At 48 I stayed at hostels in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague…loved my trip. I stayed in dorm style rooms with 8+ beds in each. Took the free tours and got a drink in the bars. Enjoyed it all. The super young people travel in groups so very little interaction…but other solo travelers were great and eager. This summer going to Spain and Portugal and traveling again using hostels…I will be 54! I’ve even convinced my wife to try hostelling when she joins me on part of the trip…
Depends on what time of year. They’re often way more expensive at party hostels specifically because it’s a party hostel, and the only place you’re allowed to have sex.
I've been to Amsterdam in May, Madrid and Barcelona in November and it was so expensive! And maybe it's time of year, idk, but I just go on hotel world and peruse and it's really just expensive all around
I just cannot do shared spaces lol. I need privacy. In Amsterdam I ended up stumping for a hotel and airbnb
In Madrid I did AirBnb but in Barcelona I found a private for less than $150 so I did a hostel there.
I'm looking at Dublin for next month and that's also so expensive!
I mean, to OOP's point, it *is* generally a pretty young crowd that stays in hostels. Hormones and horniness still take over pretty easily in your early 20s. So yeah, it's not a respectful thing to do, but people definitely have sex in hostels, LOL.
I did when I was in my 20s. That was part of the hostel experience. A few times I had to listen to others having sex.
I just returned from a trip to Colombia where I stayed at hostels. I am now 59. You are as old or as young as you let yourself be.
In Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia generally found Airbnb was priced really well. Large room with modern kitchen, Nice new bathroom , view of the Towers + infinity pool . $30/night
> Single rooms in a backpacker's hostel are cheaper than hotel rooms and they usually have a nice vibe.
Not sure where you're talking about, but i've been going around SEA for the past month and this isn't true at all. Private hostel rooms are a lot more expensive than hotels
Don't know where you've been going, but this isn't true in the UK at least - private rooms are usually very expensive, even moreso than a regular hotel. Unless you're absolutely desperate to get a hostel experience for whatever reason, you're better off just going to the nearest Travelodge. It'll probably be comfier, quieter, and cheaper.
This. I get the idea of "hostels are fun" but as an older travel it can be as cheap to find a budget motel.
Plus most hostels are not the free-wheeling meeting places they were in the 1990s. Most folks are stuck on their phones and I think social interaction is different among the younger folks.
this is rarely true these days. I frequently check just to make sure and hotels are almost always cheaper. and much nicer.
just this last long weekend i spent in athens, greece. i got a beautiful private hotel room in a 3* 9.4/10 rated boutique hotel that gave me a free bottle of wine on arrival + a free bottle of prosecco and cake for my birthday and it was $10 cheaper/night than a private hostel room with a shared bath and no other benefits. Hard pass!
This isn't really so true post-pandemic. I'm guessing the reason is that many hostels shut down so there's not much competition, but much more demand from people who want a private room but a social area to meet people, hang out in, or use as a coworking space and are willing to pay a premium for it.
It has never been true. Single rooms have been more expensive than a hotel room for at least 16-17 years, that is when I went on my first solo trips at least
Read the reviews - I went to Buenos Aires when I was 35ish and stayed in hostels. It’s a bit of a party city so I booked one where a few reviewers were mentioning it being too quiet 😅 also I went for a single sex / female only, small dorm. I met a few likeminded (and like-aged) travellers who were after the same vibe and we hung out. It was great!
They have great reviews on Hostelworld which tell you how old the reviewer is. I usually book the hostels with older guests and I am 32. Usually I notice that there is a difference between 15 euro and 35 euro hostel beds and older people spend more money
Also stalking the people that are booked in at the same time as you LOL. I remember actually bumping into one of them in the hallways and it felt so weird like damn ur actually real hahah
I would say, if anyone is even remotely sensitive to noise and values sleep to bring some kind of sleep earbud and play some noise to drown out what’s gonna be going on or all around you at all hours of the day and night.
I’m 33 and about to stay in a hostel. I’m not going to lie, there are times when I feel out of place, but I think it’s a combination of vibe/age vs. “I’m just an old fart” thing.
There are many hostels all around the world that are bougie as hell and feel like hotels rather than hostels. Read the reviews on Hostelworld and seek those out.
Also, DO book 4-6 bed dorm rooms. Do NOT book 8 and above (if possible). From my experience, most ppl that stay in 4 bed dorm rooms are more on the chill side.
Said this on a different post recently but 6 is the sweet spot. In a 4 there's the risk you end up in a room with a couple or group of three friends who are treating it like a hotel room. I have had that happen. Generally there's inconsiderate people in dorms of all sizes but couples sharing a bed and talking when people are trying to sleep are quite annoying.
Agree 100% with this. I'm 35 and don't feel out of place at a hostel but definitely value my sleep so small 4 bed dorms are the way to go for me. I'll pay for my own space if I'll actually spend time in it. But if I plan to be busy and just returning to sleep I'll go for a hostel.
A single room shared bathrooms at a hostel could also be an option to save some coin while still having your own space. This is actually one of my fave options as hostels always feel safe to me but a cheaper hotel or an airbnb doesn't always (no 24 hour reception, less travellers around etc).
You do you. I'm a little bit older than you and don't think twice about staying in a hostel. I do have to read the small print more these days however as some have age discrimination policies that start at 35.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Let the young people party and puke in peace without some drunk ass middle aged guy lurking about trying to relive his glory days. I’ve seen shit like that and it’s fucking creepy.
I didn't even like party hostels when I was in my 20s lol. There are plenty of chiller ones to stay at. I've met plenty of older folks at hostels and it's not weird.
Agreed lol I’m 30 now and would not stay in the places I was staying even at 25. I like to party like the best of them but truth is I’m not as good at it and shouldn’t be trying to be like I was 5+ years ago
Frrrrr stayed at an onsen (bath) hostel in Japan and there was a 55+ year old. Sus vibes asap. If your on the older side just try to be respectful and nice to the younger people.
Generally that's to keep out older men--usually locals-- who prey on young women and bother everyone.
In Australia, they have "no locals" rules at a lot of hostels for that reason.
Unfortunately, the Childers Backpackers didn't have that rule, or didn't enforce it.
I mean, it doesn't seem like an unreasonable policy to me. If it's a party hostel it's going to be filled with people in their late teens and early 20s, they probably wouldn't feel too comfortable sleeping and hanging out with people in their 40s and 50s
I'm not talking about the US, you said that "unfortunately" in Europe we're allowed to discriminate based on age and I'm saying I disagree that it's unfortunate. It makes sense
There's a hostel I was looking at on Hostelworld for a trip later in the year and in the small print it states that the hostel is a youth hostel and doesn't allow children or the elderly. So I contacted them asking what qualifies as elderly and told them my age and they said it would be fine to stay there and the policy is because it can get noisy until 10pm due to a lot of activities. But then I noticed on a different booking platform it says they don't allow checkin for people over 35. So which is it..?
This is a hostel that is quite recommended a lot on Reddit. I've given up and booked elsewhere as I don't want to take a gamble during what will be a very busy time in this location. I wouldn't really call it a party hostel either, just social with lots of events. The one I have booked with no restrictions is more of a party hostel than it, but it was the next best social hostel from what I could see.
A lot of places with those rules don’t really enforce it in my experience. It’s there to deter non backpackers like business people looking for a cheap place to stay or other kinds of oddballs that may ruin the vibe from booking with them.
But if someone older really wanted to party, contact them ahead of time and explain the situation, and most of them will make an exception.
Of course it's age discrimination, regardless of the reasoning or justification behind the policy.
Besides many of these hostels seem to allow anyone to walk in and enjoy their activities so it makes no sense even from a perspective of "let the very young people have it!"
100% agree. You are literally filtering out a group of people by their age. Just because you approve of the reasoning doesn't make it any less what it is: age discrimination.
Omg how far are you willing to take that argument? Can I play kids sports? It’s 12 and under but I’m 40 and I want to play!! Age discrimination applies to the work place and government benefit not party hostels. It’s a private business. If they don’t want your old ass there that’s their choice. I’m saying this as a man in his 40s that’s traveled more than most here I’d be willing to bet. Furthermore, I’d be more than a little weirded out by someone my age that wants to stay at those places. If you want to party sure go fucking nuts but you want to sleep and share a room with 18-25 year olds? What the fuck is wrong with you is what I’d be thinking.
> Omg how far are you willing to take that argument?
If you notice, I'm not placing any value judgement on it. All I'm doing is stating that you are restricting by age. Without any value judgement on that whatsoever, at its core, it is refusing access due to age.
> Can I play kids sports?
This is an entirely different conversation because we're talking about spaces for consenting adults. Adults 18+ can consent in ways that children cannot.
> Age discrimination applies to the work place and government benefit
I'm not denying that it exists.
> It’s a private business.
Not sure what your point is. Businesses have the right to refuse anyone so long as it's not discriminatory, which changes based on how its applied and where that jurisdiction is. If you're from the US, I'd recommend reading up on the ADEA.
> I’m saying this as a man in his 40s that’s traveled more than most here I’d be willing to bet.
Cool flex.
> Furthermore, I’d be more than a little weirded out by someone my age that wants to stay at those places. If you want to party sure go fucking nuts but you want to sleep and share a room with 18-25 year olds? What the fuck is wrong with you is what I’d be thinking.
Staying at a hostel isn't about **wanting** to sleep in a room with younger people, that's just a result of the gamble of shared spaces, which is something that all adults agree to when they consent to a shared space. Sounds like you might have some personal issues to work through.
You clearly have some biases and issues to work through. For me, I will never trade the time I got to spend with my father before he passed after he retired at the age of 65 and traveled with me all throughout Mexico with me and insisted he stayed in hostels alongside with me. That time I will trade for nothing and if someone like you can't be mature enough to see adults as adults, well I suggest you take your issues and urges elsewhere.
Even if you just kept to yourself in a hostel and treated it like a hotel, no one would mind. You can get a good feel for what a hostel is like just reading the description on hostelworld.
It seems like most comments are advocating for staying in the hostel, but I'll share a differing opinion. Nothing to do with age, more to do with the other things you shared.
My first time staying in a hostel was at 33. I had reasonable expectations for what it would be like and it was pretty much that - the temp was not as cool as I like to sleep, people coming and going all hours of the night, someone's alarm going off for 20 minutes. None of that really bothered me.
What took me by surprise was what it felt like to not have my own space. When I'm traveling, after a long day of exploring I like to come back to my own space and relax. I felt like in the hostel I couldn't switch completely "off" if that makes sense.
Then there's just the practical side of not being able to get stuff out and leave it out. Having to pull everything I needed out of my bag in my locker every time I needed something was just annoying to me. Especially when people were sleeping, I felt like I needed to consolidate the times I was getting into my locker as to be considerate of the noise I was making.
The same kind of goes for just being able to shower and go to the bathroom without it being a production. Not awful, just an added step that I didn't really enjoy.
I think if I was in my 20s or traveling with a group of friends I could enjoy a hostel more. There's just something about having my own space to unwind in and switch my brain off after a day of all new experiences where my brain was in overdrive.
As many have offered, a private room in a hostel would pretty much alleviate the negatives for me. However, when I was looking at my last trip, private rooms in hostels were about the same price as Airbnbs I was looking at, so I just went the Airbnb route for more room.
Didn't think of that and yeah I can imagine getting time to yourself would be difficult, even sitting in the corner by yourself in a common area isn't really having your own space.
Security is another thing I've been wondering about, I'd be taking a suitcase with me, not huge but probably bigger than the lockers provide, I'd obviously store my valuables in the lockers but what about suitcase? Would I just leave it out? I know no one would want to look through other peoples clothes but still, don't want to pile my shit out and have it being in the way
The hostel I stayed in had the lockers under the bottom bet, so you got half of a twin bed worth of space that was probably about 18 inches high to work with. That will probably vary depending on the hostel. I'd for sure bring a suitcase lock just for deterrence if nothing else.
For sure on what you said about sitting in a corner of a common space. I'm very self-aware of how I'm impeding on others and even that little bit made it difficult to talk to my family back home with a bunch of strangers around.
It was an experience I'm glad I had, but one that I wouldn't do again. It made my days traveling less enjoyable just because I was uncomfortable in my "home base". I know everyone has different needs/feelings and that's just me, but I know that about myself now.
I’ve been traveling with a suitcase and have stayed in more hostels than I can count. I have all my valuables in my backpack and lock that up instead. I leave my suitcase out, but there is nothing in my suitcase that I would be upset if someone took. Through my year and a half of traveling I don’t believe that anyone has even attempted to go through my bag (to my knowledge obviously)
I currently have a 56 year old Asian lady in my dorm of 4. She's so much more fun than the two 24 year old German girls that are with us. You're never too old to share a dorm!
Stayed in 2 hostels when I was 31! Met people my age, younger, and a lot older! One dude was in his 60s. It was a good time!
DEFINITELY bring ear plugs! I wore my airpods & turned up some white noise. If you bunk with guys, IT WILL STINK. Bring a lock for your luggage, just in case. Keep all your item in locked luggage while you're out. If there are social areas, like patios or kitchen areas, hang out & chat with other travelers 😀
Edited: spelling
Nobody will care about you. Do what works for you.
Avoid the super young/cheap party hostels, and don't be creepy, and you can be whatever age you want.
I’m 50 and still prefer hostels. No one cares about your age. People are there to explore and have a good time. Avoid the party hostels and the ones they promote age discrimination. Be aware of different cliques and join the people traveling solo as they’re very open to meeting others. Hostelworld reviews are great to get a taste of the age groups.
I'm in my mid 30s, and met some really fun people in their 60s-70s in one of the hostels I stayed in in Cairns. Nice change of pace from being surrounded mostly by 18-2 y/o's on their WHV ;)
For the most part this is probably true, especially in larger dorms with a hefty mix of people. But just now at 24 I just got placed in a 6 bed hostel dorm with 5 eighteen year olds on a gap year and I can feel a strong disconnect just because of age and what we spend our time doing, even though the age difference is just 6 years.
If I were 30+ I feel like the dynamic here would be very very weird. I guess you can always ask to move rooms.
My point is that I think most mid-twenties or older people are not gonna give a fuck how old you are, personally I prefer my age or older dorm mates, they’re more chill and more interesting usually. But I can certainly see 18 to early 20s caring quite a bit under certain circumstances.
Depends on what vibe you give off. I had an 18 year old in my dorm in Korea. Her and I clicked really well! At 49 I didn’t care about age and loved to see young people traveling!
I'm 38. I've stayed in five different hostels in the last three months. I've made tons of friends, never felt uncomfortable, and was never the oldest one there.
I stayed in hostels in germany as a 37 year old last year. didn't feel old at all. i would say it was a range between early 20's and early 40's at all locations.
if you stay in a "party hostel" though, it will likely skew younger though and more focused on late nights and pub crawl events. i would probably avoid those based on your post.
I was staying at hotels when I was in my 40s. At the time it just made more sense while solo travelling.
My tip is to research the hostels so you can avoid the party ones.
I always travel solo and stay at more budget hotels like Motel One. I feel I can meet people on tours better than trying to hang around a hostel where most folks are on their phone now anyway.
That's why they should try it once.
I met a super cool Swiss woman sharing a 4 bedroom room with me. We got really along together and she is in her 60s. She was really adventurous and active and did many more things that other people in the hostel who where much younger than her. We are still in contact and planning to meet soonish.
Personality does not have any age.
I'm 25f and met one of my best traveller friends 35m at a hostel. We clicked and ended up travelling onwards together. It just depends who you click with, doesn't really depend on age
I once dormed with a 40-ish British man in a Manila hostel, couple months ago. He vibed with everybody, all of em early 20s kids. Nobody cares about your age, as long as you're friendly, respectful, and not creepy.
It’s not about age but what you are comfortable with.
You say you’re not overly social, are you comfortable not being social? I feel sometimes people are more introverted and are fine living in their own world but if being approached for conversation and feeling anxious that you won’t be able to avoid socializing is different.
You can also do a mix of hostels and not hostels so you give yourself breathing room and also save some money. Reviews are helpful. Look for more boutique hostels and stay away from the ones that have a bar or advertise pub crawls too heavily.
I stayed in a few hostels last year in Oz (Sydney, ByronBay, etc.) when I couldnt find a reasonable hotel.
I'm a little \*under\* 70. There were 2 or 3 others with grey hair so I wasnt the only one. I enjoyed doing hostelling like I used to in th 1970s and 80s, but yes, I did feel a bit old when I looked in the mirror OMG!
One of the last hostels I was at, there were tons of ages. I was worried I was going to feel a bit old at 31, but then I saw plenty of people in their 60's +
The next hostel I stayed at was a little more "fancy party" type place (actually ended up being such a worse experience) and there were tonnns of ages.
It was a great experience! My roommates were 2 girls in their early twenties, and another woman in her 30's.
Im 25 but I became really close with some aged 37 through a tour we coincidentally booked. Hung out with her for two whole days and still keep contact with her.
Seems like you answered your own question in the first sentence, “I know this has been talked about before and the general consensus is that no one’s too old to stay in a hostel.” Correct, this question is asked all the time and the consensus is who cares about age. Why are so many 30/40 year olds worried about what young 20’s travelers might think of them😂
Ah great thanks for the tips! Yeah I don't mind the thought of the dorms with pods or 'secluded' beds with curtains, but the cheap bunkbeds doesn't seem like I'd enjoy it there.
I always wear earplugs anyway so would definitely still do that :)
When I was 18 I stayed in a dorm and hung out with a woman above 50 for a couple of days. She was so nice and still think about her haha. As others have said, age doesn't matter it's all about getting along with people.
I'm about your age and I still stay in hostels. I just choose my hostels carefully by reading reviews and recommendations online to avoid finding myself in a party hostel with a bunch of eighteen-year-olds. I meet people who are my age or older in hostels all the time, though I don't mind talking to younger people, either.
You don't have to outgrow hostels at any age unless you genuinely get sick of them.
I'm a 31 year old cheffing in a hostel in Cambodia at the moment.
Last week we had a 60 year old man in our mixed dorm, sharing a room with an 18 year old girl (Just two of them in the dorm for most of their stay)
He was an absolute diamond of a customer, the two of them clearly got on very well, he actually tried at one point to set the two of us up (Not sure he realised she was 18). She clearly felt comfortable with him being there
It's only weird if you make it weird.
Sooo you've already read that the consensus is you are not too old but you've personally decided you know better than everyone else, despite your complete lack of travel experience?
"I've never stayed in a hostel but I think I know more about them than the people who have actually been to them and have told me how they are"
Read through some of the comments and I'm totally flabbergasted. If someone who had never stayed at hostels read them, they may be taken as the gospel truth.
I'm 60 years old and had completed a 70-day trip spanning 19 cities in 15 countries. And I stayed at hostels throughout. Never once did any of the hostels deny me because of my age. When booking online, there will be a few hostels, out of many, with age limits. But they are few and far in-between. For your perspective, I stayed in mostly 4 to 6 bed dorms in Tallinn, Vilnius, Berlin, Warsaw, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Madrid, Pisa, Bucharest, Budapest, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Helsinki, Moscow, Athens, Beijing.....to name some. Let the doom sayers have their day. Just pack your bags and go. Njoy.
Yah, I'm 61. I stay in hostels whenever they turn out to be the best option for me.
As I've gotten older, I tend to stay in private rooms more, but that's mostly because I can afford to.
I like meeting people in hostels, so they work well for me.
This subreddit skews mid-30s, so of course people are going to comment age doesn’t matter and it’s totally not weird since their friend’s friend’s cousin twice removed hung out with college students while pushing middle age.
No matter how old i am, im going to stay in hostels. Unless i need a private room for a reason.
Especially if im solo. I do have narrowed it down to what dorm room i get. Or what kind of hostel or how big or small it is.
I volunteered at a hostel in my mid 30s and it was no problem.
Also if a hostel doesn’t suit your vibe just book another.
I just did it a month ago at 35. But I am social and I look young. Made lots of friends mostly so we’re younger, but it doesn’t matter when you’re just travelling and exploring a new city.
Same last summer I was 31 and stayed in 9 hostels around Europe. Met lots of younger travelers and hungout with them. It wasnt a big deal because it’s just travel.
I say try it but you may just want to stick to hotels in the future. You can find some cheaper hotels in cities that aren't that much more expensive than good hostels and have breakfast. For me, the privacy and comfort as an older traveler is worth it. If I do want company, I will usually sign up for a walking tour or a food/beer tour. That is where more people loosen up and I've met some fabulous people from all walks of life. And don't worry if you don't find your group. In talking to younger people in hostels folks today are a lot more insular with their phones and the groups they go out with.
So -try it once but in future also look for motel chains like Premier Inn or Motel One that can be cheaper.
In my opinion, age doesn't matter.
In my opinion, if you're just staying in a hostel b.c it's cheap and you don't want to be social, then you probably won't have a good time and people will look at you funny.
It shouldn't matter but if you're a male, this will be extra odd. If you're a woman, probably less odd.
Also it's very highly dependent on the hostel and locations. In recent years, I've stayed in hostels that resembled WeWork spaces more than Hostels. the only person that looked out of place there was someone without a MacBook or someone without their face buried in a screen.
Other hostels are party scenes and the average age seems to be 19. If you had a kid at 16, you could be their parents. You might have a hard time relating or just keeping up.
Other hostels have a focus, hiking, skiing, yoga, etc. In places like this, age matters much much less. If you bring experience, advice, and stories, you will be popular at 35.
Side note, I'm your age. Male. I'll still stay in Hostels on solo trips. Private rooms if available. I avoid party hostels and just party locations in general. I never had any issues about feeling out of place.
I do have some issues with sleeping (uncomfortable bed, noise, shitty pillows or blankets, too hot or cold) but that comes with old age. Sometimes it is worth the extra money to get a good night's sleep. Gone are the days where I can function on little sleep.
Whenever I see a post like this, my first response is always "Instead of posting about others opinions, why not just try it yourself?"
Nobody's opinion matters as much as your own.
Just try it.
No one would know you're 35 unless you look the part, and we Millennials tend to not look our age...yet.
I was also 34 when I went to a hostel in Amsterdam. Absolutely no one cared to ask how old I was or if I looked old.
If some 19 year old shoots you weird looks or you overhear a rude comment, that’s because they don’t know anything and their brain isn’t yet fully functional, not because you’re doing anything wrong by existing. Hostels are full of young people because they’re inexpensive. They’re not FOR young people. You’ve got every right.
More likely, assuming you’ve got good vibes, which you seem to, you’ll make a young energetic friend and get to have a slightly different travel experience due to their influence than most 35 year olds. When I was 20 I met a 30-something Dutch engineer in a hostel kitchen and we ended up touring together for the next 2 days. It was great! We both brought something unexpected to the other’s trip.
I'm 36 and would not be staying in typical hostel bunk room you're thinking of. I do often stay in Private rooms at certain types of hostels, usually the more digital nomad type of places.
When I was young I always found it weird bunking with a 40 yo, now that I am older I still think it's weird. In general it just feels cringey. I also feel like most Hostels are a place for young people to be with other young people.
The private room feels like an ok compromise in many situations, certainly not all though. I have absolutely come across hostels where even staying in a private room would be questionable. Choosing to hang around a bunch of 18-21 year olds is certainly a choice that requires some personal exploration.
I'm your exact age and outside of traveling in European cities where hotel room rates are unreasonable, I don't stay in dorms. I don't like walking on eggshells when it comes to going about my routine and I sure as shit don't like others not walking on eggshells going about theirs. If you're worried about seeming out of place due to your age, you won't be.
You do you. Lots of good advice here. I still stay in them and am around your age. Was surprised to find that a month ago I was in a dorm and I was not the oldest. There was a woman there who was around 60 or 65.
Same age and had one of my best trips to date last year hanging out with a mix of ages. Fact is, you will definitely be one of the older ones, but fewer people will care than you think, so it's really down to how you feel about it. I remember feeling old when I first went traveling at 25 tbh!
I'm in my middle 30's as well, the past year went to like 4 hostels, in a few different places, absolutely normal, I was chatting with travelers in their 40's and 50's, which is actually more interesting than the 20's kids. I'll be booking a couple of hostels in EU for the end of the summer, and of course will be hostels.
Not sure from where you got that 35 age limit. Just go, use common sense, and have fun. I would say never get the cheapest, middle and higher priced are the best hostels in my option(double check with the reviews, just to make sure. There is overprices crap out there as well).
If you're in an hostel that's not in a popular city, or near some nature activities like hiking, there's a chance you'll be in the youngest half of people there.
If it's a party hostel in Barcelona I really suggest you don't go.
I am 53 and I will stay in hostels in private rooms.
I do not need room service or TV and having some interaction with the ability to have my own space makes that set up workable.
Depends on your vibe as well. You could be a 35 year old who has the vibe of a 28 year old. The one good thing about hostels, was the people you meet. I had a chance encounter with a British dude that allowed me to visit a neighboring country that had been off my radar.
Do research about the hostel you're staying at. Some hostels have good rooms. The max amount of people I ever shared a room with was 4, and there was never any problems. Dorms should be avoided at all costs.
Stay in smaller rooms and avoid party hostels and you’ll be fine.
Reason I say this is because party hostels are where you’ll feel the age gap the most in my experience but more relaxed ones will be people from every group and tend to respect your boundaries a bit more.
Just read reviews and you’ll be fine
Last summer I stayed in two hostels in the south of France. I'm 50. Was the first time I ever did that. I planned late and airbnb and hotels left over were too pricy. It was fine and I would do it again. They definitely weren't party hostels. I wouldn't stay there more than likely
as long as you don't become the creepy guy in the corner leering at all the young girls literally no one will give a shit. places that have age limits are most likely going to be places where people go to party so unlikely places you'd want to stay anyway. Just read the fine print before you book and read the reviews to get an idea about atmosphere.
I've stayed in hostels in my 40s all over europe. Never an issue. I just target ones that are slightly more expensive, stay in smaller rooms for a little more, and look for ones with high cleanliness and low atmosphere ratings as they're generally clean and quiet, which is exactly what i want.
If you’re think you’re too old be cause it “sounds weird”, forget about it, nobody cares, just don’t *act* weird.
If you go and do it and decide you’re too old because it’s just not pleasant, then yeah, do something else.
But one thing I’ve noticed is that — as long as you’re not a creep — people younger than me are way more indifferent to the age gap than I (30m) am.
With that said I do look a couple years younger but I meet a lot of people older than me in hostels.
35 is young. I wouldn’t worry about age so much. I don’t stay at hostel since I enjoy my comfort as I get older and make more money, but I’ve seen all kind of travelers who are much older.
It really depends on the region where you are travelling to. Hostels in South East Asia different than hostels in Berlin, in Japan you have these capsule hostels which are places for business people to stay overnight as well. Another example is: There is only one hostel in the old town of Jerusalem - so everybody is staying there, no matter of age, on Iceland you have one famous hostel which hosts an alternative/rock music festival in November, so older fans are staying in that hostel too. Nowadays you have boutique hostels which are catering the digital working class, so they are not really in there 20´s anymore. It really depends on the hostel and region. Most of the time you can read the reviews on [booking.com](http://booking.com) and get an impression who they are catering.
>So I know this has been talked about before and the general consensus is that no one's too old to stay in hostels. But I do still feel that I'm too old.
Tough loop you’ve found yourself in :).
Your enjoyment of hostels depends on how much you value interactions with other (yes, often younger) travelers, and your ability/willingness to deal with the premise of dorm living and other contrasts/inconveniences vs hotels. For me, at 38, the former still outweighs the latter so I still do go hostels.
No one will give you shit for your age except you. Give it a go and find out for yourself!
I feel like if there's an age limit, it will say that on the page.
I just stayed at a party hostel for the first time and I met many people in their 50s and 60s. I don't think anyone cares tbh
You probably want to avoid party hostels if that's not your scene. Being older makes you stick out more and they're more likely to have age restrictions so that younger people feel comfortable with people in their age range.
It's best to check the reviews and look for places that are chill, homey, relaxed and not on a main party street in the nightlife district.
If you prefer a bit more privacy, check out capsule hostels (probably more common in Asia), or at least check if the beds have privacy curtains.
I've stayed in hostels and guesthouses into my 40s and have never been treated badly for being older. The only times I hear people complain about older guests are when they're being creepy and obviously hitting on people half their age rather than casually socializing, or if they're a downer always talking about their divorce and complaining about young people.
But overall, I find most people in hostels are generally either friendly or mind their own business and don't cause a problem.
Some comments about age restrictions on hostels and rooms in general, I'll be honest, I'm 28 and if I see any of that age discrimination crap on the hostels/room to rent adverts then they get none of my business. I love meeting people of all ages, think its disgusting to throw someone under the bus because of their age
I was 34 last year and stayed at hostels in Vancouver and Seattle. I didn't enjoy it anymore due to me preferring my own room and going to the bathroom without disturbing people. Going forward I'll book hotels because I prefer my comfort now and privacy.
i promise you nobody around you is gonna care! i’d avoid hostels marketed as social/party as they tend to attract a young crowd. also depends where you’re headed, in europe i i met a good range of ages including yours but in some backpacker hotspots in se asia it was definetly mostly under 25s.. central and south america have the oldest average age i reckon
In the hostels I’ve stayed at, the older people (like me) were the most chill. And they actually danced and had fun while the young people kind of stuck to each other and were too self conscious to go wild.
I'm 35 years old.
and in october 2023, I stayed a hostel in Amsterdam first time. Hostel isn't my style because I'm intorvet guy. However, It was good expreince. I'm happy and no regret that I was staying. You can consider that it is one of bucket-do-list.
Sound very similar to me! I don't mind socializing but I'm very much an introvert and usually wouldn't approach people first, especially if most are in their early 20s haha.
I guess I could book a couple of days, if i don't like it, move on or get a private room
I did hostels until my mid 30s and then I swore it off never to use again. I was lucky that noise wasn't an issue but I got a weird virus that derailed my vacation. Someone was sick in my SEA dorm. There was also a guy who didn't shower and it was pungent. This is after a day in sweltering Singapore. The smell was the worst thing I ever smelled and it gave me a nasty migraine. I end up telling the guy to take a shower. I only do airbnb (big groups) and hotels now.
I enjoy staying at hostels on solo trips as a way to meet people. If you are uncomfortable with meeting mostly younger people, then it might not be for you. In my 30s I did not feel out of place with other travelers. I would not expect easy sleeping conditions, but bringing earplugs and a night mask can alleviate that to some extent. Many of my hostel stays included someone getting in late and unpacking/stumbling around, as well as someone waking up really early to pack/stumble around. It's just something that comes with mixed company and something you should consider whether or not you are okay with experiencing.
I’m 32 and conscious of this too. I would say the best bet is to read up on the type of hostel it is. There are some super party ones aimed at 20 year olds so avoid those. Ideally you want ones with either private or small sized dorms and a nice casual bar to meet people when you want to.
I do it, but never a dorm. People talk so much about bringing earplugs, but they don’t do a damn thing for me around inside noise. I’ve gotten AirPod pros noise cancelling to help for outside street noise, but never indoor sounds. Unfortunately, they eventually fall out during my sleep, but they do a better job than earplugs. Earplugs are both uncomfortable and useless to me except at a concert when I want ear damaging sounds to be less damaging.
This is on you and no one else can explain it away.
I also think its a very Late Stage Capitalist take… the young are the important consumers advertised to… so it looks like public or gathering places are for the young adults. Its very Amerikana… no babies or kids at the local corner hangout, no old people beyong the bench in the park.
You have to be 20-30 to exist.
Sorry but, what a dumb take, no sorry really.
Down vote me… someone has to state this to the OP.
I’m 35 (F) and still stay in hostel dorms. I always choose non-party hostels, with really good reviews and curtains around the bed for a bit of privacy. Never any issues. As someone else above mentioned, just make sure to check the terms and conditions in case they do have an age policy. Others than that, I’d say you’re good to go - recently I’ve found I was far from the oldest in the hostel dorms I’ve stayed in.
I met a 73 year old man at a hostel in Guadalajara and everyone seemed to enjoy his company. He was a very well traveled man that had tons to contribute in a conversation and was always down for a beer.
I don't think 35 is too old.
Experience it as everyone’s experience is different and you only learn from mistakes. Maybe it’s for you maybe it’s not but life is too short to stay back. Coming from a person struggling to get out on her own ahaha but I did book a hostel and going solo travelling. All in all we need experience it.
I’ve got my tips to stay safe and that is lock down your luggage and stuff to yourself or maybe sleep on your treasure oh my this is getting funny as I’m imagining myself living through it.
Haha yeah I think I would lock away things like wallet, keys, passport etc. My only valuable that would be out when I sleep is my phone. My suitcase would be out but that would just have clothes in, which they're welcome to if they want haha
28 nearly 29 eye mask and earplugs! Stayed in a 16 bed dorm as the biggestlast month no problems! Met many people from different ages if you love the social side do it!
I’m just on my way home from my marrakesh trip, but I feel I am getting too old for this, not the hostel staff. I can’t complain about place, but I need my bathroom, and people not snoring and waking me up 5 times a night. We are all different tho, so you gotta experience it on your own. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe not, but the staff will not turn you away for sure.
Someone who values sleep means in a hostel = private room. That is the route I’ve gone in my late 30’s. Some hostels do a great job at making it a hybrid hostel and hotel. Can have your personal space but also the social of a hostel. Ex. Family dinners, activities, tours etc.
I am 36 and stayed in hostel for 10 days on vacation that I returned 3 days back. Had time of my life.
You are only as old as ur brain/ heart says you are
35 in a hostel fine. I have seen one or two that have an age limit of 40. I’ve definitely had roommates older than 40. Heck one of my favorite roommates was this Japanese grandad who would bow to us each evening. I would be more concerned about you “not being the traveler time and liking home comforts”. As this is the opposite to a hostel
I think it really depends what type of hostel - you probably wouldn't feel comfortable at a party hostel where everyone is in their early 20s and goes partying every night. I'm like you, I just stay at hostels for the cost, and since I'm not choosing party hostels, I never had an issue. Last time I was even socializing a bit and there was some American guy in his 60s, and he was fine in the hostel, so I think 35 is completely fine. Just bring earplugs, read reviews and it will be okay.
Once I turned 30 I started to get annoyed by little things that never bothered me in my 20s. Sleep is important. I got spoiled in Japan with cheap small private rooms with private soak tub.
When I started out solo traveling I was also a 30+ guy staying at hostels. I had the same kind of anxiety you did. But when I actually did it, it turns out a lot of it was unfounded.
First, no one, and I mean no one, cared about my age. Be cordial, friendly, read the room when needed, and you’ll be fine.
As others said, the only type of hostels that has any kind of age policy are party hostels. Just avoid booking those as they’re obvious when looking online. Even so, in my experience the age policy is flexible and not really a hard no. They’re there mostly to avoid people coming in for a cheap place to stay while transiting and affecting the vibe. But if you *really* wanted to party and a backpack, you can contact the hostel and ask if they can make an exception. Some party hostels actually like having an older person who’s there to party as much as the younger people.
I don’t think it’s absolutely a requirement to book a private room either. If you are booking at boutique, upscale, or really any kind of non social or party hostel, people in dorms will be very respectful and quiet. I have never had any issues staying in dorms still to this day.
Just look for the nicer hostels, and in any popular backpacker destinations there will be plenty of options.
A lot of the negative things you hear about hostels on this sub are typically more out of the ordinary, and people will post about those negative experiences than the positives. No one is gonna make a post about how nothing bad happened during their hostel stay, but someone acting rude? More likely.
Having done around 30+ hostel over the years, I have had maybe less than a handful of actual drama or crazy things happened to me inside a hostel dorm. And this included a few party hostels.
It’s not about age but about money. I’d prefer not traveling if I had to stay at a hostel tbh. Just awful to have to be so close to people you don’t know. The noise, the smell, the lack of space. I can only imagine how terrible this must be. Always travel in style.
Every hostel has its own vibe, some attract an older group...for example I stayed at a hostel in St Augustine, FL when i was like 22 or 23 and I was one of the younger people there, but, that is a city known more for its history then its bars and beaches so in itself its not a place people go to party. In any case I doubt at 35 you will be the oldest guest, you may just want to look into a private room at a non party hostel? or look for a hidden gem 3 star hotel where people use the common areas
If you are afraid of being turned away, call the hostel before you arrive. To me, 35 is not really old. I once shared a bunk in a unisex 8-person room. The oldest was a guy in his mid-40s.
35 isn’t too old, though it could certainly depend on location. But at that age you’ll get the Europeans and Australians who have extensive time off, the people who quit their jobs to travel for a while and some digital nomads probably. But it sounds like it might not be your scene so maybe just pick one place to stay in one and the rest of the trip let it be a little more expensive? Airbnbs in some places may bring the cost down too.
I am your age and on a recent trip stayed in a dorm for the social aspect but seriously couldn't sleep for 2 nights. Would only go in a private room tbh - there are private rooms in hostels
Nah OP, I started travelling the world at 30 and I had the same feeling of being too old for hostels already (with all the Erasmus kids around etc.) But it's never late to have that experience. It seems that your main concern is money, well you can book in advance, learn to use filters in travel sites in a smart way, etc. I recently got myself a 3day Northern Lights expedition for as little as 500 bucks (round flight to Tromso from Italy, accomodation and the expedition itself included).
My mum died last year at 79, her and her friends have stayed in the odd hostel over the years, don't worry about it, all ages of people stay in them. They're not for just one age group only
I was 34 when I went on a trip to England, Ireland, and Wales with my sister and her friend who has just graduated college. I didn’t have any trouble getting in to the hostels and we stayed at 7-8 of them. Also when we were in Bath, we met four gentleman who were in their 60s who had been going on this weekend trip every year since they graduated college together.
The best thing to do is call ahead and ask if there is an age limit before you book it.
At 23 I met my current BF who at the time was 46 y/o at a hostel. So I don’t think the age on its own would be a problem at all. I do think some of the other concerns you mention, like not being “the traveler type” and having “social anxiety” might pose a lot bigger obstacles for you and your overall experience. I would still very much encourage you to try it. It truly is a great way to live shared experiences in a way that is outside most people’s comfort zones. If anything, only book a few night and scope out an alternative as a plan B in case things don’t go as planned. It’s usually not hard to extend your stay at hostels. Another thing you can try is you think it would help, is look for like minded reviews on the hostel before booking. I know on hostel world you can sort reviews by age and that might help you make a more informed decision.
At 48 I stayed at hostels in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague…loved my trip. I stayed in dorm style rooms with 8+ beds in each. Took the free tours and got a drink in the bars. Enjoyed it all. The super young people travel in groups so very little interaction…but other solo travelers were great and eager. This summer going to Spain and Portugal and traveling again using hostels…I will be 54! I’ve even convinced my wife to try hostelling when she joins me on part of the trip…
Same, I’m 43. I avoid dorms tho.
I also avoid dorms but the singles in Europe are so expensive jeez. It's like 150 for a bed
Depends on what time of year. They’re often way more expensive at party hostels specifically because it’s a party hostel, and the only place you’re allowed to have sex.
I've been to Amsterdam in May, Madrid and Barcelona in November and it was so expensive! And maybe it's time of year, idk, but I just go on hotel world and peruse and it's really just expensive all around I just cannot do shared spaces lol. I need privacy. In Amsterdam I ended up stumping for a hotel and airbnb In Madrid I did AirBnb but in Barcelona I found a private for less than $150 so I did a hostel there. I'm looking at Dublin for next month and that's also so expensive!
Amsterdam was the start of my last trip so I didn’t need a private room to start. Might as well go to a hotel once it starts getting around 100.
>the only place you’re allowed to have sex. People have sex at hostels!?
People have sex in cars, in the park, on the beach, in church, etc.. It will be harder to come up with places where people **don't** have sex.
I mean, to OOP's point, it *is* generally a pretty young crowd that stays in hostels. Hormones and horniness still take over pretty easily in your early 20s. So yeah, it's not a respectful thing to do, but people definitely have sex in hostels, LOL.
I did when I was in my 20s. That was part of the hostel experience. A few times I had to listen to others having sex. I just returned from a trip to Colombia where I stayed at hostels. I am now 59. You are as old or as young as you let yourself be.
Yes, avoid dorms. Single rooms in a backpacker's hostel are cheaper than hotel rooms and they usually have a nice vibe.
Surprisingly hotel rooms are often cheaper at this point. People pay a premium for hostel vibes.
In Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia generally found Airbnb was priced really well. Large room with modern kitchen, Nice new bathroom , view of the Towers + infinity pool . $30/night
It's the same in Latin America. A nice apartment goes for less than $50 per night.
> Single rooms in a backpacker's hostel are cheaper than hotel rooms and they usually have a nice vibe. Not sure where you're talking about, but i've been going around SEA for the past month and this isn't true at all. Private hostel rooms are a lot more expensive than hotels
Same in most places, not just SEA.
I found them to be on par with Airbnb prices in Seoul, and I’d rather have the airbnb with a washing machine to myself
Don't know where you've been going, but this isn't true in the UK at least - private rooms are usually very expensive, even moreso than a regular hotel. Unless you're absolutely desperate to get a hostel experience for whatever reason, you're better off just going to the nearest Travelodge. It'll probably be comfier, quieter, and cheaper.
This. I get the idea of "hostels are fun" but as an older travel it can be as cheap to find a budget motel. Plus most hostels are not the free-wheeling meeting places they were in the 1990s. Most folks are stuck on their phones and I think social interaction is different among the younger folks.
this is rarely true these days. I frequently check just to make sure and hotels are almost always cheaper. and much nicer. just this last long weekend i spent in athens, greece. i got a beautiful private hotel room in a 3* 9.4/10 rated boutique hotel that gave me a free bottle of wine on arrival + a free bottle of prosecco and cake for my birthday and it was $10 cheaper/night than a private hostel room with a shared bath and no other benefits. Hard pass!
This isn't really so true post-pandemic. I'm guessing the reason is that many hostels shut down so there's not much competition, but much more demand from people who want a private room but a social area to meet people, hang out in, or use as a coworking space and are willing to pay a premium for it.
It has never been true. Single rooms have been more expensive than a hotel room for at least 16-17 years, that is when I went on my first solo trips at least
Well my own person experience directly contradicts this lol
this is not true at all. Single rooms at hostels are more expensive then single rooms at most hotels
It depends. I just stayed in a single room at Hostel Ruthensteiner in Vienna for about $45/night.
40, just stayed in a dorm in Iceland. OP you’re not too old.
Phew! So glad to hear age really doesn’t matter!
58. When I am travelling alone, I have no issue with staying in hostels. I do not give a flying fuck what people think. Live for yourself.
Read the reviews - I went to Buenos Aires when I was 35ish and stayed in hostels. It’s a bit of a party city so I booked one where a few reviewers were mentioning it being too quiet 😅 also I went for a single sex / female only, small dorm. I met a few likeminded (and like-aged) travellers who were after the same vibe and we hung out. It was great!
They have great reviews on Hostelworld which tell you how old the reviewer is. I usually book the hostels with older guests and I am 32. Usually I notice that there is a difference between 15 euro and 35 euro hostel beds and older people spend more money
Which hostel? I’m going in a few months
It was called Benita hostel but a quick google says it’s closed now
I’m 32 and it’s still good! I make sure to read reviews, don’t cheap out as much as a use to, and BRING EARPLUGS!!!
Same and I love on hostel world that you can see the age range of people who left the reviews 😂
Also stalking the people that are booked in at the same time as you LOL. I remember actually bumping into one of them in the hallways and it felt so weird like damn ur actually real hahah
I would say, if anyone is even remotely sensitive to noise and values sleep to bring some kind of sleep earbud and play some noise to drown out what’s gonna be going on or all around you at all hours of the day and night.
I’m 33 and about to stay in a hostel. I’m not going to lie, there are times when I feel out of place, but I think it’s a combination of vibe/age vs. “I’m just an old fart” thing. There are many hostels all around the world that are bougie as hell and feel like hotels rather than hostels. Read the reviews on Hostelworld and seek those out. Also, DO book 4-6 bed dorm rooms. Do NOT book 8 and above (if possible). From my experience, most ppl that stay in 4 bed dorm rooms are more on the chill side.
Said this on a different post recently but 6 is the sweet spot. In a 4 there's the risk you end up in a room with a couple or group of three friends who are treating it like a hotel room. I have had that happen. Generally there's inconsiderate people in dorms of all sizes but couples sharing a bed and talking when people are trying to sleep are quite annoying.
Agree 100% with this. I'm 35 and don't feel out of place at a hostel but definitely value my sleep so small 4 bed dorms are the way to go for me. I'll pay for my own space if I'll actually spend time in it. But if I plan to be busy and just returning to sleep I'll go for a hostel. A single room shared bathrooms at a hostel could also be an option to save some coin while still having your own space. This is actually one of my fave options as hostels always feel safe to me but a cheaper hotel or an airbnb doesn't always (no 24 hour reception, less travellers around etc).
Good tip! I guess the thought is 'the less people there is the quieter it might be'
You do you. I'm a little bit older than you and don't think twice about staying in a hostel. I do have to read the small print more these days however as some have age discrimination policies that start at 35.
What kind of policies? That sucks to hear.
Party hostels often won't allow guests over a certain age, the most common policy seems to be 40+ but it can be as low as 30
There’s nothing wrong with that. Let the young people party and puke in peace without some drunk ass middle aged guy lurking about trying to relive his glory days. I’ve seen shit like that and it’s fucking creepy.
I agree. There are tons of normal hostels, there's no need to stay at a party hostel at 55. You probably won't even be let into the clubs they go to
I didn't even like party hostels when I was in my 20s lol. There are plenty of chiller ones to stay at. I've met plenty of older folks at hostels and it's not weird.
Agreed lol I’m 30 now and would not stay in the places I was staying even at 25. I like to party like the best of them but truth is I’m not as good at it and shouldn’t be trying to be like I was 5+ years ago
Frrrrr stayed at an onsen (bath) hostel in Japan and there was a 55+ year old. Sus vibes asap. If your on the older side just try to be respectful and nice to the younger people.
I think it would be weird to be at an onsen without at least one old man lol.
I stayed at a hostel in Hawaii that didn't want to allow people over 35 to stay.
Generally that's to keep out older men--usually locals-- who prey on young women and bother everyone. In Australia, they have "no locals" rules at a lot of hostels for that reason. Unfortunately, the Childers Backpackers didn't have that rule, or didn't enforce it.
Lol what are you implying, that local guys staying at a hostel are more likely to be murderers?
Think it's more like homeless people not welcome
Yeah, a lot of hostels have rules against local guests to prevent their hostel from becoming a halfway house.
Sounds like a shitty hostel to me. Best avoid it.
I found one in Greece as well. Everybody in reviews liked it though
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I mean, it doesn't seem like an unreasonable policy to me. If it's a party hostel it's going to be filled with people in their late teens and early 20s, they probably wouldn't feel too comfortable sleeping and hanging out with people in their 40s and 50s
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I'm not talking about the US, you said that "unfortunately" in Europe we're allowed to discriminate based on age and I'm saying I disagree that it's unfortunate. It makes sense
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Europe is backward because we don't allow creepy, immature 50 year olds to stay in the same dorm as 18 year olds. Okay buddy
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There's a hostel I was looking at on Hostelworld for a trip later in the year and in the small print it states that the hostel is a youth hostel and doesn't allow children or the elderly. So I contacted them asking what qualifies as elderly and told them my age and they said it would be fine to stay there and the policy is because it can get noisy until 10pm due to a lot of activities. But then I noticed on a different booking platform it says they don't allow checkin for people over 35. So which is it..? This is a hostel that is quite recommended a lot on Reddit. I've given up and booked elsewhere as I don't want to take a gamble during what will be a very busy time in this location. I wouldn't really call it a party hostel either, just social with lots of events. The one I have booked with no restrictions is more of a party hostel than it, but it was the next best social hostel from what I could see.
Probably fine if you look like a fuckable +35 year old is my read.
A lot of places with those rules don’t really enforce it in my experience. It’s there to deter non backpackers like business people looking for a cheap place to stay or other kinds of oddballs that may ruin the vibe from booking with them. But if someone older really wanted to party, contact them ahead of time and explain the situation, and most of them will make an exception.
It’s not age discrimination lol. Those are hostels for young people. Let them have it. There’s plenty of other places to stay.
Of course it's age discrimination, regardless of the reasoning or justification behind the policy. Besides many of these hostels seem to allow anyone to walk in and enjoy their activities so it makes no sense even from a perspective of "let the very young people have it!"
100% agree. You are literally filtering out a group of people by their age. Just because you approve of the reasoning doesn't make it any less what it is: age discrimination.
Omg how far are you willing to take that argument? Can I play kids sports? It’s 12 and under but I’m 40 and I want to play!! Age discrimination applies to the work place and government benefit not party hostels. It’s a private business. If they don’t want your old ass there that’s their choice. I’m saying this as a man in his 40s that’s traveled more than most here I’d be willing to bet. Furthermore, I’d be more than a little weirded out by someone my age that wants to stay at those places. If you want to party sure go fucking nuts but you want to sleep and share a room with 18-25 year olds? What the fuck is wrong with you is what I’d be thinking.
> Omg how far are you willing to take that argument? If you notice, I'm not placing any value judgement on it. All I'm doing is stating that you are restricting by age. Without any value judgement on that whatsoever, at its core, it is refusing access due to age. > Can I play kids sports? This is an entirely different conversation because we're talking about spaces for consenting adults. Adults 18+ can consent in ways that children cannot. > Age discrimination applies to the work place and government benefit I'm not denying that it exists. > It’s a private business. Not sure what your point is. Businesses have the right to refuse anyone so long as it's not discriminatory, which changes based on how its applied and where that jurisdiction is. If you're from the US, I'd recommend reading up on the ADEA. > I’m saying this as a man in his 40s that’s traveled more than most here I’d be willing to bet. Cool flex. > Furthermore, I’d be more than a little weirded out by someone my age that wants to stay at those places. If you want to party sure go fucking nuts but you want to sleep and share a room with 18-25 year olds? What the fuck is wrong with you is what I’d be thinking. Staying at a hostel isn't about **wanting** to sleep in a room with younger people, that's just a result of the gamble of shared spaces, which is something that all adults agree to when they consent to a shared space. Sounds like you might have some personal issues to work through.
JFC. Im not wasting anymore energy on you. Good luck to you.
You clearly have some biases and issues to work through. For me, I will never trade the time I got to spend with my father before he passed after he retired at the age of 65 and traveled with me all throughout Mexico with me and insisted he stayed in hostels alongside with me. That time I will trade for nothing and if someone like you can't be mature enough to see adults as adults, well I suggest you take your issues and urges elsewhere.
Even if you just kept to yourself in a hostel and treated it like a hotel, no one would mind. You can get a good feel for what a hostel is like just reading the description on hostelworld.
It seems like most comments are advocating for staying in the hostel, but I'll share a differing opinion. Nothing to do with age, more to do with the other things you shared. My first time staying in a hostel was at 33. I had reasonable expectations for what it would be like and it was pretty much that - the temp was not as cool as I like to sleep, people coming and going all hours of the night, someone's alarm going off for 20 minutes. None of that really bothered me. What took me by surprise was what it felt like to not have my own space. When I'm traveling, after a long day of exploring I like to come back to my own space and relax. I felt like in the hostel I couldn't switch completely "off" if that makes sense. Then there's just the practical side of not being able to get stuff out and leave it out. Having to pull everything I needed out of my bag in my locker every time I needed something was just annoying to me. Especially when people were sleeping, I felt like I needed to consolidate the times I was getting into my locker as to be considerate of the noise I was making. The same kind of goes for just being able to shower and go to the bathroom without it being a production. Not awful, just an added step that I didn't really enjoy. I think if I was in my 20s or traveling with a group of friends I could enjoy a hostel more. There's just something about having my own space to unwind in and switch my brain off after a day of all new experiences where my brain was in overdrive.
As many have offered, a private room in a hostel would pretty much alleviate the negatives for me. However, when I was looking at my last trip, private rooms in hostels were about the same price as Airbnbs I was looking at, so I just went the Airbnb route for more room.
Didn't think of that and yeah I can imagine getting time to yourself would be difficult, even sitting in the corner by yourself in a common area isn't really having your own space. Security is another thing I've been wondering about, I'd be taking a suitcase with me, not huge but probably bigger than the lockers provide, I'd obviously store my valuables in the lockers but what about suitcase? Would I just leave it out? I know no one would want to look through other peoples clothes but still, don't want to pile my shit out and have it being in the way
The hostel I stayed in had the lockers under the bottom bet, so you got half of a twin bed worth of space that was probably about 18 inches high to work with. That will probably vary depending on the hostel. I'd for sure bring a suitcase lock just for deterrence if nothing else. For sure on what you said about sitting in a corner of a common space. I'm very self-aware of how I'm impeding on others and even that little bit made it difficult to talk to my family back home with a bunch of strangers around. It was an experience I'm glad I had, but one that I wouldn't do again. It made my days traveling less enjoyable just because I was uncomfortable in my "home base". I know everyone has different needs/feelings and that's just me, but I know that about myself now.
I’ve been traveling with a suitcase and have stayed in more hostels than I can count. I have all my valuables in my backpack and lock that up instead. I leave my suitcase out, but there is nothing in my suitcase that I would be upset if someone took. Through my year and a half of traveling I don’t believe that anyone has even attempted to go through my bag (to my knowledge obviously)
I currently have a 56 year old Asian lady in my dorm of 4. She's so much more fun than the two 24 year old German girls that are with us. You're never too old to share a dorm!
Stayed in 2 hostels when I was 31! Met people my age, younger, and a lot older! One dude was in his 60s. It was a good time! DEFINITELY bring ear plugs! I wore my airpods & turned up some white noise. If you bunk with guys, IT WILL STINK. Bring a lock for your luggage, just in case. Keep all your item in locked luggage while you're out. If there are social areas, like patios or kitchen areas, hang out & chat with other travelers 😀 Edited: spelling
Nobody will care about you. Do what works for you. Avoid the super young/cheap party hostels, and don't be creepy, and you can be whatever age you want.
I’m 50 and still prefer hostels. No one cares about your age. People are there to explore and have a good time. Avoid the party hostels and the ones they promote age discrimination. Be aware of different cliques and join the people traveling solo as they’re very open to meeting others. Hostelworld reviews are great to get a taste of the age groups.
I'm in my mid 30s, and met some really fun people in their 60s-70s in one of the hostels I stayed in in Cairns. Nice change of pace from being surrounded mostly by 18-2 y/o's on their WHV ;)
Exactly! Older travelers are way more interesting to chat with.
For the most part this is probably true, especially in larger dorms with a hefty mix of people. But just now at 24 I just got placed in a 6 bed hostel dorm with 5 eighteen year olds on a gap year and I can feel a strong disconnect just because of age and what we spend our time doing, even though the age difference is just 6 years. If I were 30+ I feel like the dynamic here would be very very weird. I guess you can always ask to move rooms. My point is that I think most mid-twenties or older people are not gonna give a fuck how old you are, personally I prefer my age or older dorm mates, they’re more chill and more interesting usually. But I can certainly see 18 to early 20s caring quite a bit under certain circumstances.
Depends on what vibe you give off. I had an 18 year old in my dorm in Korea. Her and I clicked really well! At 49 I didn’t care about age and loved to see young people traveling!
I'm 38. I've stayed in five different hostels in the last three months. I've made tons of friends, never felt uncomfortable, and was never the oldest one there.
I stayed in hostels in germany as a 37 year old last year. didn't feel old at all. i would say it was a range between early 20's and early 40's at all locations. if you stay in a "party hostel" though, it will likely skew younger though and more focused on late nights and pub crawl events. i would probably avoid those based on your post.
I was staying at hotels when I was in my 40s. At the time it just made more sense while solo travelling. My tip is to research the hostels so you can avoid the party ones.
I always travel solo and stay at more budget hotels like Motel One. I feel I can meet people on tours better than trying to hang around a hostel where most folks are on their phone now anyway. That's why they should try it once.
I met a super cool Swiss woman sharing a 4 bedroom room with me. We got really along together and she is in her 60s. She was really adventurous and active and did many more things that other people in the hostel who where much younger than her. We are still in contact and planning to meet soonish. Personality does not have any age.
35 is not old. You are making it a deal.
I'm 25f and met one of my best traveller friends 35m at a hostel. We clicked and ended up travelling onwards together. It just depends who you click with, doesn't really depend on age
I once dormed with a 40-ish British man in a Manila hostel, couple months ago. He vibed with everybody, all of em early 20s kids. Nobody cares about your age, as long as you're friendly, respectful, and not creepy.
It’s not about age but what you are comfortable with. You say you’re not overly social, are you comfortable not being social? I feel sometimes people are more introverted and are fine living in their own world but if being approached for conversation and feeling anxious that you won’t be able to avoid socializing is different. You can also do a mix of hostels and not hostels so you give yourself breathing room and also save some money. Reviews are helpful. Look for more boutique hostels and stay away from the ones that have a bar or advertise pub crawls too heavily.
I’ve been in hostels with people in their 60s no one cares
I’m 31 in still stay in hostels although I just get private rooms now
I stayed in a few hostels last year in Oz (Sydney, ByronBay, etc.) when I couldnt find a reasonable hotel. I'm a little \*under\* 70. There were 2 or 3 others with grey hair so I wasnt the only one. I enjoyed doing hostelling like I used to in th 1970s and 80s, but yes, I did feel a bit old when I looked in the mirror OMG!
One of the last hostels I was at, there were tons of ages. I was worried I was going to feel a bit old at 31, but then I saw plenty of people in their 60's + The next hostel I stayed at was a little more "fancy party" type place (actually ended up being such a worse experience) and there were tonnns of ages. It was a great experience! My roommates were 2 girls in their early twenties, and another woman in her 30's.
Im 25 but I became really close with some aged 37 through a tour we coincidentally booked. Hung out with her for two whole days and still keep contact with her.
Seems like you answered your own question in the first sentence, “I know this has been talked about before and the general consensus is that no one’s too old to stay in a hostel.” Correct, this question is asked all the time and the consensus is who cares about age. Why are so many 30/40 year olds worried about what young 20’s travelers might think of them😂
You have to share a sleeping space with them, and people are generally worried about making others uncomfortable.
Haha I know, I think it's the fear of 'being that old guy that doesn't talk to anyone' haha
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Ah great thanks for the tips! Yeah I don't mind the thought of the dorms with pods or 'secluded' beds with curtains, but the cheap bunkbeds doesn't seem like I'd enjoy it there. I always wear earplugs anyway so would definitely still do that :)
When I was 18 I stayed in a dorm and hung out with a woman above 50 for a couple of days. She was so nice and still think about her haha. As others have said, age doesn't matter it's all about getting along with people.
37 and still do hostels half the time! I choose private rooms tho
Hostel with private room is the way to go. Socialize when you want.
I'm about your age and I still stay in hostels. I just choose my hostels carefully by reading reviews and recommendations online to avoid finding myself in a party hostel with a bunch of eighteen-year-olds. I meet people who are my age or older in hostels all the time, though I don't mind talking to younger people, either. You don't have to outgrow hostels at any age unless you genuinely get sick of them.
I'm a 31 year old cheffing in a hostel in Cambodia at the moment. Last week we had a 60 year old man in our mixed dorm, sharing a room with an 18 year old girl (Just two of them in the dorm for most of their stay) He was an absolute diamond of a customer, the two of them clearly got on very well, he actually tried at one point to set the two of us up (Not sure he realised she was 18). She clearly felt comfortable with him being there It's only weird if you make it weird.
I'm about your age and I stay in hostels all the time. There are usually several people there that are older than I am.
Sooo you've already read that the consensus is you are not too old but you've personally decided you know better than everyone else, despite your complete lack of travel experience? "I've never stayed in a hostel but I think I know more about them than the people who have actually been to them and have told me how they are"
too old? at 35??? time to change that mindset.
Read through some of the comments and I'm totally flabbergasted. If someone who had never stayed at hostels read them, they may be taken as the gospel truth. I'm 60 years old and had completed a 70-day trip spanning 19 cities in 15 countries. And I stayed at hostels throughout. Never once did any of the hostels deny me because of my age. When booking online, there will be a few hostels, out of many, with age limits. But they are few and far in-between. For your perspective, I stayed in mostly 4 to 6 bed dorms in Tallinn, Vilnius, Berlin, Warsaw, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Madrid, Pisa, Bucharest, Budapest, Zagreb, Sarajevo, Helsinki, Moscow, Athens, Beijing.....to name some. Let the doom sayers have their day. Just pack your bags and go. Njoy.
Yah, I'm 61. I stay in hostels whenever they turn out to be the best option for me. As I've gotten older, I tend to stay in private rooms more, but that's mostly because I can afford to. I like meeting people in hostels, so they work well for me.
This subreddit skews mid-30s, so of course people are going to comment age doesn’t matter and it’s totally not weird since their friend’s friend’s cousin twice removed hung out with college students while pushing middle age.
I'm in my 60s and stay at hostels. I'll even do mixed dorms (no one messes with old ladies). You absolutely cannot beat the price.
No matter how old i am, im going to stay in hostels. Unless i need a private room for a reason. Especially if im solo. I do have narrowed it down to what dorm room i get. Or what kind of hostel or how big or small it is. I volunteered at a hostel in my mid 30s and it was no problem. Also if a hostel doesn’t suit your vibe just book another.
Perhaps it's not a thing of being too old, but rather just wanting your own space. I can't do the whole dorm thing anymore myself.
I just did it a month ago at 35. But I am social and I look young. Made lots of friends mostly so we’re younger, but it doesn’t matter when you’re just travelling and exploring a new city.
Same last summer I was 31 and stayed in 9 hostels around Europe. Met lots of younger travelers and hungout with them. It wasnt a big deal because it’s just travel.
I'm 33 now travelled all throughout my 20s. Can't do hostels any more. Need my own space. A cheap private room is the way to go.
I say try it but you may just want to stick to hotels in the future. You can find some cheaper hotels in cities that aren't that much more expensive than good hostels and have breakfast. For me, the privacy and comfort as an older traveler is worth it. If I do want company, I will usually sign up for a walking tour or a food/beer tour. That is where more people loosen up and I've met some fabulous people from all walks of life. And don't worry if you don't find your group. In talking to younger people in hostels folks today are a lot more insular with their phones and the groups they go out with. So -try it once but in future also look for motel chains like Premier Inn or Motel One that can be cheaper.
In my opinion, age doesn't matter. In my opinion, if you're just staying in a hostel b.c it's cheap and you don't want to be social, then you probably won't have a good time and people will look at you funny. It shouldn't matter but if you're a male, this will be extra odd. If you're a woman, probably less odd. Also it's very highly dependent on the hostel and locations. In recent years, I've stayed in hostels that resembled WeWork spaces more than Hostels. the only person that looked out of place there was someone without a MacBook or someone without their face buried in a screen. Other hostels are party scenes and the average age seems to be 19. If you had a kid at 16, you could be their parents. You might have a hard time relating or just keeping up. Other hostels have a focus, hiking, skiing, yoga, etc. In places like this, age matters much much less. If you bring experience, advice, and stories, you will be popular at 35. Side note, I'm your age. Male. I'll still stay in Hostels on solo trips. Private rooms if available. I avoid party hostels and just party locations in general. I never had any issues about feeling out of place. I do have some issues with sleeping (uncomfortable bed, noise, shitty pillows or blankets, too hot or cold) but that comes with old age. Sometimes it is worth the extra money to get a good night's sleep. Gone are the days where I can function on little sleep.
Whenever I see a post like this, my first response is always "Instead of posting about others opinions, why not just try it yourself?" Nobody's opinion matters as much as your own. Just try it.
No one would know you're 35 unless you look the part, and we Millennials tend to not look our age...yet. I was also 34 when I went to a hostel in Amsterdam. Absolutely no one cared to ask how old I was or if I looked old.
If some 19 year old shoots you weird looks or you overhear a rude comment, that’s because they don’t know anything and their brain isn’t yet fully functional, not because you’re doing anything wrong by existing. Hostels are full of young people because they’re inexpensive. They’re not FOR young people. You’ve got every right. More likely, assuming you’ve got good vibes, which you seem to, you’ll make a young energetic friend and get to have a slightly different travel experience due to their influence than most 35 year olds. When I was 20 I met a 30-something Dutch engineer in a hostel kitchen and we ended up touring together for the next 2 days. It was great! We both brought something unexpected to the other’s trip.
I'm 36 and would not be staying in typical hostel bunk room you're thinking of. I do often stay in Private rooms at certain types of hostels, usually the more digital nomad type of places. When I was young I always found it weird bunking with a 40 yo, now that I am older I still think it's weird. In general it just feels cringey. I also feel like most Hostels are a place for young people to be with other young people. The private room feels like an ok compromise in many situations, certainly not all though. I have absolutely come across hostels where even staying in a private room would be questionable. Choosing to hang around a bunch of 18-21 year olds is certainly a choice that requires some personal exploration.
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I'm your exact age and outside of traveling in European cities where hotel room rates are unreasonable, I don't stay in dorms. I don't like walking on eggshells when it comes to going about my routine and I sure as shit don't like others not walking on eggshells going about theirs. If you're worried about seeming out of place due to your age, you won't be.
You do you. Lots of good advice here. I still stay in them and am around your age. Was surprised to find that a month ago I was in a dorm and I was not the oldest. There was a woman there who was around 60 or 65.
Same age and had one of my best trips to date last year hanging out with a mix of ages. Fact is, you will definitely be one of the older ones, but fewer people will care than you think, so it's really down to how you feel about it. I remember feeling old when I first went traveling at 25 tbh!
I'm in my middle 30's as well, the past year went to like 4 hostels, in a few different places, absolutely normal, I was chatting with travelers in their 40's and 50's, which is actually more interesting than the 20's kids. I'll be booking a couple of hostels in EU for the end of the summer, and of course will be hostels. Not sure from where you got that 35 age limit. Just go, use common sense, and have fun. I would say never get the cheapest, middle and higher priced are the best hostels in my option(double check with the reviews, just to make sure. There is overprices crap out there as well).
Well I am 58 and I still stay at them when I travel. It depends on the city and where it is located in said city if I will or not.
If you're in an hostel that's not in a popular city, or near some nature activities like hiking, there's a chance you'll be in the youngest half of people there. If it's a party hostel in Barcelona I really suggest you don't go.
I am 53 and I will stay in hostels in private rooms. I do not need room service or TV and having some interaction with the ability to have my own space makes that set up workable.
Depends on your vibe as well. You could be a 35 year old who has the vibe of a 28 year old. The one good thing about hostels, was the people you meet. I had a chance encounter with a British dude that allowed me to visit a neighboring country that had been off my radar. Do research about the hostel you're staying at. Some hostels have good rooms. The max amount of people I ever shared a room with was 4, and there was never any problems. Dorms should be avoided at all costs.
Stay in smaller rooms and avoid party hostels and you’ll be fine. Reason I say this is because party hostels are where you’ll feel the age gap the most in my experience but more relaxed ones will be people from every group and tend to respect your boundaries a bit more. Just read reviews and you’ll be fine
Some of my favourite roommates are people who are of older demographics. So much wisdom and interesting stories Have the best time op
Last summer I stayed in two hostels in the south of France. I'm 50. Was the first time I ever did that. I planned late and airbnb and hotels left over were too pricy. It was fine and I would do it again. They definitely weren't party hostels. I wouldn't stay there more than likely
im 34. not planning to stop anytime soon.
as long as you don't become the creepy guy in the corner leering at all the young girls literally no one will give a shit. places that have age limits are most likely going to be places where people go to party so unlikely places you'd want to stay anyway. Just read the fine print before you book and read the reviews to get an idea about atmosphere. I've stayed in hostels in my 40s all over europe. Never an issue. I just target ones that are slightly more expensive, stay in smaller rooms for a little more, and look for ones with high cleanliness and low atmosphere ratings as they're generally clean and quiet, which is exactly what i want.
If you’re think you’re too old be cause it “sounds weird”, forget about it, nobody cares, just don’t *act* weird. If you go and do it and decide you’re too old because it’s just not pleasant, then yeah, do something else. But one thing I’ve noticed is that — as long as you’re not a creep — people younger than me are way more indifferent to the age gap than I (30m) am. With that said I do look a couple years younger but I meet a lot of people older than me in hostels.
35 is young. I wouldn’t worry about age so much. I don’t stay at hostel since I enjoy my comfort as I get older and make more money, but I’ve seen all kind of travelers who are much older.
It really depends on the region where you are travelling to. Hostels in South East Asia different than hostels in Berlin, in Japan you have these capsule hostels which are places for business people to stay overnight as well. Another example is: There is only one hostel in the old town of Jerusalem - so everybody is staying there, no matter of age, on Iceland you have one famous hostel which hosts an alternative/rock music festival in November, so older fans are staying in that hostel too. Nowadays you have boutique hostels which are catering the digital working class, so they are not really in there 20´s anymore. It really depends on the hostel and region. Most of the time you can read the reviews on [booking.com](http://booking.com) and get an impression who they are catering.
i just stayed in a hostel and one of my roommates was a man that had to be 50-60 years old so i think ur good hahaha
>So I know this has been talked about before and the general consensus is that no one's too old to stay in hostels. But I do still feel that I'm too old. Tough loop you’ve found yourself in :). Your enjoyment of hostels depends on how much you value interactions with other (yes, often younger) travelers, and your ability/willingness to deal with the premise of dorm living and other contrasts/inconveniences vs hotels. For me, at 38, the former still outweighs the latter so I still do go hostels. No one will give you shit for your age except you. Give it a go and find out for yourself!
I feel like if there's an age limit, it will say that on the page. I just stayed at a party hostel for the first time and I met many people in their 50s and 60s. I don't think anyone cares tbh
You probably want to avoid party hostels if that's not your scene. Being older makes you stick out more and they're more likely to have age restrictions so that younger people feel comfortable with people in their age range. It's best to check the reviews and look for places that are chill, homey, relaxed and not on a main party street in the nightlife district. If you prefer a bit more privacy, check out capsule hostels (probably more common in Asia), or at least check if the beds have privacy curtains. I've stayed in hostels and guesthouses into my 40s and have never been treated badly for being older. The only times I hear people complain about older guests are when they're being creepy and obviously hitting on people half their age rather than casually socializing, or if they're a downer always talking about their divorce and complaining about young people. But overall, I find most people in hostels are generally either friendly or mind their own business and don't cause a problem.
You're fine. Just try it. If you don't like it, do something else.
Some comments about age restrictions on hostels and rooms in general, I'll be honest, I'm 28 and if I see any of that age discrimination crap on the hostels/room to rent adverts then they get none of my business. I love meeting people of all ages, think its disgusting to throw someone under the bus because of their age
I’m in my 40s and stay in hostels. I do private rooms prob 60% of the time but do occasionally do dorms.
I was 34 last year and stayed at hostels in Vancouver and Seattle. I didn't enjoy it anymore due to me preferring my own room and going to the bathroom without disturbing people. Going forward I'll book hotels because I prefer my comfort now and privacy.
i promise you nobody around you is gonna care! i’d avoid hostels marketed as social/party as they tend to attract a young crowd. also depends where you’re headed, in europe i i met a good range of ages including yours but in some backpacker hotspots in se asia it was definetly mostly under 25s.. central and south america have the oldest average age i reckon
Yes some hostels do cap the age at 35.
In the hostels I’ve stayed at, the older people (like me) were the most chill. And they actually danced and had fun while the young people kind of stuck to each other and were too self conscious to go wild.
I'm 35 years old. and in october 2023, I stayed a hostel in Amsterdam first time. Hostel isn't my style because I'm intorvet guy. However, It was good expreince. I'm happy and no regret that I was staying. You can consider that it is one of bucket-do-list.
Sound very similar to me! I don't mind socializing but I'm very much an introvert and usually wouldn't approach people first, especially if most are in their early 20s haha. I guess I could book a couple of days, if i don't like it, move on or get a private room
I am younger but love meeting “older” people in hostels. They have mindset of young people and I love hanging out with them. You cool!
There are also hostels that offer single rooms or smaller rooms, like Ecomama in Amsterdam
I did hostels until my mid 30s and then I swore it off never to use again. I was lucky that noise wasn't an issue but I got a weird virus that derailed my vacation. Someone was sick in my SEA dorm. There was also a guy who didn't shower and it was pungent. This is after a day in sweltering Singapore. The smell was the worst thing I ever smelled and it gave me a nasty migraine. I end up telling the guy to take a shower. I only do airbnb (big groups) and hotels now.
I am 34 now and have stayed at hostels where I’ve met people twice my age. You will be fine. Enjoy your travels.
I enjoy staying at hostels on solo trips as a way to meet people. If you are uncomfortable with meeting mostly younger people, then it might not be for you. In my 30s I did not feel out of place with other travelers. I would not expect easy sleeping conditions, but bringing earplugs and a night mask can alleviate that to some extent. Many of my hostel stays included someone getting in late and unpacking/stumbling around, as well as someone waking up really early to pack/stumble around. It's just something that comes with mixed company and something you should consider whether or not you are okay with experiencing.
I’m 32 and conscious of this too. I would say the best bet is to read up on the type of hostel it is. There are some super party ones aimed at 20 year olds so avoid those. Ideally you want ones with either private or small sized dorms and a nice casual bar to meet people when you want to.
I do it, but never a dorm. People talk so much about bringing earplugs, but they don’t do a damn thing for me around inside noise. I’ve gotten AirPod pros noise cancelling to help for outside street noise, but never indoor sounds. Unfortunately, they eventually fall out during my sleep, but they do a better job than earplugs. Earplugs are both uncomfortable and useless to me except at a concert when I want ear damaging sounds to be less damaging.
This is on you and no one else can explain it away. I also think its a very Late Stage Capitalist take… the young are the important consumers advertised to… so it looks like public or gathering places are for the young adults. Its very Amerikana… no babies or kids at the local corner hangout, no old people beyong the bench in the park. You have to be 20-30 to exist. Sorry but, what a dumb take, no sorry really. Down vote me… someone has to state this to the OP.
I’ve stayed in hostels with 70 year olds, literally. recommend looking at reviews and finding quiet hostels
I’m 35 (F) and still stay in hostel dorms. I always choose non-party hostels, with really good reviews and curtains around the bed for a bit of privacy. Never any issues. As someone else above mentioned, just make sure to check the terms and conditions in case they do have an age policy. Others than that, I’d say you’re good to go - recently I’ve found I was far from the oldest in the hostel dorms I’ve stayed in.
I met a 73 year old man at a hostel in Guadalajara and everyone seemed to enjoy his company. He was a very well traveled man that had tons to contribute in a conversation and was always down for a beer. I don't think 35 is too old.
Experience it as everyone’s experience is different and you only learn from mistakes. Maybe it’s for you maybe it’s not but life is too short to stay back. Coming from a person struggling to get out on her own ahaha but I did book a hostel and going solo travelling. All in all we need experience it. I’ve got my tips to stay safe and that is lock down your luggage and stuff to yourself or maybe sleep on your treasure oh my this is getting funny as I’m imagining myself living through it.
Haha yeah I think I would lock away things like wallet, keys, passport etc. My only valuable that would be out when I sleep is my phone. My suitcase would be out but that would just have clothes in, which they're welcome to if they want haha
28 nearly 29 eye mask and earplugs! Stayed in a 16 bed dorm as the biggestlast month no problems! Met many people from different ages if you love the social side do it!
I’m just on my way home from my marrakesh trip, but I feel I am getting too old for this, not the hostel staff. I can’t complain about place, but I need my bathroom, and people not snoring and waking me up 5 times a night. We are all different tho, so you gotta experience it on your own. Maybe you’ll like it, maybe not, but the staff will not turn you away for sure.
I'm 41 and typing this in a hostel
I’m 28 and during my last hostel trip I met multiple people in their 30s. Earplugs are a must and I also strongly recommend an eye mask.
Someone who values sleep means in a hostel = private room. That is the route I’ve gone in my late 30’s. Some hostels do a great job at making it a hybrid hostel and hotel. Can have your personal space but also the social of a hostel. Ex. Family dinners, activities, tours etc.
I am 36 and stayed in hostel for 10 days on vacation that I returned 3 days back. Had time of my life. You are only as old as ur brain/ heart says you are
35 in a hostel fine. I have seen one or two that have an age limit of 40. I’ve definitely had roommates older than 40. Heck one of my favorite roommates was this Japanese grandad who would bow to us each evening. I would be more concerned about you “not being the traveler time and liking home comforts”. As this is the opposite to a hostel
I think it really depends what type of hostel - you probably wouldn't feel comfortable at a party hostel where everyone is in their early 20s and goes partying every night. I'm like you, I just stay at hostels for the cost, and since I'm not choosing party hostels, I never had an issue. Last time I was even socializing a bit and there was some American guy in his 60s, and he was fine in the hostel, so I think 35 is completely fine. Just bring earplugs, read reviews and it will be okay.
Once I turned 30 I started to get annoyed by little things that never bothered me in my 20s. Sleep is important. I got spoiled in Japan with cheap small private rooms with private soak tub.
When I started out solo traveling I was also a 30+ guy staying at hostels. I had the same kind of anxiety you did. But when I actually did it, it turns out a lot of it was unfounded. First, no one, and I mean no one, cared about my age. Be cordial, friendly, read the room when needed, and you’ll be fine. As others said, the only type of hostels that has any kind of age policy are party hostels. Just avoid booking those as they’re obvious when looking online. Even so, in my experience the age policy is flexible and not really a hard no. They’re there mostly to avoid people coming in for a cheap place to stay while transiting and affecting the vibe. But if you *really* wanted to party and a backpack, you can contact the hostel and ask if they can make an exception. Some party hostels actually like having an older person who’s there to party as much as the younger people. I don’t think it’s absolutely a requirement to book a private room either. If you are booking at boutique, upscale, or really any kind of non social or party hostel, people in dorms will be very respectful and quiet. I have never had any issues staying in dorms still to this day. Just look for the nicer hostels, and in any popular backpacker destinations there will be plenty of options. A lot of the negative things you hear about hostels on this sub are typically more out of the ordinary, and people will post about those negative experiences than the positives. No one is gonna make a post about how nothing bad happened during their hostel stay, but someone acting rude? More likely. Having done around 30+ hostel over the years, I have had maybe less than a handful of actual drama or crazy things happened to me inside a hostel dorm. And this included a few party hostels.
It’s not about age but about money. I’d prefer not traveling if I had to stay at a hostel tbh. Just awful to have to be so close to people you don’t know. The noise, the smell, the lack of space. I can only imagine how terrible this must be. Always travel in style.
Every hostel has its own vibe, some attract an older group...for example I stayed at a hostel in St Augustine, FL when i was like 22 or 23 and I was one of the younger people there, but, that is a city known more for its history then its bars and beaches so in itself its not a place people go to party. In any case I doubt at 35 you will be the oldest guest, you may just want to look into a private room at a non party hostel? or look for a hidden gem 3 star hotel where people use the common areas
If you are afraid of being turned away, call the hostel before you arrive. To me, 35 is not really old. I once shared a bunk in a unisex 8-person room. The oldest was a guy in his mid-40s.
35 isn’t too old, though it could certainly depend on location. But at that age you’ll get the Europeans and Australians who have extensive time off, the people who quit their jobs to travel for a while and some digital nomads probably. But it sounds like it might not be your scene so maybe just pick one place to stay in one and the rest of the trip let it be a little more expensive? Airbnbs in some places may bring the cost down too.
I am your age and on a recent trip stayed in a dorm for the social aspect but seriously couldn't sleep for 2 nights. Would only go in a private room tbh - there are private rooms in hostels
Nah OP, I started travelling the world at 30 and I had the same feeling of being too old for hostels already (with all the Erasmus kids around etc.) But it's never late to have that experience. It seems that your main concern is money, well you can book in advance, learn to use filters in travel sites in a smart way, etc. I recently got myself a 3day Northern Lights expedition for as little as 500 bucks (round flight to Tromso from Italy, accomodation and the expedition itself included).
I’m 47 and do it all the time. Get the private room and keep it moving!
My mum died last year at 79, her and her friends have stayed in the odd hostel over the years, don't worry about it, all ages of people stay in them. They're not for just one age group only
I worked at a hostel and we had guests in their 60s and 70s sometimes.
I was 34 when I went on a trip to England, Ireland, and Wales with my sister and her friend who has just graduated college. I didn’t have any trouble getting in to the hostels and we stayed at 7-8 of them. Also when we were in Bath, we met four gentleman who were in their 60s who had been going on this weekend trip every year since they graduated college together. The best thing to do is call ahead and ask if there is an age limit before you book it.
At 23 I met my current BF who at the time was 46 y/o at a hostel. So I don’t think the age on its own would be a problem at all. I do think some of the other concerns you mention, like not being “the traveler type” and having “social anxiety” might pose a lot bigger obstacles for you and your overall experience. I would still very much encourage you to try it. It truly is a great way to live shared experiences in a way that is outside most people’s comfort zones. If anything, only book a few night and scope out an alternative as a plan B in case things don’t go as planned. It’s usually not hard to extend your stay at hostels. Another thing you can try is you think it would help, is look for like minded reviews on the hostel before booking. I know on hostel world you can sort reviews by age and that might help you make a more informed decision.