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 Home / Indexes T r a v e l W r i t i n g  Lodging/CampingWhat, Me Hostel? by Paul Otteson Synopsis & Author Comment: Hundreds of thousands of budget travelers stay in hostels every year. Of those, an increasing percentage are older travelers, couples, and families. Hostel operators are responding to the change with a variety of offerings. "What, Me Hostel?" speaks to this growing segment, describing the evolution of hostels and advising these non-traditional hostellers what to expect from the hostelling experience. I write as an authority based upon my role as the Managing Editor of Hostels.com. Lead Text: "I get a lot of questions from non-traditional hostelers wondering what hostels are like: Are they safe? Am I too old for hostelling? Am I crazy to take my kids to a hostel? Can my husband and I stay together? Do the curfews apply to people 21 and over? More than ever, the answers vary from hostel to hostel -- the standard bunkrooms-for-students version has been modified in many ways. A growing number of hostels seem more like hotels, B&B's, retreats, summer camps, college dorms, or other types of lodging. Still, some things haven't and won't change. It's a rare hostel that doesn't offer bunkrooms, a shared kitchen, and a common space, and hostels remain comparitively cheap everywhere. If, indeed, you are a young traveler on a budget looking for a safe night's sleep and the company of like-minded souls, just about any hostel has what you need. But what if you are that "non-traditional" hosteller? What should you expect? Here's an overview of some ways that many hostels have grown to accommodate you..." |
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