The Elderhostel adventure

Posted by Bill on Monday, September 22, 2008   |   No Comments

The tag line for Elderhostel® is “Adventures in Lifelong Learning,” and that’s a pretty big hint about the primary difference between this organization for travelers 55 years of age and older and the youth hostels we explored in a recent post. Notice that I said “organization.” Elderhostel is a not-for-profit travel organization not a network of hostels for older travelers. It is devoted to educational travel, organized into convenient all-inclusive programs, throughout the world.

The mission of Elderhostel, per their website: “Elderhostel, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing exceptional learning opportunities to adults at a remarkable value. As the nation’s first, and the world’s largest, educational travel organization primarily for adults, we believe that learning is an integral part of a healthy and fulfilling life. Since our founding in 1975, more than 4 million adults have participated in our programs.”

There are a number of advantages of Elderhostel programs that may be very appealing to older travelers. The first is the enormous variety. You can choose from among 8,000 offerings each year in more than 90 nations around the world. Not really interested in international programs? Not to worry. You’ll have plenty of choices right here in the U.S. and Canada. Elderhostel offers programs in every state.

Another benefit is the all-inclusive nature of the programs. They take care of the details so you won’t have to worry about them, and everything is included in your “tuition.” Right now—and I’m sure this is subject to the current economic volatility— the average cost for programs in the U. S. and Canada is about $115 per day per person. Remember, that includes everything. You do have to provide your own transportation to and from the program site. But once you’re there, everything is included.

Don’t be put off by the educational theme. There are no tests, grades or homework. No prior experience or training is required for any of the programs. The intent is to blend travel with discovery and provide interesting and informative exposure to a host of subjects and regions. So don’t worry that signing up for an Elderhostel program is like going back to school.

Some 90% percent of the accommodations are private—a stark contrast to the situations encountered in youth hostels. Every effort is made to accommodate special physical requirements and unique dietary needs. Although most Elderhostel travelers are couples, singles are welcome. If you are single and wish to be paired up with a roommate, program organizers will attempt to comply. Since travelers come from every walk of life and widely diverse locations, an Elderhostel program promises to be a great way to meet like-minded people who value travel and learning.

If this sounds appealing to you, I would encourage you to explore their extensive website. You can search programs by location, interest or date. There is a section listing the most popular programs and another area highlighting programs for under $600. A good way to get a broad overview is to read through their FAQs. You can also reach Elderhostel at 1-800-454-5768. You can email from the site, or if you wish to write: Elderhostel, 11 Avenue de Lafayette, Boston, MA 02111-1746.

Previous: What about hostels?

Next: It’s cider time