Eco Wanderer
Looking to get out and explore Europe but conscious of your carbon footprint? Europe’s Famous Hostels and Interrail has the perfect solution for you – Eco Wanderer!
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that the pandemic has made us all quite thirsty to get out and explore. And while many of us are dreaming up plans and activities, one thing that likely keeps coming up is the question of sustainability. Travelling without impacting the planet can seem like an impossible feat, and we get that. Gone are the days of booking cheap flights and jetting around the continent without considering the implications it has on the environmental. So, how do we bridge that issue? Well, Europe’s Famous Hostels has the answer and we couldn’t be more excited to tell you all about it! Imagine a campaign that actually rewards you with discounts for making sustainable travel choices. Now imagine it partnered with the top hostels in Europe AND Interrail. That’s what Eco Wanderer is all about. And the cherry on top? The more conscious you are, the bigger your rewards. We’re not kidding! Let’s dig in.
About Eco Wanderer
Back in summer 2021, the European Travel Commission (ETC) hosted an open-call for applicants to pitch their best ideas to support sustainable travel. And whether you know it or not, 2021 was deemed, ‘Year of Rail’. So hearing from those in the travel and tourism industry was essential to finding a solid solution. Since Europe’s Famous Hostels has been a long-time partner of Interrail, Eco Wanderer was pitched as an idea. And after a few months, an announcement on the top campaigns was made. And Eco Wanderer was awarded a top spot! This is essentially how Eco Wanderer came to be.
But how does Eco Wanderer work?
We’ll start by saying that the campaign is only open to Interrail or Eurail pass holders. But now that we have that out of the way, let’s get into it:
Eco Wanderer officially kicks off on April 22nd, 2022, and is recognised by 39 fantastic hostels across Europe and Israel. For the full list of hostels and destinations, click here.
Once travellers have their Interrail ticket, they can head over to famoushostels.com and go to our CO2 conversion calculator. From there, users can enter their departure point and destination, and get a calculation for how much CO2 they’ve saved by opting for a train. Once they get their savings amount, participants can cash this in at their destination Famous Hostel for discounts and other cool perks. Essentially, we want to reward travellers for their greener choices.
But the rewards don’t stop there. ‘Eco-Wanderers’ will also get the chance throughout the year to participate in green initiatives, geocaching, and other challenges hosted by our hostels across Europe and Israel. The more you engage in the campaign, the more points you accumulate, and the bigger the prize. At the end of the year our top, ‘Eco-Wanderer’ will receive a one month Interrail pass, as well as free accommodation at our hostels. It really doesn’t get much better than that!
If you’re looking for more information on the campaign, check out out our promotional video for Eco-Wanderer:
Interrailing & Hostelling Around Europe
For all the first timers out there, you might be confused or overwhelmed about some of the terms we’ve thrown around. Who is Interrail or Eurail? What exactly is Interrailing? Are hostels safe? This section will break it all down for you.
Interrail and Eurail
In a nutshell, Interrail and Eurail are the same thing. The difference is in your citizenship: if you’re a non-EU citizen, you can purchase and Interrail ticket, and if you’re an EU citizen, you purchase a Eurail ticket. And what does the company do? We’re so glad you asked!
Interrail is a train pass company that’s been around for years. You can purchase passes for a single country, a group, or literally the whole continent. The option is up to you. Interrail has passes to suit all types of itineraries.
And if you’ve already done research on the company or backpacking, you’ve likely come across the term, ‘Interrailing’. This term simply refers to the idea of travelling around by train. And with Europe being SO WELL connected by rail, it’s truly a great way to see this gorgeous continent. And with the reintroduction of night trains across the continent, it’s also becoming a hugely convenient way to travel!
Maybe you’re asking yourself: is an Interrail pass worth it? Sure, we may be bias, but we believe it’s 100% worth the investment! Not only does it give you access to convenient and comfortable trains, passes also include extra perks.
Additional Perks
Each Interrail pass grants you different perks depending on the country you’re in, but on the whole, they’re essentially the same across the continent. You can get discounts on walking tours, travel insurance, and even car rentals. But the biggest perk? You get to participate in one of the coolest sustainable travel campaigns of the year! Of course we’re talking about Eco Wanderer. We’re so excited about it!
And Hostels?
Perhaps you’ve seen that terrible film, ‘Hostel’. Or maybe you’ve got an aunt or uncle who swears hostels are dirty and full of scary people who will do bad things to you. To put it briefly, both the film, and your aunt and uncle are oh so wrong about hostels. But rather than explain the ins and outs of our answer, we encourage you to check out a few of our posts on the topic, here and here.
Head to Bilbao, Spain with Eco Wanderer and stay at Latroupe La Granja
Where to Stay in Europe to Participate in Eco Wanderer
If you want to participate in Eco Wanderer and get rewards for being an Interrail pass holder, then you have to book with Europe’s Famous Hostels members. Located in 39 incredible spots around the continent, you’ll never have to scramble finding a great spot to lay your head at night. Not only are all member hostels the top rated in their destinations, they’re also diverse in what they offer to each traveller. Looking to make friends on the road? You can easily do that. Or if you’re just looking for a fun yet clean spot to call home for a few days, you can do that as well. At the end of the day, each hostel offers something different and you can create the experience the way you see fit.
Eco Wanderer
Eco Wanderer aims to not only reward travellers who choose trains over air travel with great discounts and other perks. It’s also designed to be a fun and interactive competition, hoping to bring the travel community a little bit closer together. So, are you up for the challenge? We can’t wait to see who will be crowned the ultimate Eco Wanderer!
If you need information to help you plan your adventure, click here for a range of helpful tips, city guides, food guides, and more. For all the latest news at Famous Hostels, follow us or subscribe on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and Youtube.
