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Hostels attracting older travelers
Betty Kam, a 30-year-old teacher from Hong Kong, carefully planned her July vacation in Scotland. She plotted a detailed itinerary and reserved accommodations for each leg of her journey. The only unusual thing about her trip: She decided to stay in hostels, long the preserve of young and spontaneous backpackers. Kam is among a growing number of people choosing to book stays at hostels in pre-planned vacations, a departure from the adventurous, happy-go-lucky ethos that has long defined backpacking culture. The trend springs from older travelers looking for cheap deals, easy access to city centers where many hostels are located, and a desire to experience a laid-back atmosphere. "Customers have at least a rough itinerary and are less adventurous," said Niamh Ni Mhir, hostel division managing director of the Dublin-based online hostel company, hostelworld.com.
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