traditional dress.



After that I headed towards Frogner Park, a huge green area with lots of cool stuff in it. For example, here's where you'll find the Vigeland Sculpture Park which is full of some of the most interesting pieces of sculpture I've ever seen. Definitely well worth a look!

Tomorrow I'm going to head to St. Hanshaugen Park and have a look around that area! Hopefully it'll have stopped raining by then!

Rebecca
Hostelworld.com

Oslo - Day 3

Another rainy day in Oslo, but still a good one! Recorded a podcast at the Oslo Opera House. Got to have a look at two of the three stage areas and I also learned a lot more about the kind of performances they host. As well as hosting a plethora of cultural events, the building itself is pretty interesting. You can even go walking around on the roof!

Later on, I had a wander around an area of Oslo called Grünerløkka to the east of the city centre. I love areas like this, filled with alternative stores, cool bars and a great selection of cafes abd restaurants. Plenty of places to duck into to wait out the rain and soak up the atmosphere.

Tomorrow, I'm heading out to Bygdoy. It should apparently take around 20 minutes by bus from the National Theatre, which is cool. There are lots of museums in this neighbourhood, including the Viking Ship Museum where I'll be recording my last Oslo podcast!

Now though, time for some food!

Rebecca
Hostelworld.com

Oslo - Day 2

A rainy day in Oslo today, although it seems to be clearing up nicely now so hopefully I'll see some sunshine tomorrow.



Spend the morning in the Nobel Peace Center, one of the most interesting attractions I've visited so far here in Oslo. After getting a really awesome tour, I recorded a podcast with the Center's Director. I'd definitely recommend the Center to anyone visiting Oslo. Very informative, plus lots of really cool interactive stuff too.

Went to a few of Oslo's top-notch galleries today too, including the National Gallery which is free. I checked out the Munch Museum as well. Security on the way in is very tight but the museum is well-worth a look.

Had dinner in the Rice Bowl Thai Cafe on Youngsgate. It was really delicious and great value too. The place was packed full of locals with a very lively atmosphere. Would go back!

Tomorrow, I'm going to head to the Oslo Opera House first for another podcast. Then hopefully the sun will we out and I can go check out the Vigeland Sculpture Park!

Rebecca
Hostelworld.com

Landed in Oslo!

I've landed in Oslo where I'll be staying until Sunday so I can collect information and photos for one of our PDF guides. Over the course of my stay I'll also be doing 3 interviews for our Hostelworld podcasts, as well as taking footage for one of our Hostelworld videos.



While here, I'm staying at the Oslo Budget Hotel. As you can see from the picture here, my room is very nicely equipped with a flatscreen TV and desk. WiFi is free too, which is pretty cool.

Right, time for me to head out to have a little look around and find some dinner.

Rebecca
Hostelworld.com

Got a Story to Tell?

As part of Hostelworld.com's 10-year anniversary celebration, we are kicking off a writing contest called, “Got a Story to Tell?”

As our travelers know, every new journey brings another great story to tell, and we want to invite you and your readers to share your best adventure from the past ten years with us. Whether it was a beach party on Fraser Island or eating octopus for the first time while hiking the Azorean forests, we want to hear it!

There will be 10 lucky winners. The grand prize winner will receive a €500 travel voucher and the nine runners up will win Amazon vouchers worth €50.

You've already lived the adventure, so the next part is easy. Simply send us your story (between 500 and 1,500 words) by visiting here. Make sure to include a photograph of your trip, and you'll be entered to win one of these fantastic prizes. Just one more thing: make sure to get it to us by September 30th.

Thanks and happy travels,

Hostelworld.com

Bratislava day 3!

Started today by wandering up towards Grassalkovich Garden, which is located behind the Presidential Palace, a short walk from Bratislava's popular Obchodna Street. On the way, I got a pretty good view of the city's Castle. The Castle itself is closed at the moment because of ongoing renovations, but it's still a pretty sight, perched on a high hill overlooking the city.



On the way back, I walked along the afore-mentioned Obchodna. It was pretty busy, with people wandering along checking out the shops, cafes, bars and restaurants located all along the street.



Not just along the street itself, the passages ways leading off the street also hold numerous delights. Take for example this street market, which was very busy when I walked through. Selling everything from sunglasses to shoes, it seems like a well-liked shopping spot.

No night shots last night after all due to the onset of a lightning story. Watched from my room window as it went on for quite a while. Am going to try again tonight after I find some food!

Rebecca.
Hostelworld.com