{"id":127339,"date":"2020-03-05T10:17:43","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T10:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?p=127339"},"modified":"2020-03-05T10:17:43","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T10:17:43","slug":"female-hostel-owners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/female-hostel-owners\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering stories from 9 kick-ass female hostel owners"},"content":{"rendered":"

Incredible women empower us to be our best selves every day. Not only world leaders and celebrities, but our mums, sisters, aunts, nans, friends\u2026 even that girl on the bottom bunk who\u2019s been travelling the world solo<\/a> for the last two years. Just existing in this patriarchal world makes us all heroes, and that\u2019s before all the awesomeness we achieve every day! In celebration of International Women\u2019s Day, we spoke to 9 phenomenal female hostel owners from around the globe about the fantastic things they\u2019re doing and the people and places that inspired them to become the bosses that they are.<\/p>\n

1. Golnar Zamani and Habibeh Fathi \u2013 owners of <\/strong>HI Tehran Hostels<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Tehran, Iran<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Golnar and Habibeh are true heroes in their field, changing the game for both women and travel in Iran forever. As the country\u2019s first EVER female hostel owners, they set out to change perceptions about Iran and get more travellers excited about exploring their fascinating country.<\/p>\n

\u201c<\/em><\/strong>We knew there were and still are many misunderstandings about Iran as the result of politics and media. As avid travellers, we believe there\u2019s nothing better than direct experiences to change a wrong judgement. In our hostel we\u2019ve had many guests who came to Iran thinking it would be the most dangerous trip of their life and ended up going to local weddings and coming back again with their kids or parents, as they could see Iran is all about love when you explore it yourself.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 Golnar & Habibeh<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Golnar<\/em><\/p>\n

After opening the first HI Tehran hostel<\/a> in 2016 proved a massive success, the second branch was opened in the city in 2018, making it Iran\u2019s first hostel chain. But as you can imagine, being the first women running a\u00a0hostel in Iran<\/a>\u00a0hasn\u2019t always been easy.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was very difficult at the beginning – no one took us seriously. Getting authorisation was hard, especially as hostels were so rare – we had to present big proposals to the government about what one even was! On top of this, just being women was enough for some organisations to make it more difficult for us. Competitors and more experienced people in this industry weren’t willing to cooperate with us and we were isolated. Little by little, we became stronger and things got better. But it’s only fair to mention that we had many wonderful male colleagues, competitors and companions throughout our journey who backed us up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Habibeh<\/em><\/p>\n

In the last few years, more and more hostels have opened as the international travel community has woken up to the wonders of Iran. But HI Tehran remains a backpacker<\/a> favourite thanks to the warmth of Golnar, Habibeh and their teams. We love their traditional touches and community events, like arts and craft sessions with locals, neighbourhood walking tours and Iranian music nights. They also take care to be sustainable, growing their own fruit and veg and implementing water and energy saving measures.<\/p>\n

Golnar and Habibeh say their hope is to empower other women in the industry to start a business, as well as any young person in Iran or beyond who has a dream they want to pursue. \u201cWe really believe that our goals can be achieved and progress can be gained only if people, despite their gender, sexuality, race, beliefs and differences, connect with each other and create a better synergy.\u201d<\/p>\n

We know we could all learn something from this pioneering pair of female leaders.<\/p>\n

2. Kim Whitaker \u2013 owner of <\/strong>Once in Cape Town<\/strong><\/a> and <\/strong>Once in Joburg<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 South Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After a backpacking trip around South America<\/a>, Kim fell in love with hostel life and returned to Cape Town with a new-found passion, opening her first hostel in the city in 2007 aged just 23. She says \u201cI made a ton of mistakes! But in the process, I learnt a number of valuable lessons. I call this the University of Life.\u201d In 2013, she opened the doors to Once in Cape Town<\/a>, followed by Once in Joburg<\/a> in 2016. Kim is an inspirational figure in the world of travel, having co-founded the GET (Gender Equal Travel) group with three other industry women \u2013 Stephanie Taylor-Carrillo of Sandeman hostels, Anne Dolan of Clink Hostels and Marie Louise Henny of Hans Brinker hostels.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were sitting in Serbia at a travel show and were amazed at the all-male line-up of speakers at the show, and how few women were represented in senior roles, despite the travel industry being predominantly female. We decided to do something, and started GET. We\u2019ve since registered a non-profit in Holland, hosting regular meet-ups for women in travel, promoting mentorship and recommending female speakers to conferences<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 Kim<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Kim<\/em><\/p>\n

The Once hostels are social spots adored by solo travellers<\/a>, with modern amenities and fun freebies like traditional braai BBQs, yoga classes and \u2018no power hours\u2019, a party with free drinks for anyone who doesn\u2019t bring their phone. This open and welcoming environment is what Kim is most proud of:<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the synergy between people from all around the world. In a time where nationalism and racism seems to be the order of the day, I love walking into a place which encourages free conversations and dialogue between travellers. Connecting in an old-school, authentic way, expanding minds, learning about new cultures and understanding different ways of viewing the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 ONCE in Joburg<\/em><\/p>\n

Alongside Once\u2019s Duty Manager Asanda Daraza, Kim also co-founded the non-profit organisation Khwela<\/a>, meaning \u2018to climb\u2019 in local language isiXhosa. Its aim is to combat youth unemployment in South Africa through training and mentoring young women from disadvantaged communities, providing them with the skills to work in the tourism industry. The program involves a 6-month paid internship and a three-week road trip through South Africa.<\/p>\n

Our 2020 goal? Be more Kim!<\/p>\n

3. Tatjana Pia Benkert <\/strong>\u2013 owner of <\/strong>The Purpose Hostel<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Antigua, Guatemala <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before The Purpose Hostel<\/a> opened in spring 2018, Tatjana was looking for a way to combine her love for travel with something that could make a positive impact in her city, giving Purpose (\ud83d\ude09) to the community. \u201cI said a few years ago that opening a hostel<\/a> is the last thing I would ever do, but that\u2019s the beauty of life! After a wild rollercoaster ride here I am, part of a diverse team of passionate individuals not only working together in a hostel, but working towards a better future for ourselves and our community.\u201d \u2013 Tatjana<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 The Purpose Hostel team – Tatjana top middle<\/em><\/p>\n

In The Purpose Hostel<\/a>, Tatjana and her business partners created an eco-friendly, socially conscious project with a focus on wellness and nature \u2013 it\u2019s surrounded by three volcanoes which guests can gaze at while doing yoga on the roof! Their community work includes providing after school help to single mothers working at the city\u2019s markets, growing crops for the elderly on their rooftop garden and providing education and employment training to locals at their on-site skills centre. They invite guests to volunteer with them in the area, using a \u2018pay it forward\u2019 system to spread the positive vibes:<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every 10 hours a guest spends volunteering with us in our community, The Purpose Hostel gives a free night to a fellow traveller. Everybody wins! We\u2019re not just a hostel, but so much more too.\u00a0 We\u2019re a diverse, dedicated, mostly female group, who focus on a \u2018pay it forward\u2019 approach while learning and growing together.<\/em><\/p>\n

For example, we\u2019re all learning Guatemalan sign language together and we welcome our guests to join in on the fun with free sign language lessons. The single mothers and children we support through our after-school program also attend. Why Guatemalan sign language you might wonder? We work with deaf team members and one of my business partners is deaf.\u201d<\/em> – Tatjana<\/p>\n

The difference that Tatjana and her team are making to people\u2019s lives is astounding. If backpacking Guatemala<\/a> is in your 2020 backpacking plans, volunteering with them in Antigua is an experience that\u2019s rewarding and fun in equal measure.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 The Purpose Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

What advice would Tatjana give to young female leaders?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just don\u2019t know \u2013 you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re capable of, and you don\u2019t know what life has in store for you. Just show up for yourself and your community and amazing things can happen!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

4. Tizia Basener \u2013 owner of <\/strong>Nyumbani Hostel<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Arusha, Tanzania <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Nyumbani means \u2018at home\u2019 in Swahili, and it\u2019s the motto that Tizia and her team live by. She started the hostel in 2015 without a big budget but armed with a passion for hostels developed on her travels through Latin America, India and Europe, and a love for her husband Tini\u2019s home country Tanzania. They bought a new bed for their family home which they rented out to travellers, saving the money to buy an extra bed each time. Fast forward to today, their family home has 22 beds that sleep nomads from all over the world!<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Tizia, Tini and their son<\/em><\/p>\n

Tizia says that welcoming guests as part of the Nyumbani family is one of the most rewarding things about running her hostel<\/a>. But it\u2019s not just a cosy spot to spend a night \u2013 Tizia and Tini also do important work in their community.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Tanzania there is still much need to improve daily life, especially for vulnerable people. We founded <\/em>Viva Tanzania<\/em><\/a> in order to support local NGOs, offering volunteer work and internships. We support 14 different projects in Arusha in the fields of education, women\u2019s rights, youth empowerment, healthcare, disability care, animal welfare and environmental conservation. From July onwards we are planning to <\/em>build a Nursery School for disadvantaged Maasai children<\/em><\/a>. We are currently collecting donations and are excited about the support we are receiving.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Tizia<\/p>\n

You might think that managing incredible projects like this takes a pretty sensational support network \u2013 and you\u2019d be right. Tizia says \u201cwithout our employees our hostel would not be the same. We have our manager who takes care that everything is running smoothly, our two Mamas who are excellent cooks who also keep the hostel clean and tidy, and lovely staff who do whatever is needed, like driving, guiding or being watch guards in the night.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\ud83d\udcf7 Nyumbani Hostel<\/em><\/p>\n

Tizia returns this support by making sure her staff always feel valued in an economy that isn\u2019t always stable. They\u2019re paid above minimum wage and are offered help to build their houses, provided with electricity and running water and assisted with costs surrounding weddings and sickness. Every employee\u2019s child is sent to private school, funded not only by the hostel<\/a> but also through the donations of guests and volunteers!<\/p>\n

5. Marina Moretti \u2013 owner of <\/strong>\u00d4 de Casa Hostel Bar<\/strong><\/a> – S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Back in 2007, Marina wasn\u2019t happy about the fact her city was being overlooked by the majority of backpackers in South America.<\/a> \u201cThere were no independent traveller hostels in S\u00e3o Paulo<\/a> and the Brazil edition of Lonely Planet only dedicated 5 of its 500 pages to the city. People just didn’t come here and I knew what a great city it was!\u201d At the time, she was living with friends in the ultra-cool neighbourhood of Vila Madalena, and they had the crazy idea to transform their student house into a hostel. \u201cWe made it nice, published it on Hostelworld and people started coming!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Marina<\/em><\/p>\n

They certainly did. \u00d4 de Casa<\/a> quickly became one of the continent\u2019s most popular hostels, raking in plenty of HOSCARs<\/a> over the years including best hostel in Brazil<\/a>. So, what was the secret to Marina\u2019s success?<\/p>\n

\u201c\u00d4 de Casa has never been thought of as a business, it’s more like a community. We care for people working here as if we\u2019re a big family with relatives all around the globe, made up of people who worked here in different periods. We invite every guest that steps through our doors to be part of this family and to live a life of fun while they\u2019re here.\u201d <\/em>\u2013 This fun starts with free caipirinhas on arrival and ends up in cacha\u00e7a pong and parties on the roof!<\/p>\n

\u00d4 de Casa\u2019s location in vibrant, bohemian Vila Madalena is a massive part of its identity, so Marina is eager to give back to the neighbourhood as much as possible, hiring locally, stocking local products in the bar and promoting events in the area. She\u2019s proud that there\u2019s no gender pay gap between her employees.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0\u00d4 de Casa<\/em><\/p>\n

We asked Marina her advice for the next generation of female leaders:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever it is, follow your heart and just do it. Starting my own business changed my life \u2013 opening a hostel is like starting your own little world and we get to become part of the history of everyone who comes to stay with us. If you can create a community, there\u2019s nothing nicer or more rewarding to do with your life. You\u2019ll meet wonderful women along the way who will raise you up \u2013 people like to put women in competition with one another, but in reality we couldn\u2019t be more supportive.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

6. Stephanie Duenker \u2013 owner of <\/strong>Cloudcroft Mountain Park Hostel<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 New Mexico, USA<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Hostelling is in Stephanie\u2019s DNA. Her grandparents ran and lived in a hostel while she was growing up in Germany and she spent lots of time there and in other hostels around the country with her family. Her early travel memories sowed the seeds that led to her eventually opening a hostel in the Sacramento Mountains – \u201cI always loved countryside hostels in unusual places, like old castles in Scotland or romantic villas in Italy\u201d. Cloudcroft Hostel\u2019s location is certainly unusual, at an altitude of 6,700 feet and surrounded by 28 acres of forest with endless hiking trails on its doorstep.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Stephanie<\/em><\/p>\n

But what\u2019s most impressive about this cosy remote hostel is how it got there in the first place \u2013 Stephanie and her partner at the time built the entire thing from scratch!<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found the space in 2001 after looking for months for the perfect spot for our hostel and home. The property we found had been abandoned years ago and was full of junk, but being an architect, I saw its potential. We demolished and totally rebuilt the house \u2013 all 6000 square foot of it! We overdid ourselves and ran out of money after one year, so I went back to work full time and built at the weekends, which is why it took five years to eventually open up the hostel in 2006. In 2014 I began running the hostel by myself, and now in 2020 I\u2019ve finally got Cloudcroft to be exactly as I always imagined!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Cloudcroft<\/a> is a true labour of love, something that\u2019s obvious to every guest who\u2019s welcomed by Stephanie. \u201cI manage, book and clean the hostel<\/a> all by myself. I have no employees, so often I let guests check in when I\u2019m not around. I like to trust people and so far people didn\u2019t disappoint me!\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Cloudcroft<\/em><\/p>\n

Okay, we\u2019re exhausted just hearing about Stephanie\u2019s dedication! So, what makes all the hard work worth it?<\/p>\n

\u201cI love it when travellers stay at the hostel for the first time, fall in love with it, come back or ask for recommendations. It makes me so happy to hear random strangers sitting together, talking and laughing!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

7. Veronika Karacova \u2013 owner of <\/strong>Caveland<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Santorini, Greece <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Santorini is one of the world\u2019s most stunning destinations \u2013 those whitewashed buildings, lantern-lit streets and ocean views are the stuff our travel dreams are made of. As its popularity began to boom, Veronika and her husband had the idea to open a hostel in the village of Karterados, away from the typical tourist spots. They wanted to stay true to tradition without skipping any of the beauty and luxury that Santorini is famous for. So, in 2011, Caveland<\/a> was born!<\/p>\n

\u201cCaveland is under heritage protection, as it\u2019s a fine example of typical local architecture. Our rooms are traditional Santorinian caves – inhabitable holes dug into the ground. We have 10 in total, and the architecture, design and decoration is unique for every single one. Our place has loads of character\u2026springtime at Caveland is especially beautiful, because the flowers are in bloom and our quiet corners are filled with the most colourful plants<\/em>.\u201d \u2013 Veronika<\/p>\n

\"Veronika<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcf7 Veronika<\/em><\/p>\n

Every corner of Caveland is special, from its reading nooks to ocean-view terraces and pastel-hued pool area. All its quirky furnishings are sourced sustainably, with Veronika scouring local flea markets and upcycling as much as possible. No generic flat-packed stuff here!<\/p>\n

Community vibes and social events are a massive part of the Caveland experience, with cooking nights, group trips out to local restaurants, yoga classes twice a week and yoga retreats outside of peak season. Veronika says that building a global family is one of her favourite things about owning a hostel<\/a> \u2013 \u201cI am proud to know so many great people from around the world who considered Caveland<\/a> their home. Our staff are the heart of the hostel, and every person that worked for us left their footprint here.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Caveland – @gabriellabezeau<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

So, which other awesome women inspired Veronika to become the boss that she is?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m lucky to have incredible women in my life – my Mum, my Aunt, many girlfriends. Once a year we do a girls only trip and it\u2019s a very inspiring time for me. We share stories about our lives, we discuss politics, work, philosophy, we talk about books we\u2019re reading, we share stories about our kids and families. My kids are my biggest teachers, I\u2019ve learned from them to be more patient and live in the moment<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

8. Marina Hamzah \u2013 owner of <\/strong>Hikers Sleep Port<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Cameron Highlands, Malaysia <\/strong><\/h2>\n

In the heart of Malaysia\u2019s epic Cameron Highlands, surrounded by endless emerald hills and tea plantations, Hikers Sleep Port<\/a> is proudly run by Marina, who lives in the hostel with her husband and four children. With a background in hospitality, she was disappointed by the lack of affordable accommodation in Tanah Rata, the part of the region where her husband often worked as a nature guide, sleeping in his car to avoid pricey hotels! They were inspired to open their \u2018home away from home\u2019 hostel, a place for travellers to embrace a \u2018local Malaysian way of living\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve taken everything we love about our culture to create a hostel with Malay house concepts. We serve local Malaysian breakfast which we cook personally in our kitchen, so our guests wake up to the smells of fried noodles, fried rice and homemade kaya (coconut jam), prepared with love every morning. We live in the hostel where we host our global \u2018family\u2019, so we\u2019re always there to welcome our guests at any time!\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Marina<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Marina<\/em><\/p>\n

Being in such a spectacular location (seriously, if you don\u2019t know about the Cameron Highlands, Google them right now), Marina feels that it\u2019s important to support environmental projects that help the area and allow its magnificence to be shared with as many people as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe sponsor and have maintained a recycling centre nearby since last year. We work closely with the Forestry Department of Cameron Highland, establishing a new hiking trail to Mount Brinchang Barat which is the second highest peak here. In 2018, we enhanced the trail to Mount Irau which is one of the oldest and most beautiful forests in the world, making it safer and more convenient for hikers. We do this free of charge because of our love for nature<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7\u00a0Cameron Highlands – Marina<\/em><\/p>\n

Alongside their work improving the Highlands, Hikers Sleep Port also supports indigenous people in the region through community projects, renovating local facilities like libraries and playgrounds and helping to organise English lessons. \u201cAt the same time, we learn a lot about their culture\u201d \u2013 Marina.<\/p>\n

9. Melissa Oconitrillo <\/strong>\u2013 owner of <\/strong>Capital Hostel de Ciudad<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 San Jos\u00e9, Costa Rica <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Three years ago, Melissa had enough of working 12-hour shifts at a hotel and knew that her passion for travel was being wasted in the wrong place. \u201cI started feeling the need to open a place that gave back to our city – San Jos\u00e9 had an undeserved reputation for not offering anything special or cultural, and I thought that wasn\u2019t fair. I wanted to encourage people to stay longer in San Jos\u00e9 and to live the local experiences that I fall in love with every day\u201d. The chic boutique hostels that are found throughout Costa Rica were few and far between in the capital, and Melissa thought it was time to raise the standard.<\/p>\n

Along came Capital Hostel de Ciudad<\/a>, a design-led hostel full of loving touches and chiller-than-chill vibes, offering events and walking tours to showcase the excellence of San Jos\u00e9. And next to this innovative female hostel owner every step of the way was another brilliant woman \u2013 her mum Mercedes!<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udcf7 Melissa and Mercedes<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHaving my mom as part of this team is so important. She provides stability and maturity that only life experience can give you. We get along, she\u2019s always so chill and even though she didn\u2019t have a background in hospitality, customer service just runs through her veins. Everyone who knows her can tell you she\u2019s smiles and laughs 24\/7. She also LOVES to travel, meet new cultures and try food from all over the world. Like mother, like daughter<\/em>!\u201d \u2013 Melissa<\/p>\n

So, what advice does Melissa have for the next generation of female leaders?<\/p>\n

\u201cIgnore every bit of self-doubt \u2013 if you don\u2019t lose focus of your goals, everything will work out in the end. Stop caring what people think! I\u2019ve never followed what society expects from women. I\u2019m in my 30s, not married and I don\u2019t have kids, but this project is what completes me. My hostel lets me positively impact people\u2019s lives and to me, that is everything.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

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\n\ud83d\udcf7 Capital Hostel de Ciudad<\/em><\/p>\n

Who else is feeling empowered after hearing from these amazing female hostel owners? Let\u2019s follow in their footsteps and be the best leaders, innovators and adventurers we can be. The patriarchy isn\u2019t gonna smash itself!<\/b><\/p>\n

To explore these hostels and thousands more, download the Hostelworld app!\"\" <\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Keep reading:\u00a0\u2b07\ufe0f<\/h2>\n

\ud83c\udf1f\u00a010 places to visit that empower women<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf1f\u00a010 best hostels for solo female travellers<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf1f\u00a0Why women travel solo: 11 women share their reasons<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Incredible women empower us to be our best selves every day. Not only world leaders and celebrities, but our mums, sisters, aunts, nans, friends\u2026 even that girl on the bottom bunk who\u2019s been travelling the world solo for the last two years. Just existing in this patriarchal world makes us all heroes, and that\u2019s before…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":135724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9659],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-127339","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspire-me","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"\nFemale hostel owners: 9 stories from kick-ass women - Hostelworld<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read 9 inspiring stories from female hostel owners around world. Discover why & how these kick-ass women opened a hostel. 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