Having traveled frequently over the past few years, I’ve gained a lot of experience, including staying in hostels, hotels, and AirBnBs. When I travel solo, I usually opt for hostels. However, when traveling with a companion, we might stay in a hotel, hostel, or even an AirBnB, depending on the destination and available budget. From all the cities, places, and countries Kyle and I have visited, there are a few accommodations that have left a lasting impression, primarily due to their facilities, cleanliness, and location. Price is, of course, a consideration, though not the main one. Based on these experiences, I’ve compiled a list of recommended hostels, hotels, and AirBnBs in several cities.
If you’re planning to travel to Barcelona, Dubrovnik, New York, Tokyo, or Washington DC, here are some recommendations based on our personal experiences and satisfaction. Check them out:
1. BARCELONA, SPAIN
In this vibrant city, we stayed at Sant Jordi Hostels – Sagrada Familia. This hostel chain has branches in Barcelona and Lisbon, Portugal, but we chose the one near the iconic Sagrada Familia. The location was perfect, just a 10-15 minute walk to the famous basilica. There’s also a bus stop only a minute’s walk away, and the subway station is about five minutes away. I preferred taking the bus since it allowed me to see more of Barcelona during the ride.
If anyone asks me for a hostel recommendation in Barcelona, my answer is always Sant Jordi Sagrada Familia. The location is a big plus, but the facilities inside the hostel are also great. Kyle and I booked beds in a mixed dorm at €18.5 per person per night. The room was clean, the beds were comfortable, each with its own reading lamp and power outlet. The bathrooms were well-maintained, complete with a hairdryer. After checkout, we were able to store our luggage in a designated room.
While we were in Barcelona, it rained quite often. Fortunately, the hostel hosted fun activities in the common room like Halloween parties and pub tours when it wasn’t raining. They also organized walking tours, which were perfect for both solo travelers and groups. Even when we weren’t doing anything, just hanging out in the common room was fun, with a great atmosphere to meet other travelers, use the internet on the many available computers, or cook in the kitchen. Breakfast wasn’t included in the booking, but they offered a continental breakfast buffet for €6-8 per person.
2. DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Kyle and I used AirBnB a few times during our Europe trip at the end of 2018. One that really impressed me was an AirBnB in Dubrovnik. Not only was it affordable at €20 per night for a private room (for two people), but the location was also amazing. Although it wasn’t in the Old Town, our balcony had a direct view of the Adriatic Sea! The view was stunning. Additionally, there was a “private” beach just a 10-minute walk down the stairs, which actually belonged to Vbrica village. Since it wasn’t a tourist area, the beach was quiet, and we loved sitting on the sand and admiring the crystal-clear water.
AirBnB is a great way to save money when traveling with a companion or in a group, as you pay per room, not per person like in a hostel. For nearly the same price as a hostel bed, we saved money and had more privacy. The AirBnB we stayed in also had a kitchen and a washing machine (for an extra €4 per person). We stayed for three nights in Natasa’s place. Since it was outside the Old Town, we took a bus to the Old Town, which was a 10-minute ride for 14 kuna (almost €2 per trip).
3. NEW YORK CITY, USA
During our trip to NYC in March, we stayed at Jazz on the Park Hostel located on the Upper West Side. The best part about this hostel was its location—right across from Central Park! All we had to do was cross the street to take a walk or relax in the park. The subway station was only three blocks away, about a five-minute walk. From there, it took just 10-15 minutes to get to Times Square.
I found and booked the hostel on short notice for $40 per night. If booked further in advance, you might get a cheaper rate. However, $40 is still considered one of the cheapest options for accommodation in central NYC. If you want something cheaper, you’d have to stay in New Jersey, which would require a train ride on the Jersey Transit ($8 per trip). Given its strategic location, Jazz on the Park definitely earns a spot on my list.
Besides the location, the hostel had a lively common room for meeting other travelers, a kitchen, and a luggage storage area. My dorm room had only two beds, meaning I only had to share with one other person. However, the hostel didn’t have an elevator, so be prepared to carry your luggage upstairs. The bathrooms weren’t as good as in American hotels or even Japanese hostels. And finding a working hairdryer was a challenge! I finally found the only functioning one in the men’s bathroom, which was quite a surprise.
4. TOKYO, JAPAN
Last week in Tokyo, I stayed at Pumpkey Hostel in Shinjuku. I specifically chose a hostel in Shinjuku because I wanted to explore the nearby areas. During Golden Week, I paid $33 per night. To get there, I took a limousine bus from Haneda Airport and got off at Shinjuku Subway Station, then took the Marunouchi line toward Ikebukuro and got off at Yotsuya-Sanchome. From the station, it was just a 10-minute walk to the hostel, located on a small street next to the Korean Center.
The location was great, but what impressed me most and earned it a place on my list was the cleanliness. Japan is known for its cleanliness, but the hostel far exceeded my expectations! Every part of the hostel, including the bathrooms and dorms, was spotless, and the beds were comfortable.
The bathrooms were split into two rooms—one for storing your belongings and another with a bathtub and shower. I wasn’t sure if this setup was standard in Japan, as it was my first time there, but I found the bathtub particularly charming. There was also a separate room for the toilet, and hairdryers were located near the sinks.
The $33 per night included breakfast, but if you didn’t want breakfast, it was $31 per night. The breakfast was served in the common room, which doubled as the dining room and kitchen. It was simple, with bread and jam, but I thought it would’ve been nicer if they had served Japanese food instead.
Another reason Pumpkey Hostel made it to my recommended list was the friendliness of the staff. One of them was an Indonesian student doing a Ph.D. in Tokyo. Interestingly, not many Indonesian tourists stay at this hostel.
5. WASHINGTON DC, USA
In March, when we visited Washington DC with Kyle’s mom, we stayed at Hotel Hamilton, a 3-star hotel in downtown DC. The location was fantastic, making it easy to get around. It was just a 10-minute walk to the White House and a 20-minute walk to the National Mall and The Capitol. There was also a free circulator bus available.
Aside from the great location, Hotel Hamilton made it to my list because of its comfort. The rooms were nice and spacious, with a sofa bed, and the bathroom was well-equipped with a bathtub, robe, and shower amenities. We paid $170 per night because we booked well in advance, but the normal price was $321 per night.
These recommendations are based on my personal experiences. For cities I haven’t visited or where my experience wasn’t memorable, like Kyoto or Singapore, I can’t offer recommendations.
Do you have any memorable accommodation experiences?
A lot of powerlifters use rack pulls as a deadlift help
exercise, but they’re also an effective motion in their very own proper.
The sumo deadlift has gained big reputation and is a “fashionable” train amongst the overall fitness center gower.
We would sometimes only use this exercise for athletes that are trying to
overload the adductor muscles. The single leg barbell
Romanian deadlift, is similar as the only leg dumbbell Romanian deadlift, but
as a substitute of holding the dumbbell in one hand,
you’re holding the barbell in two hands. The single leg dumbbell Romanian deadlift is a variation of
the Romanian deadlift but carried out on one leg whilst holding a dumbbell in a single hand.
You should feel a stretch in your hamstrings when the
weights are beneath your knees.
Additionally, resistance coaching can help improve steadiness and coordination, reducing the chance
of falling and fractures. Deadlifting regularly can benefit older adults as a outcome of more rigidity could be utilized safely on the bones more than different weight-bearing activities.
This variation reverses the standard deadlift—the motion begins within the standing place,
which is the place the standard version finishes. Variations let you emphasize totally different elements of the exercise.
“I like to suppose of [the posterior chain] as the workforce for a lot of performance in general,” says Ellis.
Utilizing a rack decreases the vary of movement you can do with a deadlift.
You begin with the bar round knee peak instead of
on the ground. The benefit of doing this is that you’ll have the flexibility to carry
a lot heavier masses, and it will target the again more
than the legs.
This is a superb train to learn to carry out the hip-hinge motion sample by using the
stick, which guides you into the correct position. Nevertheless, it’s a technically demanding train so
it’s better suited to athletes with an intermediate-advanced training history in the health club and who moves well and has a good base of strength.
Develop overall energy and energy, particularly in the muscles
of the posterior chain. For a deeper dive into the muscles labored
for deadlift variations take a look at this hyperlink.
Historically, strongmen in circuses carried out all manner of deadlifts
as feats of energy as far again as the early 1800s.
The deadlift is way from a single train, and a number of variations
let you goal specific advantages. Training your trunk muscles and core is a
key facet of well-rounded fitness programs.
Deadlifts could be performed using a variety of training tools, with the barbell being
the most common choice. Benefits of squats include strengthening the
muscles in your glutes, quads, and thighs.
As you can see, there are heaps of benefits of deadlifts to be enjoyed,
and in all honesty, we haven’t even scratched the surface when it comes to simply how
beneficial they’re. Work in your kind, experiment with lighter weights
and different rep ranges, and ensure you’re doing them regularly.
If your deadlift is lacking, incorporate more leg presses into your routine and you must begin to note a
distinction very quickly at all.
For example, in case your left leg is planted, you may maintain the kettlebell in your
left hand. You ought to move via the above progressions fairly rapidly, relying on your fitness degree.
When prepared, transfer on to the 2 dumbbell variation we discussed above, or one of these
options. Then to further challenge your balance, once you’ve got mastered this
variation, attempt adding a knee drive in at the end. Very few sports, or daily actions, take place on each legs, making unilateral coaching important.
Higher but, do each, and luxuriate in all of the benefits these
two actions have to offer.
Whether you perform the motion with dumbbells, a kettlebell, or a barbell, all
of them deserve a spot in your exercise routine. With the
hex bar (or entice bar), you now are altering your arm position which can result in the muscular tissues being used another
way with less bicep engagement. The hex bar deadlifts can also build some extra energy, pace, and energy over
traditional deadlifts. Deadlifts are a cornerstone of weightlifting, renowned for strengthening
the back and posterior chain muscles (1). As
one of the “big three” lifts — alongside squats and bench presses — deadlifts
are important for constructing general strength
and attaining impressive numbers in the gym. However, performing the
identical movement repeatedly can turn out to be monotonous.
Think About incorporating the reverse deadlift into your routine to shake things up and maintain your
training contemporary.
Dietary Supplements can act as an adjunct to a balanced diet,
especially within the realm of deadlifting.
Consuming the best steadiness of macronutrients – carbohydrates, proteins, and fat
– fuels your workouts and fosters muscle progress and restore.
Deadlifts stimulate the manufacturing of testosterone and growth hormone – two essential hormones for muscle
progress and overall health.
The deficit deadlift involves standing on a platform or plates to extend the range of
motion of the lift. The snatch grip deadlift places extra emphasis on the
upper again muscles and trapezius while still targeting the lower body muscles and torso.
Sumo deadlifts are carried out with a large foot stance, typically 2-3 x shoulder width apart, and an upright
torso position.
See 15 Safest Deadlift Alternate Options to Protect Your
Again for extra exercise choices that put the
least stress in your again. Then, examine Lamar Gant,
who became a great powerlifter regardless of having scoliosis of the
back. Not only is it a shame to neglect them, however weak posterior muscles are the
principle culprits in decrease back pain and restricted mobility.
Excessive sitting aka sitting disease is the primary purpose that your posterior chain is underactive and weak.
It includes lifting the band from a staggered stance, allowing you to
interact one leg at a time and construct unilateral power.
When evaluating weight vary, deadlift allows for heavier weights than Romanian deadlift.
Muscle activation additionally differs, with deadlift emphasizing
quad activation and Romanian deadlift concentrating on glutes and hamstrings.
References:
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