first Hostel in the Caucasus
Congrats to the folks at the Envoy Hostel - for opening the first hostel in the entire Caucasus. It is a beautiful space, right off Mashdots, fully remodeled and meeting the specifications of the YHI (I think it is). This will be yet another boost for tourism, and a magnet/hub for backpackers/budget travelers throughout the region.
posted by Raffi K. at 11:06 PM
12 Comments:
Great location. It's actually 1.5 blocks from my place. I can send any visitors over there from now on. :-)
Raffi, if I'm not mistaken, a Bed & Breakfast has just opened up between Pushkin and Amiryan on Koghbatsi, a minute walk from Mashtots ... another great location. I gotta check it out. I will post about it when I visit sometime this week.
My relatives have some friends visiting this month. They called 6 different hotels seeking 2 single rooms for 3 nights (Marriott, Ani, Congress, Yerevan, Metropol, Europe.) Every hotel said, "No we don't have any rooms." I REALLY want to know, is it possible? Locals keep saying, "They are lying", but why would they?
By the way, out of curiosity we asked Marriott how much their single rooms cost, we were quoted $150 + 20% tax a night. OUCH!
If you visit this hostel's site, make sure you see the comments section. The comment and the name of the "visitor" is quite funny.
$150 + 20% is not that bad. After all, the Armenia Hotel is at the heart of Armenia.
From what I read, the 'envoy hostel' sounds way better than some of the hostels I have stayed during the time during my backpacking days in Europe.
Once this envoy place is successful, others will hopefully copy. Heck, the local universities might start offering their dorm rooms to backpackers as well during the summer months.
The backpackers might be the worst kind of tourists out there because they stretch their dollar to the maximum but it's good publicity. Sooner or later these youth will have more disposable income and they may visit again and spend money then.
me thinks that was a test of the guestbook software :-)
in any case, September is the busiest month for hotels here. It has been this way for many years, and continues to be the case. So believe it. No space!
The b&b you mention - is it the one by the Italian guy who has the Spitak art stuff downstairs? Quite nice indeed.
Yes Raff, I think that is the same B&B. I saw art and souvenirs on the first floor when I passed by there.
According to a recent study, only 20% of tourists stay at hotels, and the rest either rent apartments or stay with relatives or friends. I suppose that is the reason why I am surprised regarding all hotels being completely full.
Amazing stuff. Tourism is growing quickly in Armenia.
No wonder 2 more major hotels in the center of Yerevan are being built/renovated now. The former Dvin - rumoured to be managed by Hilton, and the Youth Palace - rumoured to be managed by Sheraton. I think the former Sevan Hotel is also being rebuilt, across from Congress Hotel.
What about 52 Mashtots? That's a hostel and it is GREAT!
Katy - I'd call 52 Mashdots a cheap hotel rather than a hostel - since you're not sharing your room/kitchen/etc with strangers.
Der Hova - I hadn't heard the rumors about Sheraton/Hilton, but I do have good info about two B&Bs opening by the Cascades! :-) Also - even if "only" 20% stay in hotels, Armenia's getting over a quarter million tourists a year now if I remember correctly, and September is the busiest month from what I understand. (And remember none of them come from November to mid-March!)
By the way, I just dropped by the B&B I mentioned on Koghbatsi ... a beautiful place, mix of an Italian and Old Armenian feel, only about 4 rooms, but rates are really decent.
What happened to the hotel that Cilicia blogger Nicol/Zabel had?
As a frequent user of cheap accomodations in Yerevan, I can tell you September is impossible to find rooms! It seems that everyone (especially this september) was in town. The "dorms" (52 mashdots) was full as well as every "hostel-esque" place in the city.
Tourism is coming fast but the hope is that it grows out of Yerevan. I would love to see a chain of English speaking hostels show up in the major places (Vanazdor, Sevan area, etc)
Well, I am sure the hostel will have plenty of space this year... but suspect next year this time will be fully booked.
Hi there.
If Armenia has a quarter of a million tourists, how many of those would you think are Diasporan Armenian or have armenian roots somehow? I am visiting for the firt time in June, really look forward to it.
Post a Comment
<< Home