Byron Bay Not Just for Surfer Dudes

Byron Bay, known for its surfing beaches and alternative attitude, is one of the most popular backpacker stops on Australia’s east coast. More than 10 hostels provide low-cost lodgings, so travelers can save their funds to splurge on activities from surfing and diving lessons to tandem hang-gliding and sea kayaking.

Getting there can be fun too. Companies such as Pioneering Spirit are catering to backpacking travelers with three-day bus tours from Sydney.

Pioneering Spirit picks up passengers at six hostels around Sydney on Friday mornings. The three-day, $175 bus tour includes wine tasting at Hunter Valley, a winery; a stop at Booti Booti National Park for a look at the lakes and the Green Cathedral (outdoor church); and a stop for the night at the Butter Factory on the Wilson River, with its unusual solar-heated outdoor shower. Then it’s on to Port Macquarie and some dolphin sightings, a visit to the Koala Hospital, and hiking and swimming in Hat Head National Park with its huge sand dunes. The second night is spent at the historic Dorrigo Pub (doubles usually available on request) at Dorrigo World Heritage Rain Forest. The third day, en route to Byron Bay, there’s a nature walk and there are opportunities to white-water raft or visit a gold mine.

The fare includes accommodations, all meals except lunch (vegetarian meals available), entry fees, transportation and wine tastings. You can get a lift back to Sydney for $20 when the Pioneering Spirit returns. For more information, contact the Pioneering Spirit, P.O. Box 1473, Byron Bay 2481 NSW, Australia; telephone 011-61-412-048-333 or Internet https://www.users.omcs.com.au/pioneering.

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The Casa Mayo Eco-Resort in the Cayo district of Belize has announced that in addition to luxury cabanas it offers hostel facilities for $9.50 per night. The hostel/guest house, which is also used by student groups, has 32 beds with separate sections for men and women. Camping is also available at a nearby ancient Mayan village site, for $5.

The area is on a former Mayan medicine trail where more than 100 medicinal herbs are found, and an orchid trail featuring about 300 orchid plants. Hostel guests can also sign up for the resort’s regular tour options, which range from daylong canoe, caving and archeological tours ($50 to $85) to overnight expeditions.

The Casa Maya Resort is about an hour drive from Belize City in a private jungle valley near the Belize/Guatemala border. It’s a mile from San Ignacio and a 10-minute walk from the Western Highway, which has bus and cheap taxi service. For more information, contact Casa Maya Resort by e-mail at casamaya@btl.net or visit the Internet site: https://www.awrem.com/casamaya. Travelers in search of eco-friendly lodges in Belize can get some guidance from the “New Key to Belize” by Stacy Ritz (Ulysses Press, $14.95). It includes a special rating for 30 lodges that the author visited and found to follow “green” tourism practices.

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The year-old Las Vegas Backpackers Hostel & Adventure Center has announced special midweek rates. Dormitory accommodations that regularly cost $15 per night are now $12 Monday through Thursday. Dormitory rooms are shared by up to six travelers. Some singles and doubles are available.

The hostel is in the downtown area of Las Vegas, at 1322 E. Fremont, a good location for the pedestrian-friendly Fremont Street.

On-site amenities include a heated pool, Jacuzzi, deck with barbecue, full-service restaurant with beer and wine, common room, game room, vending and laundry facilities, free linens, secured private parking, satellite TV and full bath in every room and 24-hour reception and security. Guests get a free pancake breakfast and free pickup from the Greyhound and Amtrak stations.

The management describes the hostel as “strictly designed for well-mannered travelers,” and says the staff tries to provide an atmosphere for interaction with barbecues, theme parties, movie nights, billiard competitions and nightly home-cooked meals. The goal is to give guests good opportunities to get to know each other and exchange information.

For more information, contact the Las Vegas Backpackers Hostel and Adventure Center, 1322 E. Fremont, Las Vegas, NV 89101; tel. (702) 385-1150, Internet: https://www. hostels. com/lvbackpacker.