Older travellers ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Older travellers

Replies: 39 - Last Post: 11-Dec-2009 20:29 Last Post By: cheminement

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Posted
29-Sep-2009 19:14
by: jasper007

Posts: 502
Registered: 07/12/07

Older travellers

As I get older I find I stick out more with other travellers, do other people find this? I travelled around Australia and stayed in backpackers and all the other people seemed really young, I am 34 so getting on a bit, and felt i did not fit in anymore.

Are there places where the age difference doesn't show up so much? I am off to Latin america soon, will i stick out there?

Travel Insurance

Posted
02-Oct-2009 04:03
by: gawkabout

Posts: 4,726
Registered: 01/09/01

1

I'm 69. I stay there too. I've met lots of us older kids there. Id think your problem is, not having others with enough life mileage for interesting conversations.

That's what I like about hostels.

Posted
05-Oct-2009 19:26
by: fluffy_bunny

Posts: 1,083
Registered: 31/01/09

2

34 is "getting on a bit"? Crap, i'm 34. I find there are old broken down horses like ourselves everywhere. While the young folk out number us, and wonder why the old guy is staying in a hostel, i always find people to relate to.

Ex-pats are almost always older. Social networking sites like couchsurfing and hospitality club are full of 30-something+ people living overseas. Or find the ex-pat hangout and not the backpacker bar.

Posted
07-Oct-2009 12:51
by: stephens9042

Posts: 595
Registered: 29/04/08

3

Once met an older french couple in a hostel in Delhi.

It was their first time back in 20 odd years. The stories were amazing.

Posted
07-Oct-2009 21:35
by: gawkabout

Posts: 4,726
Registered: 01/09/01

4

Hell, I'm 69. Everybody I've tried to checl back with, and thank for changing my life... are all dead.

One left. He's my main reason for going to Formentera. He claimed (45 years ago) that he'd settle down there someday.

I missed one guy by three weeks.

Thanks to travel and active curiosity, I feel like I'm 34.

PRESS ON, REGARDLESS

Posted
08-Oct-2009 09:32
by: tonya001

Posts: 6,664
Registered: 13/01/04

5

"I am 34 so getting on a bit"

When I was young (I write as a Scotsman heading for 50), 40 was considered middle-aged and 60+ old-aged. These days, 40 is young, 60-80 middle-aged, and 81+ old-aged - roughly.

I read only yesterday, by happy coincidence, that half of all babies born in Britain today can reasonably expect to reach 100 - so 34 is hardly getting on a bit, unless one comes from a country with a very low life-expectancy.

I'm not sure what 'fitting in' means. (I suspect that ye are acutely conscious that most of those around ye are younger and that this self-consciousness is apparent to others.) Forget about 'sticking out' and ye'll probably cease to do so.

"the interest quotient is on par with sweeping a runway with a toothbrush" DD

Posted
08-Oct-2009 17:18
by: afz

Posts: 417
Registered: 02/03/05

6

I've mostly met people under 30 or over 60 in hostels. I guess now you have no choice but to sit in an office for 25 years and then get back on the road.

Posted
11-Oct-2009 06:14
by: gawkabout

Posts: 4,726
Registered: 01/09/01

7

Just do more listening than talking. Keep a notebook.
Talk at length with any older ok European who will.

That younger hostel crowd ain't been around the planet too long. Nothing weighty to talk about yet.

Have fun. Don't be shy.
Like I was repeatedly told in Oz, 1960s; "We're all in this together, mayte. One hand washes the other."

Posted
11-Oct-2009 07:03
by: tonya001

Posts: 6,664
Registered: 13/01/04

8

I like yer attitude, gawkabout. I especially like, on re-reading it: "Thanks to travel and active curiosity, I feel like I'm 34". Still, I don't agree the younger crowd have nothing weighty to talk about.

"the interest quotient is on par with sweeping a runway with a toothbrush" DD

Posted
11-Oct-2009 07:58
by: majortraveller

Posts: 1,618
Registered: 13/07/07

9

I'm fifty and I still travel but I'm no longer a backpacker staying in hostels as much I was used to be. I did take a backpacking trip a couple of years back and I was the oldest one in the crowd. I didn't fit in but I'm not sure how well I fit in when I was younger either. I've always been the odd man out (so to speak) I think it's ok not to fit in and if my age is the reason for that I can't do anything about that.

You are only 34 and if you want to continue travelling you might want to travel a different way. I travel in a van and I meet a lot of people who are older travelling the same way so that might be a solution for you. But, if you continue to backpack just ignore that issue about being older you can't change your age. If you're not made welcome because of it then it's their issue not yours.

I'm an IT expert and work doing contracts, this allows me to earn the money I need to travel and gives me alot of free time to do so. I travel cheap, I guess that would be my signature, I do it as cheap as possible.

Posted
11-Oct-2009 19:38
by: gawkabout

Posts: 4,726
Registered: 01/09/01

10

Good thing hostels are geezer friendly, ain't it, Pappy?

Posted
14-Oct-2009 09:22
by: Fieldgate

Posts: 4,005
Registered: 03/07/03

11

My first thought was that hostels are for all age groups, genders, couples and singles, and no-one really sticks out. But, then on my second thought, I have to admitt that being 34 you may feel you don't fit in the 20+ group any longer, and not in the 50+ either. Still there are all ages.
I'm more like your father's age (mid 50s) and don't really give it any thought. I often stay in hostels, although not dorms.
If you mention South America, that continent is particulary friendly towards individual travellers. Hostels are only one type of accommodation, among many others. There are also pensions, alojamientos, hospedajes, hostales, residencials etc, in all classes and price ranges.

Posted
15-Oct-2009 07:33
by: viaggero

Posts: 400
Registered: 06/01/06

12

I haven't stopped traveling (off and on) since I was 20 - I"m now 48. If you travel in the 3rd world, it is possible to get a private room for less than a bed in a European/N.American dorm. So, when I'm there, it's worth it to get my own room. I still try to choose backpackers places so that I can share a drink or a meal with someone. However, when it's too damn expensive to get my own room, I stand out like a sore thumb, but I'll still stay at a hostle - I just don't socialize as much. On my recent trip to Newfoundland via my car, I camped and couchsurfed.

Posted
17-Oct-2009 02:35
by: walkintheworld

Posts: 70
Registered: 16/07/09

13

I didn't start travelling until I was 32, couldn't afford it. (Where do those 20-year-olds get their money, anyway?) I am now 45 and still stay in hostels. I met one of my best friends, who is now 70, in a hostel. I'm not into the bar scene, so that limits my social interaction, but it's no problem fitting in with other single travellers of any age in hostels.

Posted
17-Oct-2009 19:15
by: micolett

Posts: 2,141
Registered: 11/06/04

14

For sure at 51 I do not fit in the 20something partying crowd (yes, where do they get the money? I didn't have it at their age, only enough to travel...).
Still I find a number or single our couple travellers/backpackers to chat, share time, travel along a bit, in many hostels. May be getting older (oh, the bad word!) we tend to socialize less, feel more content with oneself...

The world is, guess what?
Not enough...

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