While multi-story hotels keep popping up all over the Treasure Valley, a local woman is taking a different approach by thinking big while keeping it small.
Heather Welton, a born and raised Idaho girl is hoping to bring a unique travel experience to the Treasure Valley by opening Tony's Place Hostel.
"We are the only backpacker's hostel in Boise," said Welton. "Everything here is designed with luxury meets affordability for travelers."
Hostels are extremely popular in other countries. In most cases, it's a shared room to stay while you're away from home with shared common spaces but generally much cheaper than a traditional hotel.
"My idea was to create a facility created by backpackers for backpackers that gives someone an alternative option to a hotel or some of the more traditional forms of lodging," said Welton. "Especially those solo travelers that can't afford to go get a hotel room by themselves. They can still stay in a really nice place for an affordable price."
But more than just a place to lay your head at night, Welton said a hostel is really about an experience.
"This is going to be an area where people are going to be hanging out on the couches instead of in their rooms because they want to meet people and they want to share their stories.
It gives you that sense of community even though you may be thousands of miles from your hometown or your community," said Welton.
Because someone is always on site travelers can ask questions from a local about places to go, eat, or how to get around.
Welton hopes that because of the naturally friendly nature of Boise, backpackers from around the world will be welcomed with open arms.
"The backpacker community wants to take care of each other and I believe that we are a city in Boise that has a similar mindset," said Welton.
