First time in a hostel & going overseas. Any Sugg - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

horsewoman · 01-21-2004, 08:38 PM

Hi All,

I will be traveling to London via NYC , then on to Rome Florence & Venice . I'm staying in a hostel for the first time. And I have to say i'm not exactly a spring chicken. Although i'm not ancient either. When looking thru the listings I noticed a primarily younger crowd. I'm fine with it(I think) I just don't want to look like a complete idiot. I don't have the budget for a hotel and I like meeting new people and it looks like a good opportunity. I'm very excited, a bit nervous. I would appreicate any suggestions.

Thanks, ('

')
Cindy

Ecky · 01-21-2004, 09:01 PM

Hey Cindy - Last summer I went to the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, and Italy. I saw 12 year olds in hostels, and I saw 50 year olds in hostels.

Some of the most interesting (and most helpful) people that I met were quite a few years older than I am.

Just go, and have a good time. No one will look at you strangely (well, at least not because of your age!

)

-Eckster.

**Canadian Dude** · 01-22-2004, 04:49 PM

horsewoman, a very big

to you, great to have ya on the boards, enjoy your stay, make yourself at home and reap the benifits of being part of the Travelpunk family

Age in hostels??? Well I am not quite so young as I used to be, I have a bit more grey hair, and have gained some weight since my first trip over seas some years ago, but age is not really a big deal. You are a trav'la, and thats what matters, your not some old cougar taking up a bed. I will travel until my feet can take me there no more, when I have a child we will travel togeather, its all I wanna do, its all I think about, where can I go next?

I have stayed in hostels with 18 yr ols, and everything above that all they way up to about 60 I think she was in Belfast, so I do not thik you have to worry. We can no longer get student discounts like some of the others but hey, thats life. If you become very self concious about it, to the point that it begins to bug you, get private rooms in the hostels, you will have you privacy. But do not let age stop you from meeting great people, that is all part of the experience.

**Diorama** · 01-23-2004, 07:27 PM

yeah no worries with age. I saw lots of "older" women travelling around and staying in hostel rooms. My hostel room in dublin had two ladies in their 60's and guess what they weren't travelling together. They were seperate. So the average age in the room that night was 45.

Trust me you;ll find some peeps your age too! have fun!

**travelpunk** · 01-24-2004, 12:20 AM

Quote:

My hostel room in dublin had two ladies in their 60's

Damn! Ha! Send them to the tpunk boards!

WELCOME, horsewoman! hey, don't even fret about age in hostels. I too, have seen many travelers of all ages in hostels. But, sometimes private rooms are just a few more dollars than dorm beds, so if you feel out of place, just go for the private.

horsewoman · 01-29-2004, 10:10 AM

Thanks all,

That makes me feel better about it.

Horsewoman

Kassandra13 · 01-29-2004, 09:12 PM

Heh...I was worried about that too, but it's cool. Like everyone says, there are all ages at hostels....I just wish they weren't called "youth" hostels!

jorgino · 10-19-2004, 02:54 PM

in 1999 I stayed at Fisherman's Wharf (sp?) in SF and let me tell you, this lady (I think she was around maybe 60 or 65) was rocking the place! Everybody was sitting down listening to her stories, jokes, stuff, and we were all having a great time! Age is only inside your head, go out there and have fun!