“We are so happy to finally be in Las Vegas!!!”

Heeey heeey….what happens in vegas stays in vegas ok….come on now. EXCEPT FOR BED JUMPING THAT IS!!

With a total number of 18 parks and gardens, covering an area over 140 hectares, it’s no wonder Perth is most often described as a parkland oasis of Australia. Gardens have always played a great part in Perth’s city planning strategies, and, over time, have become an integral part of its identity….

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When talking about what to see and do in Melbourne, you just have to mention at least one of the city’s amazing festivals. The most populous city of Australia, Melbourne i’s a real hub of all the celebrations in the state of Victoria. The city is ranked in the top three of World’s…

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For some, traveling means staying in 5-star resorts with modern amenities, Michelin award winning restaurants, and uber-attentive customer service teams. For others, travel means getting anywhere in the world that can be reached within a budget, even if it means staying in a hostel rather than a hotel.

Fortunately, for those trekking towards Sweden, staying in a hostel can be an incredibly adventurous experience – especially if they’re able to get a room in the Jumbo Hostel.

What is the Jumbo Hostel?

The Jumbo Hostel is, quite possibly, one of the most incredibly innovative hostels ever created. Located in at the Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, Sweden, the Jumbo Hostel was created by hotel owner Oscar Dios. Oscar wanted to expand his business but wanted to find something new and creative – something that would stand out from other hotels and hostels in the area.

He heard about an out of commission 747-200 jumbo jet that had originally been built in 1976. The jet was at one point owned by a Swedish airline known as Transjet but the airline went out of business in 2002.

Dios went on to purchase the jumbo jet and then obtained a permit that would allow him to establish the Jumbo Hostel at the entrance to the airport in Stockholm. In January of 2008 the project began as the seats were removed from the plane and the entire inside was sanitized. The entire plane was then painted, redecorated, and overhauled to meet the same quality standards expected in any other house, hotel, or hostel in Sweden.

By the summer of 2008 the hostel was complete. It was then towed to its current location at the entrance to the airport and was set into a concrete foundation. It serves not only as a comfortable place for travelers to rest but as a Stockholm landmark as well.

Inside the Jumbo Hostel

The inside of the Jumbo Hostel is astounding. The hostel features a wide variety of different room setups with the ability to cater anywhere from one to three adults. There are also several room with dormitory style bunk beds. Each room has a separate shared shower and bathroom.

If you’re really looking for a unique experience you can rent the luxury suite. The luxury suite is what was once the plane’s cockpit and its unique design offers travelers a stunning view of the entire airport around it.

All in all there are 25 distinct rooms with a total of 85 beds within the Jumbo Hostel.

You do not need to be an overnight guest in the Jumbo Hostel in order to visit, either. The Jumbo Hostel staff welcomes families and groups of aviation enthusiast and encourages them to stop by for a visit and a tour. Both visitors and overnight guests can enjoy a breakfast meal or snack in the onboard café and, if you’re looking for a real adrenaline rush, you can walk along the observation deck – aka the jet’s massive wing.

Staying in the Jumbo Hostel

A night in the Jumbo Hostel is relatively inexpensive. A dorm style room ranges from 450 SEK, or Swedish Kronor (approximately $62 USD), and a private room ranges in price from 300 SEK (or $42 USD). Because of the popularity of the hostel, you must book your stay well in advance in order to have any hopes of staying in the incredible jumbo jet environment.

Fortunately, there are dozens of other options available for you to choose from if staying in a hostel isn’t your cup of tea. Traditional Stockholm hotels and resorts, ranging from 3-4 stars, are easy to find and aren’t as limited in the space available.

The next time you’re in Sweden, try to fly into the Arlanda Airport in Stockholm. Take a side trip over to the Jumbo Hostel before you move on to your next destination. It’s a site you’ll be excited to tell you friends and family about when you return home!

“We are so happy to finally be in Las Vegas!!!”

Heeey heeey….what happens in vegas stays in vegas ok….come on now. EXCEPT FOR BED JUMPING THAT IS!!

A few years ago I bought a redneck ringer tee emblazoned with a pastoral barn and silo scene and the slogan “You Belong in the Midwest”  across the front. There’s a certain hipster irony when you rock a shirt like that and live in a big, cosmopolitan city with millions of people. Or so I thought.

Now in practical tatters, the shirt is a sad reminder of my past self. A self that thought it was cool to poke fun at the Midwest. Thankfully, I know better now. For I have been to the Midwest and now have a fond reverence for states like South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Indiana. There is life in the United States beyond the coasts. After all, more than 66 million people live in the region the Census Bureau defines as the Midwestern States. With that in mind, allow me to share some of my go-to hidden gem Midwest destinations.

Evansville, Indiana

The third-largest city in the Hoosier State is home to a little over 120,000 people and a whole lot of charm. In Evansville, this comes in the form of heritage landmarks like the exquisite Reitz Home Museum, Angel Mounds State Historic Site and Four Freedoms Monument on the Ohio River. The “All-America City” also has a terrific park in Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve and several fine museums.

Grand Island, Nebraska

While both Omaha and Lincoln rule the roost in Nebraska and offer a bevy of significant tourist attractions to explore, I want to highlight the town of Grand Island. The quiet Nebraska community is a slice of real Cornhusker country and a fun road trip detour. Screen legend Henry Fonda was from Grand Island – random fact – and the town of 45,000 people preserves his birth home at the excellent Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer.

Jefferson City, Missouri

St. Louis and Kansas City dwarf the capital of Missouri and both deserve several days of your time if you happen to pass through the “Show Me” State. I just have to shout out Jefferson City however. Small and capital-like in layout, what with the usual collection of austere state government landmarks, the town’s location on the Missouri River and Ozark Plateau, smack dab in the middle of the state, is notable. For one, Jefferson City is a great place to venture off into the Missouri Rhineland wine region.

Green Bay, Wisconsin

The home of Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers is a venerable football town. “Titletown, USA” lives and breathes for the Packers, no matter what the season. But above and beyond the iconic NFL franchise, Green Bay has a lot of character. With just over 100,000 people, the city is small, navigable and full of cool landmarks. Check out Bay Beach Amusement Park, the NEW Zoo, Heritage Hill State Park and National Railroad Museum.

Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Manitowoc is another Wisconsin gem with a bizarre claim to fame. In 1962, a piece of the Sputnik USSR satellite fell on the town’s North 8th Street. The small city of 35,000 people now holds a Sputnikfest every year. Besides space junk, Manitowoc has two superb museums in the Rahr West Art Museum and Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

Topeka, Kansas

Kansas never gets any love here, which is a shame. The state capital is really quite beautiful and has a slew of historic landmarks, at least for a town with only about 125,000 people. While Topeka is a good place to tornado-watch, points of interest like the Kansas State Capitol, Cedar Crest Governor’s Mansion, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and Gage Park stand out.

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Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

“We are so happy to finally be in Las Vegas!!!”

Heeey heeey….what happens in vegas stays in vegas ok….come on now. EXCEPT FOR BED JUMPING THAT IS!!