Translation of Polarisierung

My first stop was great. I went there by myself not knowing anyone. I hired a room for two nights and walked around the city. After I had moved to my second stop for another two days something strange happened.
It comes not only from the need to feel superior (which would be a legitimate and natural desire), it is also the consequence of ignorance, believe in stereotypes and old-fashioned intolerance.
We started to look for other options and found the Salvation Army Boot lodge, which had much larger rooms for half the price. The second and third night we would stay there before moving on.