Too old for a youth hostel? Never!

Who decided that once you hit 40, you’re condemned to theme cruises and budget-busting resorts? Youth hostels, like traveling, are not an activity reserved for backpacking twentysomethings. They’re meant for curious people seeking something other than room service and cable TV. No matter their age.

Why stay at a youth hostel when you’re over twenty

1. Because there’s no wrong age for budget travel

Let’s be honest: the cost of lodging can quickly swallow up a good part of a travel budget. Hostels help reduce the bill. And contrary to the dusty old image that we may have of low-budget travel, today there are plenty of clean and tidy, modern, welcoming hostels.

By choosing to crash at a hostel, you can keep your money for what you truly love: the pleasures of experiencing new places and cuisines and discovering the unknown.

2. Because youth hostels make it easy to meet people at any age

Wondering until what age you can spend the night in a youth hostel? I think as long as you’re seeking new experiences and interesting conversations, you’re in the right place.

In the common areas, in a shared kitchen or in a room full of board games, conversations start up organically (as long as you put your cellphone aside). We chat about our trips, our favourite places, where we’re traveling onward to. We trade tips, anecdotes and smiles. You can’t tell me an adult in a youth hostel is too old for this!

These days, hostels welcome a great diversity of people who travel: active retirees, young partiers, parents on sabbatical. Sure, one day you may be the oldest in the common room, but you know what? It’s no big deal because this diversity enriches the experience so much!

3. Because they’re usually omore ethical and more human

If experience has taught you to reconsider the way you travel that’s perfect! Hostels usually promote more responsible tourism and are often driven by strong values.

By staying over, you support local initiatives, meet committed people and contribute to more respectful tourism. And this is just plain good for the world.

4. Because hostels have evolved, just like you

Today, we’re a long way from the image of overcrowded dormitories, squishy mattresses and hair-clogged shower drains. Many hostels are as beautiful and well-designed as a hotel, just a little more relaxed.

Think private rooms with bathrooms, warm shared spaces, gardens, cafés, workshops and cultural events. On top of good old pub crawls, you can sometimes find yoga classes, game nights, movie nights and chatty communal dinners. In short, a hostel can be a genunine living space, even for a seasoned traveller.

5. Because dormitories are no longer mandatory

This is often what scares me about going to youth hostels at over 40: the famous dormitory full of snoring, suitcases rolling it at four in the morning and pretty much no intimacy. Rest assured however that most hostels today offer a variety of options. What I like is to reserve a private room so that I can savour my personal space but also enjoy the friendly ambience in the common areas.

At Saintlo, the experience is more diverse than you might think. In Ottawa, you can sleep in a former jail cell. In Montréal, there are rooms specially designed for families. You’ll also find unique stays, campgrounds, and even RV spots : something for every kind of traveler.

It’s the  perfect compromise: comfort without the isolation.

What you get from going back to a youth hostel as a mature adult