Hostels reimagined for travelers over 50

Thanks to flight delays, it was nearly midnight by the time I arrived on the front porch of the Ember Hostel in Denver, Colorado, and the historic mansion was quiet. No sign of the young and wild, partying European backpacker myth that might come to mind when thinking of hostels.

Instead, this over-50, solo female traveler was quietly welcomed, shown the way to showers and restrooms, and given a keycard for access to a women’s dorm-style room where I promptly crawled into my bunk, pulled the curtain, and fell into much-needed sleep.

Hostels aren’t just for twenty-somethings anymore

It wasn’t my first time staying at a hostel, and I’m not the only older traveler seeing past old misperceptions about these less-expensive lodging facilities.

Hostelling International USA (HI USA) VP of Operations Danny Case tells me that last year, 9% of their overnight guests were 55+, up from 7% the previous year. A majority of them were women, and the median age was 67. HI USA is a nonprofit, member organization, and America’s leading hostel brand, hosting more than 600,000 overnight stays in 2024, with guests from more than 100 countries.

The concept of hostelling was conceived in Germany in the early 1900s, but it quickly spread around Europe, and the first U.S. hostel opened in 1934. Initially, hostels did focus on students, with dorm-style lodging, but today many offer more private options. When I traveled to Madrid, Spain, last year, I stayed at Sleep’N Atocha hostel, which offers small group rooms, as well as individual rooms. I opted for a private room with an en suite bathroom, but according to HI USA’s stats, their mature travelers are more adventurous than I was on that trip.

“With our 55+ group, a large majority of those folks are booking dorm beds,” said Case. “There’s a lot of adventure in this cohort, which is nice to see.”

What modern hostels actually offer mature travelers

Choosing adventure doesn’t mean older travelers choosing hostels are forgoing quality, however. Today’s hostels offer all the modern amenities of a hotel, and often more, such as free tours and activities.

“We work with local volunteers who know our communities best, and we work to develop tours that are really unique,” said Danielle Brumfitt Norris, vice president/head stakeholder activation at HI USA. “And then we’re also in really great locations. In the big cities, we’re very central, we’re easy to get to transportation. And then outside of the cities, we’re in some really incredibly iconic locations that you wouldn’t find a hotel.” Such as a lighthouse.

And these tours are another area HI USA sees mature travelers leaning into the hostel experience, with a 5% increase year over year in the number of 55+ guests who have joined in one. Brumfitt Norris attributes this in part to their organization’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

“What we’re seeing on these tours is a lot of intergenerational interaction,” she said.

Another great opportunity for interaction at hostels is their kitchens. While high-dollar hotels may offer an expensive brunch or dinner, and mid-range hotels might put out a breakfast buffet, with access to a hostel’s full kitchen, guests can mix and mingle while cooking meals or reheating the night before’s leftovers. The ability to bring in your own ingredients can also be a great benefit to travelers with special dietary needs.

Beyond amenities and activities, there’s another compelling reason to consider hostels.

Budget-friendly doesn’t mean low quality

The ability to prepare your own meals is another great reason that hostels can appeal to the budget of 50+ travelers who may still be trying to max out their 401ks, are already on a fixed income, or are stretching their dollars to travel more frequently.

But watching how much you spend doesn’t have to mean sacrificing security or comfort.

Most hostels now offer a wide selection of room styles that allow travelers to pick the one that fits their budget and comfort level. Some dorm-style rooms may be mixed men and women, but most hostels today also offer “female-only” rooms.

Dorm-style rooms are the least expensive, with bunk beds that have privacy walls, blackout curtains, power outlets, reading lights, and secure lockers. Only travelers staying in these rooms have access to them, and everyone tends to be very quiet and polite when coming in and out.

Prices can vary depending on the number of bunks per room. And, for a little more, you can often find a private room with community bathroom access, or go all the way up to a private room with a private bath.

When I stayed in a dorm-style room in Denver, rooms in nearby hotels were priced around $120 per night higher than my hostel. That translated into $120 I could justify spending elsewhere on my trip, such as a nice dinner out. By taking advantage of free coffee in the hostel kitchen, along with some bread and peanut butter left on the “free to use” shelf by previous guests, I was also able to save money on a quick breakfast.

Why solo travelers love hostels

Such quick breakfasts grabbed on the go are common for a solo traveler, but rarely do they lead to conversations with your fellow travelers. In contrast, hostels, with their communal kitchens and group room settings, create an environment that invites you to connect with others.

Recent data shows that about 40% of Baby Boomers worldwide have taken a solo trip in the last year. And in a 2023 Trafalgar study, 44% of women over 50 said they were planning to travel solo. Most of them planned to take at least two solo trips that year.

Many do so with the intent to not only check off a list of tourist attractions, but to experience different cultures and learn about life in other places. And while not all hostels have the experiential tours and activities that HI USA properties offer, most have communal spaces such as lounges, libraries and game rooms that encourage interaction and cultural exchange.

There is always a choice about how much interaction you want, though. You can be social at times and enjoy quiet space at others. In Denver, I found a window niche that was perfect to sit with my laptop and catch up on a bit of work, and in Madrid, I browsed the hostel’s library shelves for an English-language tome to spend some time with while recharging my personal battery. But, I’ve also been known to visit a speakeasy lounge hidden behind a library wall at a hostel in my home base of Austin, Texas.

Sometimes meeting fellow travelers this way can lead to new friendships and more. Case told me that a couple who met at one of their New York City hostels returns to the property for their wedding anniversary every year.

Tips for your first hostel stay

If you’re ready to challenge your outdated perceptions of hostels, here are some tips for the over-50 traveler (and, really, anyone):

• Do your research – Nothing beats reviews from other travelers to set your mind at ease or steer you in a different direction. A great source of hostel reviews is HostelWorld, but you can also find many hostel reviews on sites like Expedia.
• Book direct – Many hostels can be booked through third-party sites, but Case suggests going directly to hostel websites for the best rates and the ability to make specific requests (such as asking for a lower bunk, which is much easier to get in and out of in the middle of the night).
• Pack earplugs – My experience in a dorm-style room has been quiet, but no matter how conscientious others are around you, and especially if you are a light sleeper, you will still hear people coming and going.
• Attend at least one activity or tour – These are one of the big things that make a hostel different from a hotel, and can transform the experience.
  Explore the kitchen – Both for money savings and spontaneous connections with fellow travelers.
• Secure your belongings – When out and about, take advantage of the lockers provided for your luggage and other valuables.
• Pack light – While space is provided for luggage, it may be small or in high demand depending on how crowded the hostel is at the time—don’t worry about towels, they’ll be provided.
• Don’t worry about fitting in – Hostels are great melting pots of global travelers of all ages, races, genders, and hair colors (including gray).

Staying at a hostel was not something I anticipated I would do for the first time in my 50s. I thought they would be too loud, uncomfortable, and awkward for someone well past their 20s. But what I found instead is that they are an excellent addition to the arsenal of a traveler who wants the freedom to explore more without emptying their retirement account. They’re often in great locations, everyone has been polite and accepting, and they offer an opportunity for real community. With hostels, solo doesn’t have to mean alone, and budget-friendly doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or safety.

If you enjoyed this story, check out my earlier piece here about selling my home and embracing a nomadic life. You can also find more personal travel essays on WhereTheWindBlows.Me. I’d love for you to keep exploring with me.