Hi, I’m Linda Martinez, the “Queen Bee” at The Beehive Hostel, a home away from home for travelers and locals since 1999.
My husband, Steve Brenner, and I moved here from the US in 1999 to open our hostel. Our work and passion for over two decades (besides our children) has been The Beehive. We try to provide not only a clean & comfortable place to stay for our guests but also help anyone who walks through our doors – whether that’s practical information on how to navigate the city or where to get some excellent gelato.
The Beehive has never been just a place to sleep – we believe strongly in the shared social experience at our hostel as well as cultivating & creating community and community-building initiatives. We like inviting local residents into our space whether it’s for our deep dining dinners, our storytelling events or to support worthwhile causes.
During the Covid pandemic, faced with an empty hostel, zero income and zero prospects, we managed to find another interest & passion. We now have a new venture called Beehive Bagels making bagels, pickles and other food items. So now The Beehive is beds AND bagels!
If you want to get to know me, my husband, and family a little better, the following is a list of several interviews and podcasts we’ve done over the years.
Thanks for visiting my blog and drop me a line if you like.
xo, Linda
- Backpacking is a rite of passage for many. Covid could end it forever – CNN Travel
- Long After Lockdown, Rome Hostel Owners Take A Big Hit From Pandemic – NPR All Things Considered
- Hostels Try to Adapt for the Covid-19 Era – NY Times
- Best Beaches & Surf Spots in Italy – Flavor of Italy podcast
- Building a Business and Living the Good Life in Rome – The Savvy Retiree
- Orvieto – The Bittersweet Life podcast
- Ispirazione: Story of The Beehive in Rome – Italophilia
- 30 Places To Eat In Rome: Insiders Reveal Their Favorites
- Orvieto – Day Trips from Rome
- Finding Accommodations in Italy – Rick’s Rome podcast
- Italy’s Probably the Worst Place for Business -The Local
- Locals I Love – Girl in Florence
- Raising Kids in a Foreign Country – The Bittersweet Life podcast
- How Does Someone Start a Business in Rome? – The Iceberg Project podcast
- Kids: 3 American Girls in Italy – The Bittersweet Life podcast
- Review of The Beehive – The Hostel Girl
- Our daughter Giulia’s first novel – The Two Worlds of Isabel – written at 12 years old!