Contributor

Russ Hedge

Travel enthusiast, blogger and Hostelling International USA CEO

Russ Hedge is an experienced world traveler who has a passion for hostels. He has nothing against traditional hotels; he has stayed in some terrific ones. It’s just that he finds hostels make travel more social and rewarding, and has stayed in hundreds around the globe. Russ discovered hostels on a backpack trip across Europe before post-grad study there. He was seeking an inexpensive sleep, and found a community of fun, curious, energetic travelers who became part of amazing travel memories and priceless life experiences. When he returned home, he abandoned a promising finance career and went to work at a low paying job for Hostelling International USA, America’s nonprofit hostel network. Years later, he is now HI USA’s President and CEO and travels to hostels worldwide. Today there is a new generation of hostels to discover. Still social, they now offer new levels of comfort and engagement for travelers of all ages. In his blog Russ shares ideas and tips on how you can best use hostels to enrich your own travels.