Positive Aging Thought Leader: Maria Leonard Olsen
I just had a fun conversation with three young women from France, Germany and England in the common area of a hostel on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada at which I am staying.
Age-Spanning Hostel:
It is so fun for me to mingle with people from all over the world when I stay in hostels during my travels.
In my 20s, while backpacking around Europe, I stayed in a few such places which were, at the time, always called “youth hostels.” They were no-frills, inexpensive places that resembled dorms with bunkbeds and lockers, usually separated by gender.
There were no private rooms, at least in those I visited in western Europe in the 1980s. Today’s hostels serve all ages, including families traveling with children, who can book private rooms and family-accommodating suites. Dorm-style rooms are still available at hostels worldwide.
Hostels are generally less expensive than hotels. They typically have shared kitchens and lounges in which to relax, work or meet other travelers. It is cheaper if you stay in a dorm-style room, but most offer private rooms, as well.
“Hostels are generally less expensive than hotels.”
An Attractive Offering:
At age 61, I will stay in a hostel if I have my own room. I would rather have my own bathroom, too, but will share a bathroom if I find a particularly attractive offering. I would rather spend my money on experiences and trying local delicacies than where I lay my head after a full day of touring, wandering, or excursions.
When I was raising my children in the 1990s and early 2000s, I was intrigued by an elderly couple in my neighborhood who frequently traveled around the world staying at “elder hostels.”
The organization Elderhostel, which began in 1975 as a learning adventure program for older adults, rebranded itself as Road Scholar since then. Road Scholar offers thousands of programs combining travel and education and today serves approximately 100,000 people each year. Its travel programs cater to those who are over 50 years of age.
Quality And Offerings:
Hostels vary in quality and offerings. Like other things I purchase, I check reviews before booking. Safe locations and secure rooms are of primary importance to me. Sometimes I travel with a rubber door stopper that I can wedge under the inside of the bedroom door.
Keeping a quick dry or Turkish towel in my backpack has proven handy, as well, if towels are provided by the hostel at extra cost. Because I travel light, with only a carry on suitcase and small backpack, I have embraced bar shampoos and conditioners, and roll my clothing into packing cubes to preserve space.
“Safe locations and secure rooms are of primary importance to me.“
Books I read are left in hostel sharing libraries, and if I happen to buy new clothes abroad, I donate clothing or other items if I cannot fit everything into my carryon.
Digital Nomads:
I have stayed at several fun Selina hostels, of which there are more than 100 around the world, though primarily in Latin America. Selina is geared towards digital nomads. All of their properties are brightly colored, and have whimsical décor, common workspaces, a restaurant, usually a pool, and a range of accommodations types at each site.
At a Selina in the beach town of Puerto Escondido, Mexico, my room was a thatched roof teepee! Some offer free happy hour welcome drinks, dance lessons, yoga and discounted excursions. Many have pools. I only have been disappointed at one Selina hostel, when a friend and I arrived late in Quito, Ecuador, and the room resembled a closet into which a bunkbed had been shoved.
The staff was nice enough to upgrade us at no extra cost to a much nicer room with a window the following day. It pays to be kind to hostel staff (and to everyone else in life)!
Making Friends At Hostel:
I love being around people of all ages. I am an extrovert and have no problem striking up conversations with strangers. People who hang out in the common areas at hostels are open to conversations. Many times I make a friend at a hostel with whom I can share a meal or go on a tour or walk around town. Tomorrow I will join some new friends on a Kodiak boat whale watching excursion organized by this Vancouver Island hostel.
I seek out older travelers to learn about their life experiences, and often gain nuggets of wisdom. Younger people tend to share hot travel tips and youthful fun and energy. Conversations with Millennials and Gen-Z folks help me to better understand my adult children and their generation.
My Retirement Age:
As I draw closer to retirement age, I have become more budget-conscious. While hostels certainly are not luxe accommodations, I enjoy the communal feel of the hostels I have visited.
People from many different countries hang out in hostels and often share food, tables, and amazing stories. The atmosphere at hostels feels more easygoing and more light-heartedly fun. Some travelers stay on to work at hostels to earn free boarding.
“As I draw closer to retirement age, I have become more budget-conscious.”
Staying in hostels when I travel gives me new perspectives when I meet people from around the world who frequent such accommodations. Hopefully I, too, provide some insight and good cheer to those whose paths cross mine in the hostel community. I occasionally meet someone surprised that a woman in her 60s is traveling alone and staying at a hostel. Maybe intergenerational encounters can even help to dispel ageism one conversation at a time.
Did you enjoy this article? Become a Kuel Life Member today to support our Community. Sign-up for our Sunday newsletter and get your content delivered straight to your inbox.
About the Author:
Maria Leonard Olsen is an attorney, author, radio show and podcast host in the Washington, D.C., area. For more information about her work, see www.MariaLeonardOlsen.com and follow her on social media at @fiftyafter50. Her latest book, 50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life, which has served as a vehicle for helping thousands of women reinvigorate their lives, is offered for sale on this website.
