The chatty regulars showed me how to extend my sauna stay by wrapping my head in a towel ("Otherwise your brain will fry, " one explained) and dousing myself with buckets of icy water.

WSJ: Steam Heat, Vodka and a Sound Thrashing

By the end of my stay, I'd worked my way up to tackling the summit of Cerro Toco at 18, 386 feet, the highest I'd ever climbed.

FORBES: Far Away

By the same measure, my younger sister would never stay in a dorm, but loves hostels.

FORBES: A Glam Option For Frugal Travelers: 'Boutique Hostels'