A Backpacker´s Happy Home                                 Back to JOUR 440 page

“I was so happy when I got to this hostel.  This hostel is much better than the last one I was at in Centro,” Jack Willis, 27, a backpacker from England said.

The Backpackers' Sharehouse is a hostel located on the island of Florianopolis, Brazil.  Settled on the east side of the island, overlooking the beach in Barra da Lagoa, breathtaking views at multiple levels of the beach, the people and the island are daily moments you will experience.

The Backpackers' Sharehouse at Barra da Lagoa Beach, Florianopolis (photo by Visite Floripa)

“I bought The Backpackers Sharehouse from a group of Ausies about two years ago.  I was a worker at the time and I really liked how they ran the business and the environment,” Leticia Nunez, 22, the Brazilian owner said. 

The hostel is equipped with a youthful and energetic staff who can communicate in multiple languages.  They provide services such as Internet access, laundry, schedules and bookings for transportation, cable TV and much more.  Breakfast, surfboards, fishing rods and beach equipment are free with accommodation along with guided tours with a staff member at your will.

“This is a really cool hostel.  People mostly hear of this place through word-of-mouth, since we are not commercialized like other hostels.  Right now since it is winter it is not very full, but for four months in the summer there is not a spare bed,” Joel Pot, 27, a student and hostel worker from Australia said.

Guests from all over the world socialize at the Backpackers' Sharehouse (photo by Mochila Brasil)

An honor system is used at the hostel.  Whether it is keeping track of your own tab on drinks and chips or tallying up your own minutes when using the Internet.  This hostel holds trust in you.

“The honor system works for the most part.  I mean, sure we might have a beer or two mising once in a while, but those are mostly just honest, sometimes drunk, mistakes. The workers show alot of respect to the residents and that respect gets shown right back to us,” Pot said.

With over 30 beds in the hostel and people coming in and out, the cleanliness of the place is definetely not a problem.  One of the staff washes sheets dailys as they are used, and signs are posted everywhere reminding you to pick up after yourself.

Most of the people who stay at the Backpackers' Sharehouse are from either Australia, England or the United States, though the hostel welcomes all. 

A Haven for Tired Travelers

The Backpackers' Sharehouse is either someone's first stop, pit stop or last stop.

“I am really glad I found this place.  I have been on the road since April and have been only sleeping in hotels till this place.  I began my trip in Colorado then to Costa Rica, then to Venezuela and now I am here.  I do not plan on coming back to the U.S. till February ’08,” Jared A. Hucks, 29, a chef from Colorado, said.

“My boyfriend and I left Australia about three weeks ago.  We are chasing the seasons to snowboard.  We plan on being in the south tip of Argentina in about three weeks.  From there we are going to travel north to Chile and eventually be in Canada by winter.  In Canada we hope to get jobs and who knows after that,” Amy Thomas, 21, from Australia, said.

The Backpackers' Sharehouse has a very unique way of running a hostel.  With the trust and respect the staff gives to their customers, a safe, clean, desirable and welcoming place bloomed to where people rather stay then leave.

A view of the hostel, from the beach (photo by Mochila Brasil)