Quite a number of our guests are not exactly what you would call traditional backpackers.
There are quite a number of business professionals who choose to stay in hostels in their travels and expense is not the sole motivating factor.
A lot of business travelers find traditional hotels not only expensive, but sterile and less convivial. On extended business trips or conferences or at trade shows, they find their “down time” pretty lonely.
If you have ever read this “blog” before, you will find that here at the Canadiana Hostel, people make life long friendships and connections. Some of our hostels guests return after years between visits and find the experience like a homecoming.
A lot of lifelong frienships begin her and we’ve actually lost count of the number of marriages between couples who first met here. (Definitely more than fifteen!)
Our motto here is “It feels like home” and to a great many travelers, it actually does.
A lot of past guests have not yet managed a return visit to Toronto; but, we wager that on any return to our city, the hostel will be high on their list of places to revisit.
So if you are a past hostel visitor/guest/friend and catch this entry, drop us a comment and give us your take on the matter. (And by the way, we look forward to your return.)
Come on backpackers and business travelers. Call home!
Noriko (Japan) and Albain (France) met at hostel and later wed.
Lourens from South Africa and Hailey (ex-hostel staff) now engaged.
Big Stew (from Oz) and Little Katie hostel friends recently wed in Venezuela and now living Downunder.
I stayed for three weeks back in August of 2005, and now I stop by the hostel about once a week to grab lunch with my good friend Bill. This was my first home in Toronto.
So true! When I come back I will be coming to stay!
The Canadiana was my home for a long time and the people there became my family. I miss you all very much.
I travelled for the 1st time EVER to otherside of the world (what was I thinking) on my own. I wasn’t your ordinary 18-25yo backpacker.. I was more closer to 40! Eeeik.. LOL
Plonk!! I landed at the Canadian Backpackers Inn, 4 days earlier than my expected arrival time.. Here I was all frazzled, stressed, freezing and really home sick. But by the time it was my turn to book out and head in a direction towards home.. I didn’t want to leave. The people were fantastic, including the travellers that passed through, the atmosphere was always always warm and very welcoming.. I’ve made some quite amazing friends from my stay in Toroto due to this hostel, and still to this day we continually keep in contact.. Good work! Your No1 in my books..
Will I be back, YES of course!!
So true that there is nothing more depressing than being stuck in a sterile hotel when on a business trip…something I certainly learned from my stay in canadiana back in 2007. When I hit Toronto, be sure I ‘ ll be back!
Oh how I miss my Canadian home with Uncle Bill and my adopted Father Chris!
I hope to return one day when I’ve made my millions and say hello to all my old chums and to stay at my home from home.
My now husband and I stayed at the Canadiana for about 6 weeks. We settled in straight away and made loads of friends. We are still in touch with a couple of people who we met there and have even been to visit “Big Stew” in Australia. Even though it was my first Christmas away from home it was the best Christmas day I have ever had (don’t tell my mum that). The lady (Teresa) who cooked all the food for about 100 people deserves a medal.
We’ll be back!
First visited in 2007 and have been back every year since!
I stayed at the Canadiana for about a week when i came to Toronto on exchange for university. I am happy to say that through the hostel i met the best friend i made in Canada, and without him, my stay in Toronto would have been totally different, and probably, more sober.