In this week’s Travel SOS, Kay O’Sullivan has advice for Larry who wants to do Europe on a budget but is not keen on roughing it.
Q. Larry
I would love to go backpacking around Europe but I’m concerned that I’m too old to be sharing accommodation and roughing it. I’m a fit and able 62-year-old male and did a lot of this kind of travel when I was younger. I would love to revisit some of the places I visited many years ago, but I’m on a limited budget. Do you have any ideas how I can best manage this type of travel?
A. The news is all good. Backpacking is nothing like it used to be.
Nor are hostels – thank goodness! (I still shudder when I think of the straw mattress on which I slept at a Dublin hostel in 1981. The fleas got more sleep than me.)
Silke Kerwick, communications manager of Youth Hostels of Australia (YHA), says what readers remember of hostels from their past isn’t true anymore. The days of roughing it are long gone, she says, adding that many of today’s hostels have purpose-built facilities, such as ensuites, air-conditioning, pools, spas, bars and cafes.
Crucially, for travellers like us who are beyond sharing with people we don’t know, hostels offer a variety of room types, including single, double, twin and family rooms.
That said, dorms are still the norm both here at YHA properties and at Hostelling International properties across Europe. Which is why Larry or any other reader who values his or her privacy should plan and book ahead if they are after a single or double room. (Note: YHA is a member of Hostelling International, the umbrella group for 4000 member hostels across 90 countries, including the major European destinations.)
“It’s important to note, though, that our guests usually choose hostels for social as much as budgetary reasons – to interact with other travellers, as well as mix and mingle.
“Every hostel, by definition, tends to have a focus on the communal atmosphere (shared kitchens, lounge rooms, activities, etc.). They are not just cheap hotels, but a place to meet like-minded travellers and share travel yarns.”
It’s also important to note that while the emphasis is on cheap and cheerful, all hostels within the Hostelling International group are required to meet strict quality control regulations now, so Larry doesn’t need to be worried about the standards, as hostels are rated, certified and regularly checked.
Beyond Hostelling International, there are a number of websites offering hostel-style accommodation at which you could look. Hostelworld.com claims 30,000 properties in 180 countries. There’s another called hostels.com, but a search of that website revealed it is part of hostelworld.com. These two also offer a variety of room types, including singles, and it only takes a couple of clicks to discover what kind of rooms are on offer, including their price and availability. I also like that they welcome reviews from travellers and don’t edit out critical comments.
One last thing; get a backpack with wheels. It’s crazy not to take advantage of new technology. Don’t think you are a wuss for not wanting to lug 20kg on your back. My two big fit and strong teenage sons said they hardly used their straps when they went backpacking through Europe.
Kay O’Sullivan is no accidental tourist. More than a decade ago, she decided to combine two of her favourite things – journalism and travel – and become a travel writer. Since then, she has worked for numerous papers, magazines and on the internet, both here and internationally.
