Backpacking in your golden years

From rowdy Contiki tour buses to grungy hostels and bed bugs, backpacking has a bit of a reputation as a young person’s pursuit. But when it comes to stereotypes, we all know they’re meant to be broken. That’s why we’re obsessed with the concept of backpacking for seniors.

From a newfound sense of adventure to slashing your holiday budget, there are so many benefits that go hand in hand with travelling the world as a golden oldie. Here are a few of our favourites…

Hostels aren’t just for youths

They may be called youth hostels, but that doesn’t mean there’s an age limit on who can stay. Most of the time, hostels welcome guests of all ages and walks of life. And, they’re definitely not all crawling with bed bugs. Pick the right hostel, and you’ll enjoy state of the art facilities, squeaky clean sheets, private bathrooms, on-trend décor and amazingly friendly service. If you appreciate good taste, there are plenty of design hostels to be found in global cities like Sydney, Paris, New York, Buenos Aires and more. Our advice is to use platforms like HostelWorld and HostelBookers to check out properties, read reviews and make bookings.

Travel far, wide and free

Just because you’ve got a few grey hairs, it doesn’t mean you have to confine yourself to what you think travellers of your age should be doing. If you’re fit, healthy and have a sense of adventure, don’t hold back. Trust us, we’ve seen OAPs walking the Machu Picchu trail, 60 something-year-old dads trekking in Nepal, retired couples bunking down in hostels… If you think you can do it, you probably can!

You don’t have to lug a backpack around

Remember, backpacking is more a state of mind than a literal term. This means that you can still waltz your way around the world, without having to lug a backpack around for weeks on end. Instead, practice the art of packing light, and invest in a clever suitcase that’s easy to move around with.

Be spontaneous

Part of the fun of backpacking is that it’s a spontaneous, carefree adventure. So, why not live like a twenty something-year-old and throw caution to the wind next time you’re on holiday? Rather than book every single hotel, flight and activity, why not leave a few days open? Play it by ear, go with the flow and embrace your newfound sense of spontaneity.

Rough it in luxe destinations, and live it up in on the cheap

Backpackers are usually on a budget, which means they’re pretty thrifty when it comes to spending their hard-earned cash. This means it’s important to choose your destination wisely and spend accordingly. For example, if you’re working your way around Europe hostels are a fantastic way to save money in notoriously expensive cities like Paris and London. On the other end of the scale, places like India are wonderfully affordable. Even backpackers can live like royalty, with around $50 a night buying a plush room in a lakeside palace.

Mix it up

Want to throw a few backpacker inspired thrills into your trip, but don’t want to commit to being a full-on nomad? No problem. Simply mix it up and enjoy the best of both worlds. Stay in hotels most of the time, but book the odd hostel here and there to keep things interesting.

Consider Airbnb

Airbnb has revolutionised the way the world travels, and backpackers are definitely on the bandwagon. Fun, affordable and utterly unique, Airbnb accommodation is a great way to stretch your cash further, live like a local and make new friends.

Embrace ‘flashpacking’

Flashpacking is a bit of a controversial word, but here at GrownUps we can’t get enough of it. Basically, it describes travellers who love the backpacker experience but don’t want to compromise on comfort. So, instead of paying $10/night to stay in a rundown hostel dorm, they’ll fork out $70/night for a private room in a boutique hostel. The latter is still significantly cheaper than a hotel and still has the backpacker vibes, but doesn’t scrimp on comfort.

Explore the backpacker trail

While destinations like Africa, Europe and the Seychelles are generally associated with retirement travel, South East Asia is a mecca for travellers on a shoestring. In other words, backpackers. Places like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam offer incredible value for money, and fascinating cultures to explore.

Travel like a backpacker, stay in style

One of the biggest factors that define ‘backpacker’ travel is getting from A to B on the cheap. If you want to experience the excitement of backpacking without going to the whole hog, why not consider travelling on a shoestring, and staying in style. In Europe, rail passes are a fantastic way to ‘country hop’ on the cheap. Take a tuk-tuk instead of a taxi in Bangkok, master London’s tube network and learn to love India’s famous trains, where it costs a few dollars to take an overnight train from one city to another.

A good story

At the very least, your forays with backpacking as a senior will make for some seriously good dinner party conversation. Looking for some inspiration? Have a read through this interview with 72-year-old solo female backpacker, Sherill. She’s one amazing woman, who well and truly proves that backpacking is for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Stick it to the youngsters, and prove that backpacking isn’t’ just for twenty-somethings.