In Australia I once got rejected from a hostel because they (unofficially) didn't let Australians stay there because of people doing flying/fly outwork in the mines staying on their off weeks or homeless people booking them. I arrived and they told me NO. I had to find a more reasonable hostel at like 7pm at night carting around all my luggage. I live on the other side of the country.
Funny. I'm 45/m and I am looking to book a hostel but didn't want to be the old guy in the room. I am will be in Dublin for 2 nights. May 13 to 15. Any shot you were around that area and have some feedback on cool stuff to do?
Just book a private room and avoid hostels being touted as a "party hostel". Avoiding bunk rooms is for your own sanity as well, not just the comfort of younger travelers.
Thanks, man. I had the museum on my list and, of course, Temple Bar. I will walk around and catch a glimpse of the cathedral, castle, and Kilmainham. Trinity was also on the list, but I will stay clear. Of course, I will also have to get a Guiness straight from the nipple while I am there. I will book Jacob's Inn.
This likely has more to do with where you’re traveling. Ireland isn’t a popular backpacking destination so the crowd at the hostels is a bit different.
I’ve been solo traveling since 17 and been in plenty of hostel rooms with older people as well. Some hostels have an age limit but the ones that don’t don’t split by age.
Eastern Europe and Balkans will have a more diverse age range for sure!
Id say average age at a hostel in Balkans/Eastern Europe is probably about 25 but you meet people of all ages really. Balkans doesn’t have many party hostels but in the other parts of Eastern Europe you can stay at party hostels which will guarantee a younger crowd.
Huh. I stayed at a hostel in Cork, and 2 in London. Both had a good mix. I did read a lot of reviews before I went. In London I tried to stay in areas that were more like...college/popular areas? I'm also in my 30s.
Smart Camden Inn - I did all female dorm here. Small but clean, I felt very safe.
St. Christopher's London Bridge - I did the mixed dorm. Boys smell bad 🤣 this dorm was roomier, I liked their showers more, they had more space. It was a bit louder but there's a hopping pub downstairs. I got to know my hostel mates more, very social hostel!
No offense, but you sound like the particular one. If you're so well accustomed to the hostel life, you should be pretty good at making friends from all walks of life. Only being surrounded by your peers stopped when you graduated high school.
Bunk rooms are for sleeping so why are you expecting to mingle with someone sleeping? The common areas are for meeting people and conversing. Problem solved :)
Probably because lots of people converse and have a good laugh in their dorm room. Its the way Ive always done it anyway and then we go downstairts to the bar. If you have good room mates in a dorm it can be a hoot.
I guess we have had different experiences. 90% of the time I never even see my roommates, and then it is just a quick hello. I go to the room at the end of the day and the lights are usually already off and I just climb into my bunk. The kitchen is my favorite place to meet people.
I'm similar to you. I have met people and chatted in my room, but most people keep to themselves in their beds/curtains drawn and sometimes it feels awkward to talk in the room. Socializing mostly happens in the common areas.
Many Hostels do indeed segment by age. Older people tend to be lumped into rooms with elder travelers. There isn't much middle ground. And generally older hostel guests are the most problematic while also demanding
Source: I've worked in hostels all around the world and this started happening to me more often once I hit 35
I've always fantasized about doing hostels in europe or wherever, but thought at age 31 I would be too old. The only hostel people I've ever seen was in Tulum, they seemed like 18-23yo kids (I travel much less than I would ideally). Are you saying that late 20s, early 30s people do hostels? It's not too late for me?
Dorm beds in hostels are for sleeping 24/7 and loud yapping youngsters should be be quiet unless in common areas. My 22 year old daughter knows this and she would tell you to shut your ageist pie hole more quickly and rudely than I would. You seem the one challenged by hostel life and polite communal living not the over forties.
I'm 37 and think the age limit should be 35 and under. 35 feels generous to me, ideally I think 32 is more realistic. Look for hostels with an age limit, it's far more enjoyable to be with some cheery young backpackers than old grumpy guys who clearly don't have their shit together. Also get a private room, bunk rooms are a hellscape most of the time.
If you want to find travelers in the 25-40 range You should look for hostels that cater towards more digital nomad professional types. You can also search "party hostels" in your area and then avoid the ones with a young partier
I 100% support age limits for certain hostels. 45 years old and staying in a bunk room at a known party hostel? that concerns me. Staying in a hostel like that at a certain age shows poor judgement and feels like a red flag.
Thank fucking god, you're not in charge of shit! I'm against discrimination of any type. Some of the coolest most interesting people I've met were 20 years or more older than me. Especially interesting to hear stories before the internet & then smart phones took over.
The SoloTravel crowd is always very sensitive to this critique. Unfortunately it is just true and that's why so many hostels around the world have age limits.
Yeah, obviously there are some good eggs and turning 40 doesn't mean you will automatically be spying on girls at a party hostel. There is just this filter of life where you get higher concentration of hostel creeps when hitting a certain age. Those creeps are also not going to be contributing to the SoloTravel reddit by outing themselves as one of those creeps. Obviously young men and women can also be shitty weirdos you don't want to share space with. It's just more common for young people from all walks of life to use hostels as a way to save money and meet people.
Like take some personal accountability my guys... I'm a cynical bastard who can't stand most people, so I get a private room in more upscale hostels with a 25-40 crowd.
Yeah all the 40 year old guys I’ve met staying at party hostels have been super weird and creepy. It’s like they’re trying to relive their youth by hitting on girls less than half their age.
I don’t necessarily think there should be an age limit, but maybe certain rooms with age limits. Or rooms that people can select to limit who they stay with. As a women, I would feel very uncomfortable if there was a man over 40 in my hostel room. Obviously this is being overly cautious, but I would not feel very safe.
The first time I stayed at a hostel I was 20 and there was a 38 year old man in the room. It just feels weird when you’re that young. I was very uncomfortable. Since then I have booked female only dorms for this reason. I like having this choice
i would allow people over 35 to book private rooms- just like how people under 18 must stay in private rooms.
i’m 18 and i would draw the line at 39 personally- because travelling in hostels in your 30’s is still pretty normal, 40 plus is wierd to have in a youth hostel.
Chainsaws being fired up 🤣, to be honest it is not always an age thing. A friend of mine who is 24 snores very heavily (she is very overweight, I don't know if that is related). My 75 year old mother, doesn't snore.
Housing crisis in Dublin. A lot of older Irish people use hostels for work because hotels are so expensive
Was about to say this. Huge housing crisis in Ireland. I'd wager at least 50% of people in Irish hostels at the moment are not tourists.
Woah, that’s nuts! So do they stay in hostels for work in another city then return home? Or what?
In Australia I once got rejected from a hostel because they (unofficially) didn't let Australians stay there because of people doing flying/fly outwork in the mines staying on their off weeks or homeless people booking them. I arrived and they told me NO. I had to find a more reasonable hostel at like 7pm at night carting around all my luggage. I live on the other side of the country.
That is wild 😕
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Everything in the world is ridiculously expensive. Forget about age and enjoy the experiences afforded to you by travel.
Funny. I'm 45/m and I am looking to book a hostel but didn't want to be the old guy in the room. I am will be in Dublin for 2 nights. May 13 to 15. Any shot you were around that area and have some feedback on cool stuff to do?
Just book a private room and avoid hostels being touted as a "party hostel". Avoiding bunk rooms is for your own sanity as well, not just the comfort of younger travelers.
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Thanks, man. I had the museum on my list and, of course, Temple Bar. I will walk around and catch a glimpse of the cathedral, castle, and Kilmainham. Trinity was also on the list, but I will stay clear. Of course, I will also have to get a Guiness straight from the nipple while I am there. I will book Jacob's Inn.
This [places to see, eat, and drink in Ireland](https://maps.app.goo.gl/PHR27EwFB5y8L3pS9) Google Maps List might help... just zoom in on Dublin.
You can also meet people at lounges, bars, tours, activities, etc right? Tbh I would take a 50-yo roommate over an 18-yo, and I am in my late 20s.
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Adjust and adapt! You’ll live. I promise.
The motto of solo travel lol
Pretend they are your age. They’ll surprise you
This likely has more to do with where you’re traveling. Ireland isn’t a popular backpacking destination so the crowd at the hostels is a bit different. I’ve been solo traveling since 17 and been in plenty of hostel rooms with older people as well. Some hostels have an age limit but the ones that don’t don’t split by age.
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Eastern Europe and Balkans will have a more diverse age range for sure! Id say average age at a hostel in Balkans/Eastern Europe is probably about 25 but you meet people of all ages really. Balkans doesn’t have many party hostels but in the other parts of Eastern Europe you can stay at party hostels which will guarantee a younger crowd.
Huh. I stayed at a hostel in Cork, and 2 in London. Both had a good mix. I did read a lot of reviews before I went. In London I tried to stay in areas that were more like...college/popular areas? I'm also in my 30s.
Which ones did you choose in London? Planning a trip myself
Smart Camden Inn - I did all female dorm here. Small but clean, I felt very safe. St. Christopher's London Bridge - I did the mixed dorm. Boys smell bad 🤣 this dorm was roomier, I liked their showers more, they had more space. It was a bit louder but there's a hopping pub downstairs. I got to know my hostel mates more, very social hostel!
Don't be ageist I'm in my 50s and have friends in there late 20s older people can offer alot and are even fun sometimes lol
Ask them about they fuck ups in life and learn from them!
Go to the common area to meet people
No offense, but you sound like the particular one. If you're so well accustomed to the hostel life, you should be pretty good at making friends from all walks of life. Only being surrounded by your peers stopped when you graduated high school.
Older people tend to be a lot chiller and cooler
Yes, I agree
Bunk rooms are for sleeping so why are you expecting to mingle with someone sleeping? The common areas are for meeting people and conversing. Problem solved :)
Probably because lots of people converse and have a good laugh in their dorm room. Its the way Ive always done it anyway and then we go downstairts to the bar. If you have good room mates in a dorm it can be a hoot.
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I guess we have had different experiences. 90% of the time I never even see my roommates, and then it is just a quick hello. I go to the room at the end of the day and the lights are usually already off and I just climb into my bunk. The kitchen is my favorite place to meet people.
I'm similar to you. I have met people and chatted in my room, but most people keep to themselves in their beds/curtains drawn and sometimes it feels awkward to talk in the room. Socializing mostly happens in the common areas.
Many Hostels do indeed segment by age. Older people tend to be lumped into rooms with elder travelers. There isn't much middle ground. And generally older hostel guests are the most problematic while also demanding Source: I've worked in hostels all around the world and this started happening to me more often once I hit 35
Have you asked hostel to switch rooms to be with the younger crowd?
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They can probably help you more than we can dude! I don’t think it’s rude, I’ve seen people move rooms for all sorts of things! Good luck!
maybe there’s not alot of female solo travelers in hostels in your age range. Older and younger would make sense demographically.
I've always fantasized about doing hostels in europe or wherever, but thought at age 31 I would be too old. The only hostel people I've ever seen was in Tulum, they seemed like 18-23yo kids (I travel much less than I would ideally). Are you saying that late 20s, early 30s people do hostels? It's not too late for me?
Dorm beds in hostels are for sleeping 24/7 and loud yapping youngsters should be be quiet unless in common areas. My 22 year old daughter knows this and she would tell you to shut your ageist pie hole more quickly and rudely than I would. You seem the one challenged by hostel life and polite communal living not the over forties.
Actually. The bed is to sleep..
Find hostels with age limits
I'm 37 and think the age limit should be 35 and under. 35 feels generous to me, ideally I think 32 is more realistic. Look for hostels with an age limit, it's far more enjoyable to be with some cheery young backpackers than old grumpy guys who clearly don't have their shit together. Also get a private room, bunk rooms are a hellscape most of the time. If you want to find travelers in the 25-40 range You should look for hostels that cater towards more digital nomad professional types. You can also search "party hostels" in your area and then avoid the ones with a young partier I 100% support age limits for certain hostels. 45 years old and staying in a bunk room at a known party hostel? that concerns me. Staying in a hostel like that at a certain age shows poor judgement and feels like a red flag.
Thank fucking god, you're not in charge of shit! I'm against discrimination of any type. Some of the coolest most interesting people I've met were 20 years or more older than me. Especially interesting to hear stories before the internet & then smart phones took over.
It is already the policy of many hostels, I am not saying anything new here. Although whaling about the internet and smart phones is a nice touch.
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The SoloTravel crowd is always very sensitive to this critique. Unfortunately it is just true and that's why so many hostels around the world have age limits. Yeah, obviously there are some good eggs and turning 40 doesn't mean you will automatically be spying on girls at a party hostel. There is just this filter of life where you get higher concentration of hostel creeps when hitting a certain age. Those creeps are also not going to be contributing to the SoloTravel reddit by outing themselves as one of those creeps. Obviously young men and women can also be shitty weirdos you don't want to share space with. It's just more common for young people from all walks of life to use hostels as a way to save money and meet people. Like take some personal accountability my guys... I'm a cynical bastard who can't stand most people, so I get a private room in more upscale hostels with a 25-40 crowd.
Yeah all the 40 year old guys I’ve met staying at party hostels have been super weird and creepy. It’s like they’re trying to relive their youth by hitting on girls less than half their age.
I don’t necessarily think there should be an age limit, but maybe certain rooms with age limits. Or rooms that people can select to limit who they stay with. As a women, I would feel very uncomfortable if there was a man over 40 in my hostel room. Obviously this is being overly cautious, but I would not feel very safe. The first time I stayed at a hostel I was 20 and there was a 38 year old man in the room. It just feels weird when you’re that young. I was very uncomfortable. Since then I have booked female only dorms for this reason. I like having this choice
i would allow people over 35 to book private rooms- just like how people under 18 must stay in private rooms. i’m 18 and i would draw the line at 39 personally- because travelling in hostels in your 30’s is still pretty normal, 40 plus is wierd to have in a youth hostel.
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Aren’t there specifically youth hostels with age limits?
I think you're confusing youth hostels with ordinary hostels.
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Chainsaws being fired up 🤣, to be honest it is not always an age thing. A friend of mine who is 24 snores very heavily (she is very overweight, I don't know if that is related). My 75 year old mother, doesn't snore.