Seaside International Hostel offers unconventional lodging for visitorsSEASIDE – As the evening sun sinks into the western horizon, a soft breeze gently stirs the edge of the Necanicum River.

The sun’s rays warm the common room of the Seaside International Hostel, lodging designed for the adventurous traveler. In an adjoining kitchen, guests from all walks of life prepare their evening meal. Others join in an impromptu guitar jam session.

“It’s a homey feeling,” said Mari Marshall, who came to the hostel for a weekend study session. “It’s real welcoming, comfortable. It’s nice to meet people from all over. You’re not isolated in your own room.”

Located at 930 N. Holladay Drive, the hostel is directed by James Kennett of Portland and operated by onsite manager Nguyen Thi Trung. It was rated as one of the top 10 Hostels in the country by Hostels USA.

A typical hostel offers dormitory-style lodging, divided into women’s and men’s rooms. Many hostels now also offer private rooms, perfect for couples or families. Guests share bathroom and kitchen facilities and a common meeting room. Hostel amenities range from basic cooking utensils and sparse furniture to extras like laundry facilities and free food.

But more than anything, hostels offer a way to meet new people and share life. And as staff members continue to work through a busy summer, they are eager to hear more travelers’ stories.

“Hostels are a gathering place of people,” Trung said. “People who want to be in the world rather than watching it.”

A bridge of peaceThe hostel movement began in 1907 in Germany, initiated by schoolteacher Richard Schirrmann, according to

(www.hostels.com). He wanted to create a place where youthful travelers could stay on weekend outings in the country. At night, the classroom was cleared of desks and chairs. Students slept on thin straw sacks and, in the morning, would sweep away the straw and reset the classroom.

For more information Seaside International Hostel, 930 N. Holladay Drive, Seaside. 738-7911 or (888) 994-0001.

Rates: $19 in the summer for Hostelling International members, nonmembers add $3; private rooms are $39-$46 for members, $48-$59 non-members. Bicycle travelers receive a $2 discount. On the Web:

(www.2oregonhostels.com).

Hostelling International:

(www.hiayh.org). (503) 239-0030.

General hostel information:

(www.hostels.com).

The Hostel Handbook:

(www.hostelhandbook.com).

Schirrmann called his creation a “bridge of peace from nation to nation” and his idea quickly evolved into an international peace movement. Hostels gained a reputation as a place where young people from different countries could meet and share ideas. Because hostels were originally intended for youth, the cost was low and the accommodations were minimal.

Today, the word “youth” is rarely used in reference to a hostel and people of all ages are welcome. However, they are still one of the cheapest ways to obtain a shower, shelter and security. Most hostels cost between $10 and $35 a night for a dormitory-style bed.

Many guests are single women and senior citizens who enjoy the community aspect. They feel less isolated than in a motel, Kennett said.

“I think they feel more secure because of the caliber of people who stay at a hostel,” he said. “People watch out for each other.”

Kennett was born on the East Coast, but joined his father in Washington after his parents separated when he was a teenager. With parents on each side of the continent, he crossed the country at least once a year. He discovered hostels in his early 20s and enjoyed their cheap yet comfortable lodging.

He graduated from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., with a counseling degree and became a journeyman carpenter through a carpenter’s union. He figured it was the perfect combination for running a hostel and, in 1980, opened his first hostel in Bandon in a historic building he and a friend saved from demolition. He operated the business until 1990 when he moved to Portland and served LORI ASSA – The Daily Astorian

John Smith, 12, brushes his teeth in the bathroom in one of the dorm-style rooms.as the executive director of Oregon and Idaho Hostelling International for four years.

But he wanted to get back to the grassroots of hostelling and made it a goal to open a hostel within two hours of Portland. He found the perfect location during his first weekend in Seaside and opened his 56-bed hostel in 1994. He also directs Portland International Hostel Northwest. He has enjoyed much community support but is sometimes frustrated by the lack of knowledge.

“Many people confuse it with a half-way house or a social service agency,” he said. “We don’t take referrals from social service agencies and we have a policy that people have to pay for their own housing.”

Even the word “hostel” itself can have a negative connotation. In many people’s minds, “hostel” equals “hostile.” In Britain, where the word is pronounced host-el (like hotel), there is less confusion.

This summer Trung plans to purchase the hostel from Kennett. Part of her goal is to increase knowledge and exposure of the hostel system.

“He baked the cake and I’ll put the icing on it,” she said. “I want to promote the hostel in the community and as a great place to have a retreat. I also want to develop programs that involve more of the community.”

A low-cost ‘palace’Located within four blocks of the beach, most of the hostel is located in a former motel. The main office was originally built in the 1920s as a residence and had previously been used as an attorney’s office. It’s not unusual for hostels to be located in refurbished buildings.

Guests call it a “palace” because of the many amenities it offers. The hostel is handicapped-accessible, with a fully ADA-equipped room. The main building includes a computer station with Internet access, espresso bar, information center, laundry facilities and a common room with an eclectic collection of books and games and a gas stove to keep guests warm on chilly nights.

LORI ASSA – The Daily Astorian

Nguyen Thi Trung, the on-site manager of the Seaside International Hostel, checks the reservation book for the week, as staff member Chris Carrillo watches her.”Common space is very important in hostels,” Kennett said. “That’s part of the mission, to bring people together for a common understanding. It happens most often in a common room and strangers become life-long friends.”

A movie is shown every evening in the dining room and televisions are provided in the private rooms. However, no other TVs are located in the common space, so guests may spend time getting to know each other instead of being glued to a screen.

Outdoors, a deck, barbecue grill, campfire ring and picnic tables provide a camp-like atmosphere. Guests may harvest fresh vegetables from a community garden and canoes or kayaks may be rented for a small fee. Like most hostels, there is a fully-equipped community kitchen and dining room. The hostel provides cooking staples on shelves labeled “free food” and guests provide the rest. Travelers are encouraged to bring their own bed linens, because sleeping bags are not allowed for sanitary reasons. Bed linens are provided in private rooms, however, or may be rented for a low fee.

Kennett is also proud of the hostel’s commitment to the environment. It has received the “sustainable living center” status from Hostelling International, is a member of Co-op America and listed in the National Green Pages.

“Our guests care about the environment,” he said. “Often, one of the first questions I’ll get is ‘do you recycle?’ “

Kennett’s guest book is filled with comments from both American and foreign travelers. The hostel has been graced by Australian, German, Canadian, Scandinavian and English guests. He estimates that people from more than 50 countries have visited.

“Most people start hostelling because of the low cost,” he said. “But it’s so much more than that. It’s all about meeting people and if you don’t come away with at least 10 life-long friends and e-mail pals, there’s something wrong.”