HostelBookers Unveils Travel Behaviour Trends

LONDON, February 16, 2011 - Back in September 2010, HostelBookers, the budget accommodation
specialist, launched its biggest ever travel survey. It was a great
opportunity for customers not only to share their travel experiences but also
to be questioned about their preferred mode of transport and their attitude
to love and sex while abroad.

The results are in and reveal the travel trends (
www.hostelbookers.com/survey-results-2011/) from over 15,000
respondents: 'Sightseeing and culture' (80.7%) is the main reason customers
choose to travel followed by 'city break' (47.0%) and 'visiting friends and
family' (44.6%). Travellers have upped their accommodation budget: In 2009,
28% of them spent over $/GBP/EUR30 compared to 40% spending the same in 2010,
but it also appeared people are feeling the pinch as the number of them
taking 'no trips' increased from 2.4% in 2009 to 5.4% in 2010.

It also emerged that the Internet remains the number one resource for our
customers, whether booking hostels (www.hostelbookers.com/) online or
keeping in touch with friends and family. Over 86% of those surveyed check
the Internet at least twice a week on holiday. To respond to this demand for
Web access, many of our hostels now supply guests with Wi-Fi and Internet
kiosks.

The survey results show that the English (8.3%) followed by Australian
(8.2%) and Italians (7.8%) make the best lovers. Bottom of the list for the
second year in a row are the Irish.

More travellers are enjoying nookie in dorms, 16% in 2010 up from 14% in
2009. The results also show an increase in the number of people taking
precautions and having protected sex on their travels: 92% practiced safe sex
on holiday in 2009 but last year this figure rose to 94%.

David Smith, COO at HostelBookers, said: "Last year we carried out the
biggest ever travel survey to find out more about our customers and their
needs in order to maintain the great service we deliver. It is interesting to
see that people consider hostels the best choice for atmosphere, unbeatable
prices and that they offer better city centre locations than many hotels."

For further information please go to
www.hostelbookers.com/survey-results-2011/

HostelBookers is the only budget accommodation website in the travel
industry that does not apply a service charge and is, on average, 8.7%
cheaper (www.hostelbookers.com/hostelworld-price-comparison/) than its
nearest competitor. It features over 20,000 hostels and budget properties on
its website in 3,500 destinations across the world.

Giovanna Gentile, +44(0)20-7440-4931 - gentile.giovanna@hostelbookers.com

Giovanna Gentile, +44(0)20-7440-4931 - gentile.giovanna at hostelbookers.com