Finally, a hostel in Jacksonville! Bloom-- a Design Hostel

[Purplebike]

Emily Moody (of Underbelly) is looking to develop a design hostel, in downtown Jacksonville, called "Bloom".

That'll make three hostels in or near Northeast Florida, that I know of. Very good news for those of us who appreciate hostels, and the kind of connections you can make when you stay at one.

An enduring misconception about hostels is that they are only for the young, backpacking, cheap type. If my own and many others' experiences are any indicator, that's not the case. I typically stay in hostels when I travel, if there is one where I am going; I've been doing so for over twenty years now. I've met people of all types, ages, backgrounds, incomes, and persuasions, most each and every time.

Anyway, a little more about Emily Moody's project:

Bloom is on Tumblr:
http://bloomdesignhostel.tumblr.com

Bloom is an entry in the upcoming One Spark festival:
http://www.beonespark.com/discover/creator_projects/516

Bloom is also on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/bloomdesignhostel

Bloom was highlighted on WJCT today:
http://news.wjct.org/post/creator-series-bloom-design-hostel

The other two hostels in the area-- if you count within an hour's driving distance as such:

Brunswick, Georgia is home to one of the coolest hostels around-- called the "Hostel in the Forest", it consists mostly of real tree houses! It's been around for over 25 years. Last year when I went it was still 25 bucks a night. http://www.yelp.com/biz/hostel-in-the-forest-brunswick

There's also the very laid back Pirate Haus, located right in the middle of historic St. Augustine. http://www.yelp.com/biz/pirate-haus-inn-saint-augustine

[ben says]

Great news!!!!

[Purplebike]

Yeah, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes according to her plan. I don't know her personally, beyond seeing her at Anomaly when it was in Riverside, and then once in a while when I pop into Underbelly downtown (which is not very often... Anomaly was much closer & convenient for me)... she's been inventive and successful with enough other projects though that I will not be at all surprised to see this popping up soon.

Anyway, have you ever been to the other two hostels I listed? If yes, what were your thoughts?

[Cheshire Cat]

This sounds wonderful.  I hope that she succeeds in her efforts! 

[ben says]

Yeah, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes according to her plan. I don't know her personally, beyond seeing her at Anomaly when it was in Riverside, and then once in a while when I pop into Underbelly downtown (which is not very often... Anomaly was much closer & convenient for me)... she's been inventive and successful with enough other projects though that I will not be at all surprised to see this popping up soon.

Anyway, have you ever been to the other two hostels I listed? If yes, what were your thoughts?

I have not been to either, but I have a very, very close friend who spent a considerable amount of time at Hostel in the Forest. She said it was fantastic, bordering on life-changing-experience. I plan on going in the Fall w/ my s.o., too. I know of Pirate Haus because I am a heavy commentator in the Jacksonville/St. Augustine forum on TripAdvisor. PH gets outstanding reviews in those forums, and via TA review.

[Purplebike]

I've stayed at Pirate Haus too, the owners, Matt & April, are really nice, and the last time I saw them, very involved in the Couchsurfing community. The Pirate Haus has been around for a long time too!

[ChriswUfGator]

Wait, there's a couchsurfing "community" now? You mean the friends I've put up on my couch over the years aren't actually deadbeats, it's really a lifestyle choice? Lol!

[Purplebike]

lol ... yes there's an actual website called just that, dedicated to making it especially easy to couch surf. With complete strangers!

https://www.couchsurfing.org

I mentioned it above hoping to further illustrate that there are alternatives to staying in regular hotels when it comes to traveling. Couchsurfing and hosteling tend to be a lot more social.

What have been your experiences with hosteling and couch surfing? Oh, there's also trip trotting:

https://www.triptrotting.com

All this talk of travel is giving me a hankering for some traveling!

[ben says]

I have a group of friends who swear by Couchsurfing. Absolutely love it. I get it--and completely respect the choice--sounds like a great way to travel. BUT, i'm a complete hotel whore. I want my extra pillows and 150 channels of tv NOW damnit!

[David]

^ haha yes!

I did the hostels in NYC a few times and it was an experience, but nothing beats a hotel room to yourself. I could never get into the shared rooms, but to each their own.

When you have the travel bug but not the money, hostels are a good alternative.  I'm surprised Riverside doesn't already have one.

[Purplebike]

Actually, a good number of hostels have private rooms these days.

The Pirate Haus does, and the treehouses in Brunswick turn out to be private, if around 4 of you / friends / family can get one of them to yourselves. The hostel I stayed at in Charleston has private rooms, as does the Clay hotel in South Beach. In all those cases, the hostels are located right in the middle of everything, and a lot less expensive than the alternatives.

I believe I read somewhere that Emily is planning on there being private rooms at Bloom, too.

[Purplebike]

P.S. I'm surprised Riverside does not have one, too!

[ben says]

P.S. I'm surprised Riverside does not have one, too!

I think the old Fuel in 5 Points would be a great spot for this! That, or a boutique hotel.

[Purplebike]

+ 100!

I totally agree. Hopefully someone with that kind of vision, and access to that kind of funding, is reading this!

[ProjectMaximus]

lol ... yes there's an actual website called just that, dedicated to making it especially easy to couch surf. With complete strangers!

https://www.couchsurfing.org

I mentioned it above hoping to further illustrate that there are alternatives to staying in regular hotels when it comes to traveling. Couchsurfing and hosteling tend to be a lot more social.

Yep, they even have meetups and social events to cultivate the community aspect. My girlfriend hosted many couchsurfers back when she lived in LA. Never stayed with anyone though.

And since we're discussing hotel alternatives, there's of course www.airbnb.com as well!