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Zostel: the fun and affordable backpacker hostels

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What is Zostel?

Travelling can be beautiful and even a life-changing experience for many. While we see new places and meet new people, we create amazing experiences that can stay with us till our last breath. Many youngsters these days have made travelling more of a hobby. Instead of depending on travel packages and tourist guides, they pick up their backpacks and go on an adventurous journey. Seeking the world on your own can be a lot more challenging and fulfilling than relying upon an agency to sort out the itinerary for you. However, in such cases, the trouble is finding the right places to stay. Need not worry, Zostel has got just the solution for you. 

Zostel (1) is India’s first backpackers’ hostel chain where you can have an enjoyable stay during your adventurous trip. It was launched in 2013 by a group of highly inspired professionals who graduated from the top universities in the country. Zostel has its presence in around 44 cities in India and Nepal. For those who have adopted travelling as a way of life, the Zostel series of hostels has proven to be truly helpful. It is not always feasible for travellers to book luxurious hotels when they have not yet planned out where their trip is going to end. Zostel offers an awesome way to enjoy your journey without worrying about where to spend the night. 

The features of a Zostel

Zostel

Zostels are not just a temporary place where you can fall asleep after a tiring day. The team intends to give a memorable experience to the voyagers through Zostel. They have set the ambience of Zostel to be fun and relaxed, just like the character of the people who often stay there. Guests are urged to hang out in the public rooms which are set with PlayStations, tabletop games, card games and different types of entertaining and relaxing activities. There are campfires and music gatherings in the nights. 

The staff at Zostels are also very friendly and hospitable. They help to connect the explorers with local guides in the city, book tickets etc. They even suggest plans for their journey, which is filled with more awesome activities. At a very affordable rate, each traveller will receive a bed, which is generally a loft, in an airconditioned hostel. They can also store their bags in a private storage facility which offers excellent security. The travellers are free to make use of the Wi-Fi at Zostels. They can also enjoy the benefits of a community kitchen, library and public room. Zostel own dormitories which have around three to 12 beds or you can buy a private room for 999 rupees. For female travellers, Zostel provides only-ladies bedrooms as well.

The beginning of Zostel 

Zostel was created by a group of young people who wanted to make a contribution to the traveller community. The founders are Akhil Malik, Dharmveer Singh Chouhan, Paavan Nanda, Tarun Tiwari, Chetan Singh Chauhan and Siddharth Janghu. They are graduates from the top universities in India like Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Indian Institute of Technology, BHU and MDI Gurgaon. Their vision was to help the backpackers by starting a hostel chain specifically for them. The team had observed that there were not enough accommodation options that would fit the budget of a regular traveller. 

Families or groups of friends who were on vacation could afford to stay in luxurious hotels or resorts during their travels. However, it was not the same for people who frequently go on adventures, driven by their love for travelling. The only options that they usually had enough money for were the local lodges. Unfortunately, these were often dirty and risky, especially for female backpackers. Most of the lodges were filled with fleecing visitors, and the staff had a rude demeanour. Therefore, Zostel established their backpacker hostel in 2013, which was the first of its kind in India. On 15 August of that year, the company inaugurated the first Zostel in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. 

The team of Zostel hopes to tackle the stereotypes in this stale market area and to make a new, modern market portion of explorer lodges in India. The most significant aim of all the Zostels has been to give a protected, clean, and moderate convenience wherein explorers can meet up and share their accounts while making some great memories. For this purpose, they have started various Zostels concentrating in areas that receive a large number of travellers. Their hostels can be found in the major tourist destinations in the country such as Kodaikanal, Leh, Manali, Mysore etc. 

Growth through the years

By the year 2017, Zostel had their hostel in around 38 towns in India and Nepal. The team had built more than 200 backpacker hostels which quickly became well-received by the travellers. They also launched the Zostel escape through which they strive to let the tourists experience profound experiences in the nearby areas. The people living in these localities handpick and direct the events that will be presented to you. This Zostel tries to give a fresh and authentic ordeal which is different from the conspicuous and touristy ideas and encounters. Within a few years, they plan to establish the Zostel Escape schemes across all the Zostels.

Zostel also introduced ZO Rooms with amazing facilities at reasonable prices. However, there were rumours that ZO Rooms were acquired by OYO, which is another giant in the market. But, OYO had denied this claim and ZO Room continued to be successful. By the year 2015, there were more than 750 hotels spread across 51 towns in India that collaborated with ZO Rooms. With a group that is youthful, certain, and overflowing with thoughts, there was not frankly any challenge that could stop them.

In 2015, Zostel made its restrictive information open to additionally build up the Indian business of hostel chains with the dispatch of its Entrepreneurship Development Program(EDP) according to which individuals entrepreneurs could open their inns under the Zostel Brand as a franchisee. Zostel also supports the small scale business enterprise as practically all the Zostels are controlled by handpicked, competent entrepreneurs in the locality through a franchise model.


Nidhia Sebastian is an English literature graduate who looks forward to a career that complements her passion. Her never-ending love for language has brought her to creative writing. Having an open heart to knowledge is what leaves her with a thirst to explore the world. She believes in living life to the fullest and hopes to convey the same enthusiasm through her words.

Source: https://timesnext.com/zostel-startup/

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