Comments on: My Green Chicago Trip, Part 1: Hostel vs. Hotel http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/ Learn to live life with less plastic... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. I don't buy new plastic. Join me on my plastic-free journey. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Broome Hostel http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-7000 Broome Hostel Mon, 17 Aug 2009 06:12:53 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-7000 Great idea for a blog post. The sheer amount of waste created by the average person per night in a hotel is ludicrous. As you pointed out, just about everything is individually wrapped and packaged creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Compared to the simplicity of a hostel (and a green minded individual) it is a real eye opener. Great idea for a blog post. The sheer amount of waste created by the average person per night in a hotel is ludicrous. As you pointed out, just about everything is individually wrapped and packaged creating a lot of unnecessary waste. Compared to the simplicity of a hostel (and a green minded individual) it is a real eye opener.

]]> By: Sara http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6899 Sara Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:24:36 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6899 I've given my own cup from home to Starbucks for an iced vanilla latte. They were happy to oblige, however I noticed they made it in the normal plastic cup, and then poured it into my cup. The reason I was given is because they use the lines on the plastic cups for measuring the fancy drinks. Sigh....now I have to give up an iced latte?! I've given my own cup from home to Starbucks for an iced vanilla latte. They were happy to oblige, however I noticed they made it in the normal plastic cup, and then poured it into my cup. The reason I was given is because they use the lines on the plastic cups for measuring the fancy drinks. Sigh….now I have to give up an iced latte?!

]]> By: Mary Kay http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6898 Mary Kay Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:32:28 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6898 Thank you for writing about hostels!!! I love hosteling and have stayed in hostels in many parts of the world. Actually U.S. hostels tend to be very nice. I can't wait until my daughter (now 2 years old) is a little older and we can go hosteling together. Hey, I think you are starting to cheer up! Thank you for writing about hostels!!! I love hosteling and have stayed in hostels in many parts of the world. Actually U.S. hostels tend to be very nice. I can't wait until my daughter (now 2 years old) is a little older and we can go hosteling together. Hey, I think you are starting to cheer up!

]]> By: Carrick http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6896 Carrick Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:45:11 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6896 I love hostels!!!! I stayed at the bestest one in London (Palmer's Lodge, in case anyone's heading over there...) for a month, and it was great. (well, it did get a little wearing after a month...) I wasn't really thinking about environmental things then, but it's good to know that hostels have yet one more advantage over hotels!! :D<br /><br />I love the egalitarian-ness of hostels you mention, too. I guess being middle class, I don't like it when a wait staff does things for me; it creeps me out, makes me feel like a slave-owner or something. Palmer's Lodge was especially interesting in that regard, I think, because it's in a building that was originally the mansion of a Victorian-era gentleman who made his fortune from cookies (well, "biscuits", I guess), and now it's been divided into several different rooms and is positively crawling with poor kids. :D It was a weird time warp being in the enormous communal room with twenty other people, when originally it would have been a precious sitting room for the rich dude's privileged wife and children.... Not that our society is all that much more egalitarian than Victorian times, but it was at least an interesting example of such to me.... I love hostels!!!! I stayed at the bestest one in London (Palmer's Lodge, in case anyone's heading over there…) for a month, and it was great. (well, it did get a little wearing after a month…) I wasn't really thinking about environmental things then, but it's good to know that hostels have yet one more advantage over hotels!! :D

I love the egalitarian-ness of hostels you mention, too. I guess being middle class, I don't like it when a wait staff does things for me; it creeps me out, makes me feel like a slave-owner or something. Palmer's Lodge was especially interesting in that regard, I think, because it's in a building that was originally the mansion of a Victorian-era gentleman who made his fortune from cookies (well, "biscuits", I guess), and now it's been divided into several different rooms and is positively crawling with poor kids. :D It was a weird time warp being in the enormous communal room with twenty other people, when originally it would have been a precious sitting room for the rich dude's privileged wife and children…. Not that our society is all that much more egalitarian than Victorian times, but it was at least an interesting example of such to me….

]]> By: Billie http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6894 Billie Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:52:56 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6894 Starbucks filled up my mug with hot water but said that they couldn't bring any customer containers onto their side of the counter.<br /><br />This was in Portland so your mileage may vary elsewhere. Starbucks filled up my mug with hot water but said that they couldn't bring any customer containers onto their side of the counter.

This was in Portland so your mileage may vary elsewhere.

]]> By: Tiffany http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6890 Tiffany Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:06:31 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6890 Oh this is too funny! I love the comparison of the two kinds of accomodations! I'm going to research staying at a hostel for our next trip. The only one we are familiar with is the Nederland Youth Hostel, and it is not a place for families LOL. Also, your $5.95 water bottle cracks me up. My brother got married a few years ago on the campus at Harvard, and as soon as my parents walked me to my room at "The Charles", I saw the bottle and said, "oh wow, am I thirsty!" cracked the bottle open and guzzled heartily. Bless their hearts, they said nothing. LOL My heart just about fell through the floor when later I looked at the prices on all that crap.<br /><br />Also, I've been wondering a bit lately about how to go about bringing my own containers for everything like you do. Can you really order at the food court or something and have them put the food in your own container? Oh this is too funny! I love the comparison of the two kinds of accomodations! I'm going to research staying at a hostel for our next trip. The only one we are familiar with is the Nederland Youth Hostel, and it is not a place for families LOL. Also, your $5.95 water bottle cracks me up. My brother got married a few years ago on the campus at Harvard, and as soon as my parents walked me to my room at "The Charles", I saw the bottle and said, "oh wow, am I thirsty!" cracked the bottle open and guzzled heartily. Bless their hearts, they said nothing. LOL My heart just about fell through the floor when later I looked at the prices on all that crap.

Also, I've been wondering a bit lately about how to go about bringing my own containers for everything like you do. Can you really order at the food court or something and have them put the food in your own container?

]]> By: Amber http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6888 Amber Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:33:26 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6888 $5.95 would certainly discourage me from drinking the bottled water. Which is sort of good, but also a testament to the general decadence of the hotel. Crazy! $5.95 would certainly discourage me from drinking the bottled water. Which is sort of good, but also a testament to the general decadence of the hotel. Crazy!

]]> By: Tanya http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6887 Tanya Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:43:32 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6887 Hi Beth-<br /><br />Great photos and comparisons! :) Thanks for sharing. I'm happy that you had a good trip!<br /><br />Tanya Hi Beth-

Great photos and comparisons! :) Thanks for sharing. I'm happy that you had a good trip!

Tanya

]]> By: Clif http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6885 Clif Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:14:11 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6885 The neat thing about the hostel is it's all about people - you actually mingle with them and nobody is concerned about personal service, you have to take responsibility for yourself. That should come naturally but I'm afraid we are all being made helpless by the conveniences provided everywhere we go (for a price).<br /><br />And here's more - with those bunk beds there is always the chance of starting a good pillow fight, singing campfire songs or telling ghost stories until 3AM! :) The neat thing about the hostel is it's all about people – you actually mingle with them and nobody is concerned about personal service, you have to take responsibility for yourself. That should come naturally but I'm afraid we are all being made helpless by the conveniences provided everywhere we go (for a price).

And here's more – with those bunk beds there is always the chance of starting a good pillow fight, singing campfire songs or telling ghost stories until 3AM! :)

]]> By: AZ Dog Mom http://myplasticfreelife.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs/comment-page-1/#comment-6884 AZ Dog Mom Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:09:51 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2009/08/my-green-chicago-trip-part-1-hostel-vs-hotel/#comment-6884 Everyone should experience staying in a hostel at least once. Its humbling, yet freeing. (Though after a certain age, I don't think I'd want a top bunk again). Everyone should experience staying in a hostel at least once. Its humbling, yet freeing. (Though after a certain age, I don't think I'd want a top bunk again).

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