Updated: 07/22/2019 | July 22, 2019
Many people believe that hostels cater only to 20-something backpackers — but that’s simply a myth. You’ll find all sorts of people from all different walks of life staying in hostels, and for most, the perks of cheap, reliable accommodation are too good to pass up. In this guest post, Barbara Weibel of Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel tears down all the negative hostel stereotypes and tells us why they’re actually a great option for baby boomers.
When I explain to people that I usually stay in hostels during my travels around the world, the initial reaction from most baby boomers is astonishment verging on horror.
“Aren’t they filthy?”
“Don’t you have to put up with a bunch of drunken twenty-somethings who party all night long?”
“Are they really safe?”
Due to the number of budget hotels and motels spread across America, hostels have never really caught on in the U.S. as they have in other countries. According to Hostelling International-USA, only about 350 of the 10,000 hostels found around the world are located in the United States, so American unfamiliarity with them is hardly surprising.
For those who don’t know, hostels are budget accommodations where guests can rent a bed, usually a bunk bed, in a dormitory. While configurations vary, most common are dorms with four, eight, and 16 bunks.
Dorms are usually mixed gender, though in recent years many hostels have begun offering female only dorms. I’ve slept in both and never felt the least bit uncomfortable.
Each dorm shares a bathroom, and guests have access to a fully equipped kitchen where they can refrigerate groceries and prepare their own meals. There is almost always a common lounge or gathering area where people from all nationalities can mingle and share meals.
Additionally, many hostels now offer private rooms with en-suite bathrooms. (That they even have private facilities is one of the best-kept secrets about hostels. Most people I tell are shocked.)
Many hostels even offer family rooms for up to four people. Of course, these private and family rooms have equal access to all the common areas enjoyed by dorm guests.
My preference for hostels began out of necessity. As a corporate dropout determined to recreate myself into an independent travel writer and photographer, I had to watch every penny. I set out on my first round-the-world journey in early 2007. Arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, with a reservation at a cheap hotel for the first two nights, it didn’t take me long to find the backpacker district and switch to the cheaper digs.
Initially, I chose private rooms with en-suite bathrooms but I soon switched to the more economically priced dorm beds. All my worries about unclean conditions, bugs, and being kept awake by boisterous hostel mates were for naught. My accommodations were always clean, bug-free, and fairly quiet.
In the beginning, I also worried about being accepted. I envisioned a bunch of twenty- and thirty-year-olds thinking, “What’s this old broad doing in our dorm room?”
I soon discovered that this fear was only in my mind.
I’ve developed wonderful friendships with people of all ages by staying in dorms.
In Ecuador, I met a 30-something teacher who subsequently invited me to visit her in Lima, Peru. She and her mother spent an entire day showing me around Lima, including treating me to lunch at their oceanfront Country Club.
In Nepal, I met a 50-something woman from England who became such a dear friend that we later spent a month traveling together around Ireland and Northern Ireland. I even shared a bunk with an 80-something woman in Mexico – and she took the upper bunk!
One of the biggest hostel secrets I’ve discovered is that you can book a two-bed dorm room, and unless it’s a holiday or other high-traffic time, you’ll almost always have the room to yourself. For some reason, hostels hesitate to book a second person into a two-bedroom if they have alternate beds available.
What to Expect in a Hostel
Hostels are safe, well staffed, usually well located, and generally offer a free breakfast. Most offer metal lockers to secure your possessions while you’re away for the day, but be sure to bring along your own padlock.
While more and more are providing bath towels, many still charge extra or don’t have towels available, so it’s a good idea to carry a camp towel with you. Some have laundry facilities and travel libraries where travelers can swap books. A few I’ve stayed in even had hot tubs, barbecues, and beaches at their front doors.
Despite the persistent stereotype, I’ve never been kept up by drunken partygoers. For the most part, my dormmates have been delightful and considerate. As for creepy-crawlies, I’ve never even seen a bedbug. Hostels, in general, are clean, but be sure to read customer reviews and the hostel’s conditions before booking.
I have run across a few hostels that won’t accept guests over 40, and the reviews will clearly indicate whether a property is a “party hostel” – I stay far away from those.
For solo travelers, couples, families, and friends traveling together, hostels offer a marvelous, eclectic experience, but the biggest benefit is the people you will meet. During my many years of travel, I can honestly say I’ve never met anyone interesting at a hotel.
But I can’t even count the number of friends I have all over the world as a result of staying in hostels.
After years of working at jobs that paid the bills but brought no joy, baby boomer Barbara Weibel walked away from corporate life in 2007 to pursue the only things she’d ever wanted to do: writing, photography, and travel. Since then she has traveled solo to 98 countries on six continents, including every country in Europe. Learn how much it costs her to travel around the world full time and read her fascinating stories about immersing with cultures around the world on her popular travel blog, Hole in the Donut Cultural Travel.
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- World Nomads (for everyone below 70)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Ready to Book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Deano
I don’t tend to stay in dorms that much at the moment as I am based in SE Asia and rooms are pretty cheap anyway. That said I have stayed in some nice ones on Europe, Oz and NZ. The best one was a place in Vienna, 4 bed dorm, en-suite bathroom. Stayed at some really bad ones too.
With regards to prices, I find that booking a single/double room in a guest house is often much cheaper and nicer than the equivalent room in an hostel.
The other plus side of hostels is that they are a great place to meet people, and are therefore great for single travellers. That said it is nice to escape from the crowd sometimes 🙂
Marcia
Thank You so much for this posting! This is exactly the sort of info I am looking for and dreaming about! Very timely!
Gray
The one time I looked at private rooms in hostels, I found the prices were equivalent to rooms in budget hotels, so not much of a savings there, but I suppose it depends on the country you’re looking at. GREAT to know about the 2-bed dorm rooms. Did not know that, and that certainly would make a difference in price.
Lis
I’ve found the same thing in Europe – been researching a trip and basically I can get a double room in a discounted Ibis or similar – with a private bath compared to a private room in a hostel. However you are unlikely to get a kitchen and free films if that’s important to you
Jenny
When I was in Colombia there was a 70-year old man staying in our dorm room. Very cool to see him out there! He had a great story to tell, moreso than many 20-somethings.
Maf
THANK YOU!! I love your blog, but boomer info is perfect for me.
Also, Deano: how do you find guest houses? Do you wait until you are on location or book ahead?
Deano
I tend to just turn up and walk around until I find a place that I like.
This works fine most of the time, but probably not the best approach in high season; especially in Europe. I also try not to arrive at a place when it is dark if I can help it; sometimes you have no choice, so I may book ahead in those circumstances.
David
Good overview Barbara. I stayed in the Tokyo youth hostel with my 2 kids and it was great. Backpackers and 20-somethings have so much energy and interact so easily with other people that the kids love the vibe found at youth hostels. Family rooms are usually pretty roomy and good value. And I agree, the drunken partygoers are a bit like Elvis sightings — you hear stories about them but never witness them yourself.
Deej
My only experience with a hostel was in Amsterdam, where a buddy and I shared a private room. It was about the same price as a budget hotel, but we preferred the vibe of the hostel better. If my wife and I ever return to Amsterdam, its likely we’ll return to this hostel. Great experience, and after reading this post, I may have to consider them more in the future…
NomadicMatt
What was the name of the hostel?
Laurel
I haven’t stayed in a hostel in years, always thought they were for early 20- somethings, but may have to reconsider. I can see that it would be a good way to meet interesting people, although I’ll have to sleep on it some more.
Sofia
I am often impressed by the high quality many hostels offer. Often the private rooms are not much different from a basic hotel room!
Chris
Hostels not for kids? then you have not stayed at the hostel in Grindalwald, Switzerland which is very family friendly
NomadicMatt
I think she meant hostels aren’t just for young people 🙂
Kelly
Great post! I think it’s lovely that you feel so passionate about staying in hostels. They have really impacted my travels as well! I sort of hate the idea of paying money for a place to sleep.. esp when you’re only there maybe 7-10 hours! Also I’m really happy to see that you haven’t met drunken rowdy hostelers yet, but they are out there! Thanks again– I love this! Just goes to show there is no ‘one’ type of traveler, or hostel-goer!
Benjamin Spall
Really enjoyable post Barbara. I was talking to an old friend about hostels only yesterday. Everybody I have asked (including him) echoed everything you said re: the clean, safe and social nature of hostels. I haven’t stayed in once since school, but I’ll be sure to make it them my accommodation of choice in the future!
jessiev
i’ve never stayed at a hostel, since when i traveled before having a kid, they were too far for me to get to with my disabilities. now, i am not sure that families with younger kids would be welcome. what do you think?
Mark Tisdale
My first experience with hostels was New Years in Edinburgh several years ago and I’ve rarely done hotels abroad since. I’ve encountered a wide range of ages and more than a few families staying at various hostels along the way. A friend recommended the first one to me, but since then I’ve tended to read the reviews on hostel booking sites and you can get a pretty good idea of what to expect and whether what someone else saw as a shortcoming is an issue for you. Reports of grotty showers and baths are the main thing that will send me back to the list! There’s a limit to being cheap sometime! LOL
Seriously, though, in my eyes the hostel serves one main purpose, a place to put my head at night. People spend out the nose for nice hotel rooms and then spend their days seeing the city. Seriously don’t understand it! I do like the common areas, though, as a solo traveler, nice way to meet other travelers and exchange notes on where you’ve been and where you’re going.
That said, I have never been so happy as I was arriving in Edinburgh after a rumble tumble week of hostels in the highlands and having a nice hotel room that I’d gotten super cheap (middle of January!). I had a yucky cold coming on and there was nothing so pampering as a huge soft bed and a bath all to myself! I guess it is nice to treat oneself every so often. 😉
Will have to try the two bed dorm trick the next time I see one. I’ve been alone in a dorm before – mid-week in a four person in London. Was quite odd having all that space!
Sharon M
There are many hostels available that welcome children, but you need to do your research beforehand. Sometimes they’re listed as “family rooms” or something along those lines. It’s more expensive than staying in the dorm rooms, but usually much cheaper than a hotel! My kids love traveling and meeting new people, so staying in a hostel is always a fun experience for them. And if you expose them early and teach them the “rules of the road,” others will be very impressed with your child’s good behavior 🙂
NomadicMatt
Yes, they have hostels. Check out hostelworld.com for a listing.
Bob Merrick
I have always avoided hostels because I had the same false beliefs about them that was described in this article. I also thought that they were for young adults only. You have enlightened me. I would have asked where I can check on them further, but that was answered in the reply section. Thanks for such an eye opener. It will change the way I travel in the future.
Carol Jean
I used hostels when going SOLO by train from Oregon to SAN diego CAL. I am a retired teacher and I find it easy to meet people. I appreciated a common kitchen and lunge area and enjoyed the travel tales and camaraderie not found in a typical budget hotel in the USA. Give it a go seniors! You just might get “hooked”.
juan
I subscribe all the article. Hostels give you one of the most important things to feel happiness in life: the possibility to meet with interesting people from all over the world.