Basically, it’s offering would-be contestants the opportunity to go somewhere as-yet-undisclosed-but-bound-to-be-awesome… FOR FREE! Or rather, for the price of a T4 camera following you about in what could turn out to be a sort of backpacking version of Edtv. (Which some outgoing types may even see as an incentive!)

And the only criteria for applying? Being a UK resident, over 18 and free to film/travel between October and December of this year. Oh, and the ability to fill in this short form, of course.

We’re not quite sure how it’s going to play out yet, or even what the rules and incentives will be, but it’s certainly got adventure written all over it.

Yes, really - £1! So for rather less than the price of a sandwich or a drink in London, you could get all the way to Inverness. All you need to do to take advantage of this, frankly, weirdly good deal, is book by 14 September and travel by 30 September.

HostelBloggers don’t need to be told twice…

So just what is it about this small country that snuggles into the Mediterranean coastline of Southeastern Europe? We’ve been doing some digging, and here (in no particular order) are five reasons why we think Albania has suddenly become the talk of the traveling community.

1) No one has been here. Seriously. Well ok, not quite seriously, but still…

Albania’s modern history has been a little fraught, having included a (semi) iron-fisted Soviet dictator, and a massive influx of Kosovan refugees. As such, prior to the turn of the 21st Century, it hadn’t really been on the traveler’s map.

All that has changed since the end of the 90’s however, and Albania is now happily settled. Which means, all in all, that it’s both largely untouched, and extremely rewarding. And that, in a nutshell, is what backpacking is all about.

2) The People. Take a look around the blogosphere on the subject of Albania, and there’s one thing that seems to unite each and every post: the incredible hospitality Albanians extend to visitors.

This hospitality seems to include (by definition) strong Turkish coffee, and an eagerness to help with anything - big or small.

3) Tirana. Surrounded by rolling hills, Albania’s capital perches on the perfect side of ‘vibrant’ - small and welcoming, there’s nonetheless plenty of culture to keep you entertained.

Sightseeing highlights include the old-fashioned Et’hem Bay Mosque, and the artificial lake that sits in the middle of the city. 

4) The Ionian Coastline. It shouldn’t be surprising that Albania’s beaches are stunning - the country’s only a short hop from Italy and Greece, after all. And, what’s more, the beaches here aren’t frequented by the traveling hordes. Which is exactly how the Med should be.

5) The Pillboxes. Take a bus ride through the Albanian countryside and one thing is guaranteed to draw your attention: the domed bunkers that litter the landscape. A legacy from Enver Hoxha’s reign (he was a little bit scared of outside invasion to say the least), it’s estimated there’s one pillbox for every four Albanians.

Today, the structures have become a bit of a cultural icon. Some have been decorated, while others have been turned into idiosyncratic restaurants. It probably goes without saying, though, that their main use now is for something a little less civilized…

The celebration of Brit culture includes a ‘Love London’ photography exhibition at the flagship Habitat store and the colloborative construction of a giant LEGO mosaic to commemorate the famous company’s 50th anniversary.

There’s also musical performances from soul singer (and home-grown talent) Jay Picton and boyband Avenue (from last year’s X Factor) along with marching bands, dance performances and more.

From 12 till 8pm, Regent Street will be closed to traffic so the crowds can mill about in peace listening, watching or heading to one of the gourmet food stalls set up along the edge of the road.

And the best news for us cheapskates here at HostelBloggers? It’s all for free…

Just like Amsterdam, it’s built on a canal system. And it has the same picturesque streets, busy squares and lively bars and coffeeshops which characterize the capital, too.

But with its magnificent windmills and peaceful, old-fashioned feel, Leiden is an even more attractive city. It’s basically all the best bits of Amsterdam, without the tat and neon. Or the high prices.

Although we were still determined to avoid anything so conventional as museums, we did spend an enjoyable (and very sunny) afternoon exploring the Botanical Gardens. Not only was it worth the €5 admission for the range and beauty of the plants (including several interesting carnivorous species), but the visit also led us to discover a handful of popular restaurants nearby which were just far enough off the main drag to be truly great value.

This area of quaint cobbled streets around Pieterskirkhof is even ‘cuter’ than the rest of the city and is also home to several busy cafes and studenty bars.

Later, we moved on to the more commericialized Stadhuisplein, where the numerous venues stay open late into the night. There are tables all along the edge of the canal and the almost sleepy city of the daytime is transformed into vibrant nightlife scene, although it retains that uniquely relaxed and friendly atmosphere we encountered across the country.

We even stumbled inadvertantly into Leiden’s busiest club, popping into the swish, modern (but affordable) bar at the back of City Hall for a drink at the recommendation of the restaurant’s waiter. A few hours of dancing to decent house music later (and by now stumbling rather more) we left the club, only looking back to observe the huge queue waiting to get in, and wondering just where all the people had come from.

Leiden may have the same infamous laws regarding cannabis and prostitution as Amsterdam but it remains a considerably less popular tourist destination. And, when you imagine the horror of this beautiful hidden gem in Europe turning into yet another stag party city, we rather hope it stays as it is.

A short ferry ride from Den Helder in the northeast of Holland, this West Frisian island is so tiny that you can drive from one end to the other in about half an hour. It may be small, but it’s definitely not short on charm with its stunning nature reserves, miles of sand dunes and unspoiled beaches and seriously laidback vibe.

But although it’s a popular summer spot for Dutch and German holidaymakers, it seems to be pretty much unknown as far as the rest of Europe goes. In fact, we were politely asked at one restaurant just what we Brits were doing there!

The main resort on the island is centered on the western side at De Koog. Little more than a collection of colorful shops, hotels (and a huge number of bicycles), it nevertheless offers a surprisingly wide number of ways to keep yourself busy. From family-friendly activities like ten-pin bowling and mini-golf to a whole line of bars, restaurants and three (yes, three) nightclubs, it offers all the fun of a typical European seaside holiday without the seedier side of many other destinations.

There is a hostel near Den Burg but it’s a teeny bit out of the way (and inland), so we opted for one of the old-fashioned boarding house style hotels in De Koog. This, in fact, turned out to be every bit as affordable and even included a huge Dutch breakfast (think ginger cake, ham, cheese, boiled eggs and much more).

The word ‘cute’ is something HostelBloggers would usually try to avoid in description. But in Holland it seemed to inevitably crop up wherever we went - from the mini windmills standing in so many front gardens, to our hotel room, which was all pink and white like a marshmallow. It’s just cute. Only in a good way.

So we spent a very enjoyable few days exploring this ‘cute’ island. By day, we played mini-golf tournaments (giggling like children) and, despite the blustery weather, braved a swim or two; by night, meanwhile, we tested out the bars and restaurants.

And for such a small island, the range of cuisine was frankly amazing - everything from Argentinian steak to locally caught seafood - and all very affordable. It goes without saying, though, that we did get a couple of ’surprises’ after trying to figure out the Dutch menus!

Given that we were only a couple of hours’ north of tourist-filled Amsterdam, we were admittedly taken aback by how few people on Texel spoke English, and the almost total lack of any signs, menus etc. that weren’t in Dutch. But it was genuinely refreshing to find somewhere so close, yet so untouched - it felt like a true adventure in Western Europe.

We even braved one of the island’s clubs and it was amazingly lively for a nondescript Monday night. The DJ may have been playing a shamelessly euphoric mix of Balearic trance and Brit pop laid over pounding bass, but with the crowd all enjoying themselves so much, we couldn’t help but appreciate the night. Even on a tiny island, the capacity of the Dutch for uncomplicated fun is totally infectious.

With its laidback atmosphere and famously wild nightlife, Amsterdam is, in many ways, the most popular European city among the backpacking crowd. But there’s so much more to the city: a fascinating mix of picture-perfect scenery (think canals, tiny streets, quaint bridges) and gaudy tackiness, Amsterdam is also difficult to define or really understand.

Is the real Amsterdam visible in the neon-lit sex shops? The lively canalside bars? The stag groups leering through red lit windows and being winked at by semi-naked girls? The stunning architecture?

We stayed at the Heart of Amsterdam hostel which was, quite literally, on the main thoroughfare of the Red Light District. It turned out to be a fascinating spot for people-watching, if surrounded by a bit of a touristy bubble thanks to its location and movie themed dorms.

When morning came, we took one horrified look at the hour or so long queue at the Van Gogh Musuem and made an executive decision that art is actually overrated and we could do something much more cultural on our own.

Forgoing museums and galleries, we headed to Leidseplein, a small square often recommended to backpackers for its cafes and bars. But when we arrived, it was just Irish pubs and the sort of places you’d find on every British high street, including a McDonald’s.

Undeterred on our quest to discover the city behind the Right Light District, we headed away along Leidsegracht and happily discovered a clutch of great (and affordable) brasserie-style restaurants, intriging shops (including one selling didgeridoos…) and, at Spui, a fair where local artists set up stalls every Sunday.

After an enjoyable wander through the streets, a couple of drinks and a very Dutch snack of chips and mayonnaise (don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it), we felt rather impressed with our alternative day out and even more intrigued by the city.

But even though we wanted to avoid Amsterdam’s tourist traps, we realized that we couldn’t possibly overlook the city’s iconic coffeeshop culture - the honeytrap that lures so many backpackers to Amsterdam in the first place.

Since the new smoking laws were introduced on 1 July this year banning tobacco inside businesses (including coffeeshops), there have been mutterings about ruining the trade (and, particularly, the atmosphere) of one of the city’s top attractions.

When we stopped in for a quick smoke and a cappuccino, there was an assortment of glazed-looking backpackers staring at the walls. Well, so far, so normal. And the answer to the ban? They offer a (complimentary) tobacco substitute at the counter - dried mixed herbs. Exactly like the cooking stuff. Honestly.

And if you can’t get used to the (admittedly odd) taste and sensation of using herbs, then tobacco can still be smoked at pavement tables or even sometimes in separate sealed ’smoke rooms’. In short - there really has been no discernible change.

Amsterdam is a truly fascinating city but you get the impression that a lot of travelers don’t get much further than the nearest coffeeshop or the Red Light District’s 5 Euro pints. It’s all such a shame when there’s so much more culture and atmosphere (and better prices) to be found in the city for those that take just a step off the beaten path.

HostelBloggers’ beady little eyes recently fell on this tempting proposition: a stay at a castle in Bologna.

Castello di Galeazza is what Butlins would be if it had been conceived by Lord Byron. You pay for your bed for the night (in a room complete with frescoes) and they throw in meals, too.

But where they differ from most places is in the extensive library that’s put at the guests’ disposal. The whole operation has basically been set up to allow travelers to get away and get some good reading done, in one of the most breathtakingly idyllic settings imaginable.

It’s not necessarily going to make any lists of cheap hostels from around the world any time soon (although having said that, at €50 a night all-inclusive, it’s actually a pretty good deal). But that’s hardly the point - it’s a castle in Italy for goodness sake!

The whole thing sounds almost preposterously civilized: we can picture ourselves now, sitting in the hazy autumn sunshine somewhere in the surrounding ten acres of woodland, a good book propped up on our chest… 

Ultimately, Castello di Galeazza is far from your average hostel in Italy; in fact, it’s like nowhere else we’ve ever come across. Flashpacking really doesn’t even begin to cover it - this is a whole new model of hostelling altogether: highbrow hostels, perhaps…

It’s hard to put your finger on just what the appeal of Notesfromtheroad.com is. There are the absolutely stunning photos, certainly. And there’s also the love for (and profound knowledge of) the natural world that comes through in almost every post, too.

Author Erik Gaugerhe describes it as ‘the unvarnished, messy truth of travel, told by a regular guy’ but the reality is something rather different.  He has an unusual and solipsistic perspective on life, travel, the universe and everything.

Although, really, the appeal is the way he conjures up images of bouncing tumbleweed, encounters with bears and awe-inspiring nature in this distinctive, subjective voice.

What is a glacier? Well, to scientists they’re large, slow-moving rivers of ice formed high up in the mountains where more snow falls than melts.

And for the rest of us, they’re an amazing phenomenon to behold across the globe, from Alaska to Austria to Antarctica.

But while there are many other stunning natural sights in this world, there’s something unique and intriguing about glaciers because of their fragility in our environment.

1. Fox and Franz Josef, New Zealand. These sibling glaciers on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island descend unusually close to the coast and even further down into a temperate rainforest. Accessible both by helicopter and on foot, they’ve proved to be a popular attraction.

2. Pasterze, Austria. The largest of Austria’s glaciers, Pasterze lies at the foot of the country’s largest mountain and although it currently has a large visitor center along the Grossglocknerstrasse mountain road, it’s expected to lose a huge 60 % of its mass by 2010.

3. Perito Moreno, Argentina. One of the most important sights in Argentine Patagonia, Perito Moreno is fed by the South Patagonian ice field in the Andes and is, unlike most of the other glaciers in this region, actually advancing. It’s also one of the most accessible in Patagonia - there are three viewing areas allowing travelers some stunning close-ups.

4. Hubbard, Alaska. The longest tidewater glacier in Alaska, it extends for a massive 76 miles from its source on Mt. Logan. As it’s also advancing, it’s an actively ‘calving’ glacier - meaning chunks of it continually break off and fall into the sea. Reached by boat or on foot, this makes for an exciting spectacle as well as an intriguing creaking noise which the indigenous Tlingit people have called ‘white thunder.’

5. Athabasca, Canada. Straddling the continental divide, this glacier is part of the Rocky Mountains’ Columbia ice field. It’s already receded to under half its original size but remains one of the most difficult and dangerous to reach.

6. Vatnajokull, Iceland. Iceland’s largest glacier covers 8% of the country and lies in a doubly fascinating landscape surrounded by active volcanoes, ice caves and hot springs - the latter of which are open to visitors.

7. Yulong, China. Situated in the Yunnan Province of China, this receding glacier is similarly inaccessible to visitors as the high altitude climb to the final observation desk often requires the use of oxygen.

8. Antarctica. Home to countless glaciers, Antarctica is now becoming a popular destination for responsible tourism and, when you take a look at the range of amazing sights it has to offer, it’s easy to see why.

9. Biafo, Pakistan. This remote glacier in the Karakoram Mountain Range is just about accessible via a lengthy hike along the edge of Snow Lake. But if you can make it, it’s a truly unforgettable journey.

10. Furtwangler, Mt. Kilimanjaro. And finally, one of the most iconic glaciers in the world: the snows of Kilimanjaro were made famous years ago by Hemmingway, but here, too, the ice is receding rapidly and some reports even predict it to have disappeared by as early as 2015.

HostelBloggers say - grab your backpack and see them while you still can!