debbishop

I'm a 58 year old woman thinking about traveling to Italy solo. Any suggestions about staying in hostels? I've been through Tuscany, Venice and Rome but stayed in small hotels and b&B's so this will be a first. I'm looking to meet people and socialize!

MmePerdu

Where are planning to visit this trip? I stayed in a women's hostel in Rome several years ago and liked it very much. If Rome is on the itinerary this time I'll find the information, if it interests you.

debbishop

Thank you! I would love to know the one you stayed at, I will be flying into Rome but not sure of all my destinations yet, just starting my plans.

MmePerdu

Orsa Maggiore. I liked the location, on the Vatican side of Trastevere in a quiet residential neighborhood, near a bus stop and not far from Trastevere's restaurants, the Vatican and close to the river. It also seems to be on a number of booking sites, including booking.com. Check around for the best price if it interests you. https://www.orsamaggioreroma.com/en/

annabelle2

bvlenci

I've tried several times to reserve at the Orsa Maggiore, but they were always already fully booked. The neighbourhood is excellent. If you want to stay there, don't delay.

Macross

https://www.the-beehive.com/ They have a variety of rooms. We booked two rooms for a girls trip with shared bath but never saw anyone else. Very nice and great cafe.

bvlenci

The Beehive is on the expensive side for a hostel. For two people, you can usually find a budget hotel for less, with private bath.

Macross

I put in for Oct and 3 nights, it came up to 105 euro for female dorm room. It is very nice there.

debbishop

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments, I really enjoy hearing other people's experiences as I'm not so trusting of travel web sites. I will definately check this one out. I"m trying to travel on a low budget so the hostel experience is new to me, but think it might be a great way to meet people. Any other suggestions on ways of meeting people in foreign places?

bvlenci

About the Beehive :

That's high for a dorm room. The Orsa Maggiore has double rooms with shared bath for €70, or a bed in a dorm for €24.

What's more, on booking.com, for a random night in October, there are over 100 highly rated double hotel rooms in central Rome, with private bath, under €100.

Certainly these would be rather basic, but I've stayed in many of these hotels and have always been satisfied. In fact, sometimes I find last-minute deals for 4-star hotels under €100.

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Macross

debishop, Some hostels have great deals for day tours and walking tours so someone might go with you from your hostel or meeting someone on a tour. We have invited more people from tours to eat with us and somehow a lady stuck to us the last trip and went to the pub with us after. We were four with three women and my husband. She was from Australia and travelling alone. I know you wanted to be more social and some hostels are big hen and stag party places. The beehive isn't and has a good vibe. You would feel safe there also. Have fun planning. The other hostel for women sounds very nice also.

MmePerdu

Just a word on co-ed compared to the women's hostel in Rome. Not much of a sample, I know, but I've stayed in hostels a total of 4 times, twice in San Francisco, once on the California coast and the longest stay a week in Rome. The 2 California locations (twice at the same one in SF) were co-ed and though there were older guests as well, the ages tended toward a younger crowd. Not bad, just a bit more rambunctious and I imagine that's due to both factors, younger men & women socializing. I was on my own and met no one. At Orsa Maggiore in Rome the women were older, some younger women but more balanced age-wise, I felt much more included at breakfast, in the cafe and sitting in the courtyard. And while I didn't make any friends, I did have interactions, the experience was more social and comfortable for me. I suspect my experiences aren't unusual.

bvlenci

Hostels in general are good places to meet people, especially if you stay in the dorm. Of course you have to have the good fortune to find congenial roomates.