Any of you lot over 30 and still stay in hostels?
New Member
Posted on: Mon, 26/11/2007 - 15:47
Any of you over 30 and still stay in hostels? I’m 35(though feel about 10 years younger), and even if I’m just going away for a short break in Europe(I live in the UK) I usually still stay in hostels if I’m going by myself. As they’re so much cheaper than hotels what with these “single supplements” costs. Why pay say £240 for 4 nights accommodation instead of around £32?! Just need a place to crash at night really. Don’t want to be spending hours watching TV every night whilst I’m away. You also don’t really get to meet people if staying in hotels. So hostels do for me. Though I guess I’m one of the older hostels guests really. It does make me feel older when I see that some hostels have an upper age limit of 35.
Has been awhile, but do stay in hostels and intend to keep on doing so (I am in my naughty forties). I remember staying in a hostel in the South Island of New Zealand, while my parents stayed in their camper van, and they couldn’t get over how I was sharing a room with 2 Canadian ladies in their fifties, 2 Finish girls in their 20’s and I was 38, not a problem with age gap, we are all sharing the same dreams
I haven’t found a hostel that has an age requirement in a LONG time. If you don’t mind, I doubt they do.
Tintin, I am 53 and still stay in hostels.
Sometimes I do feel rather an oldster, but have never been made to feel that way. I do not exclusively stay in them, we do enjoy the occasional splurge, plus sometimes 2-stars are just as cheap. But I like hostels.
I do think that there are some hostels with age limits, but so far I have not been turned away.
Posted a longer reply to this, but lost the posting. So I’ll try again, albeit a slightly shorter reply than intended.
Some of the hostels in Amsterdam have upper age restrictions. 40 and 35 for example. Found a nice one to book for the Easter Weekend, only to notice on the description page that it has an upper age limit of 30. So much for that! I’m too old and won’t be allowed to stay there! Oh well, I’ll find another one.
It is good that most hostels don’t have upper age restrictions though. As I for one wouldn’t plan so many trips otherwise. As the hotel single supplements suck if I’m travelling alone. And I’d rather save money anyway by staying cheaply. Don’t really need an in-room TV, mini-bar, ensuite bathroom, etc. Though I do occasionally splash out on hotels if I’m just staying somewhere a night or two.
During a lot of my recent trips I’ve tended to be the oldest person staying in the dorms. Though have occasionally seen some older people in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s staying in hostel dorms.
The only age rule that I know of is Sir Toby’s in Prague. All they do is put over 40s in a single room. Don’t think I would like that.
Eat the food, use the wrong verbs, and end up getting charged double.
why would a hostel have an age limit? arent they losing business this way?
As best I can figure it, hostels with age limits may cater more to school groups and possibly an under-18 crowd? That would make sense; trying to keep the unknown 52 year-old guy out of their dorm room. I’m sure it would give trip leaders some peace of mind.
Another reason, albeit extremely unfortunate if it’s true, is that they want to maintain an exclusively youthful atmosphere? Personally, I expect to get much better travel stories and advice from someone who’s been doing it for the better part of three decades than the fresh-from-college kid like me. I don’t know squat! Ask the old dude haha.
Also might have to do with income. They figure if you’re 25/30/35 and up, you’ve probably got a higher paying job (relatively), and can afford a hotel, so quit sucking us dry, man, we don’t make a whole lot of money here anyway? I don’t know, seems unlikely though.
I’ll probably be searching out hostels all my life. Unless of course I’m traveling with my future wife. You’ll find us 20 miles outside town, in a soundproof bunker.
I am 53 and often stay in youth hostels. Generally speaking I spend my holiday just before or just after the summer season and often I am offered a double or 4-bed-room for myself. However staying in a larger dorm can be a great opportunity to meet people from other countries and age difference seem not to be a big deal. One day I was in the hostel of Luxembourg city in the morning I was taking a shower in a large communal shower room. I was there alone but two younger Swedish guys dropped in with a friendly “good-morning” and started to talk to me. You could consider it a embarassing situation but eventually we spent almost the whole day in Luxembourg City and had a lot of fun together.
I’m 37, however I’ve been graced with the appearance of someone who looks 25 or 26 years old. About 4 years ago I could pass for a 19 year old at all of the raves I use to help promote or attend. Me and a couple of friends are going to tour Europe this Fall. We’ll be staying in hostels for most of the trip with sleeper cars the rest of the time. I look forward to meeting anyone of any age who’s going to be hostel-ing during October 2008. peace!
I’m also over 40 and prefer to stay in hostels. There is really no comparison to sitting around by yourself with a TV in a sterile motel and being able to chat with fellow travellers (and the occasional eccentric oddball) in a hostel.
Many US hostels seem even more welcoming of all ages than the European ones. I’ve met several people over 70. The oldest person I met in a hostel was an australian woman who is 80. I have a particular fondness for hostels because I actually met my gf (from the UK) in a hostel in the southwest US. So, I’d have to say, no one should hesitate to stay in one no matter what age they are. You are likely to have a much more rewarding experience.
Peter,
That is my primary reason. I want to get to meet many new people, especially from other countries. Part of my eurotrip experience will be socializing and living with new and different people. In the hotel, it would just be my friends and me.
One big drawback with staying in hostel dorm rooms are the snorers. It’s a minority of people but when you get one in your room it’s a truly god-awful experience as some of them are super LOUD. It’s like someone repeatedly trying to start a motorcycle a few feet away, all night long. This only happens once in a while, but if you encounter this you will not get a wink of sleep unless you are one of those people who can sleep through anything.
Granted, an extreme hostel snoring experience doesn’t happen all the time. It is definitely more the exception than the rule. But it happens often enough to try to take some measures against it. I’ve spent several sleepless nights in hostels all because of an extreme snorer in the same room. By the time you discover this the front desk is usually closed and there is no chance to switch rooms.
Because of this, I suggest getting a private room whenever possible (but this increases your costs considerably if you are a single traveler). You should also consider taking a set of earplugs. If you are really sensitive to noise, you could also get a white noise generator, made for travel. These can effectively cut out most background noise, allowing you to get some sleep. —> travel sound conditioner
According to a study, “Loud snoring is a key symptom of sleep apnea, a major sleep disorder that often goes undiagnosed.” Sleep apnea sometimes produces extreme daytime sleepiness that can make it hazardous for a person to operate a vehicle. There is also increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke, etc. There are several effective treatments for snoring nowadays but it’s may be difficult to inform a stranger in a hostel that they snore excessively and this is quite bad for their health and they would be well advised to to see a specialist.