My husband and I, both in our early 60s, have always traveled independently and have been to the majority of European countries several times. We are planning our first trip to Prague this fall, and I am interested in one of the Elderhostel programs. I would be interested in any opinions of those who have taken an Elderhostel trip, i.e. comments on the accommodations, lectures, tours, etc.

We've taken 3 Elderhostel trips abroad -2 to Italy & 1 to Ireland. We've also traveled independently & are in our 60s.<BR>Some of our Elderhostel instructors were outstanding & our tour guides, with one bad exception, tried to be helpful. Accomodations varied from quite nice to very average. Our time was well filled with courses, sight seeing, activities. <BR>Our negative was that we like to do things on our own & Elderhostel is very much a group thing (sometimes free time is allowed). Also, we weren't thrilled with having to have (usually) 3 meals a day with the same people who, for the most part, weren't that much fun to be with.

We went on one which suppose to be hiking program and the most we hiked was to go on a walk for less than one miles and it took us about two hours. It was such frustrated experience that I wanted to scream. I agree with Shelly's statemnts about some negatives of Elderhostel. My husband called us Elder Hostages because we had such limited and slow activities. We are too active and it was frustrated to spend most of the time indoor when we were in a beautiful part of Arizona.<BR><BR> We just returned from Sicily where we rented a car, visited all places everyone suppose to visit and we did lots of hiking. We used internet to buy tickets, plan our itinerary and book accommodations and car rental. My husband is 82 and I'm 67. <BR>We love to travel independentaly, plan our own trip, do what we are interested in, get up early or late, meet people and conversing with them. We do not speak Italian but on our last trip we had some conversations with people who hardly spoke English and our Italian is almost zero. Just a few basic phrases. It is wonderful to travel this way. As long as we able to travel on our own we won't consider Elderhostel. We are too young.<BR><BR>However, I need to add that we have some friends who really enjoy Elderhostel programs. <BR><BR>Annie, in these days being in early 60s is very young and if you like independent travel I suggest you continue traveling this way until you both are older and less active.<BR><BR>

In MHO Elder hostels are for the senile or nearly senile. The people that we know that go on these trips are ones that we would not want travel with. Just my obsevation.

Annie --both my mother (now deceased) and my former mother in law travel separately via the Elderhostel programs and enjoyed them. Neither was senile (at the time) or boring, however they were considerably older than early 60's and were single. In addition, they were more "tour" oriented travellers, if that makes sense. I think that if you were a single, woman in your 70's, Elderhostel programs are good, but it does sound right for you at this time in your life.

OOpps!! Meant DOES not sound right. Bad typing.

<BR>Genea:<BR><BR>You are an inspiration to travelers of all ages! Many happy travels!

My husband and I(almost) always rent a car overseas and travel on our own...we're in our mid 60's. We've lived overseas, in the mid 70's....and my hobby is planning these independent trips...HOWEVER, having said this,we went on our first Elderhostel last year to Tuscany, Italy....staying for two weeks in Siena. It was GREAT, the time flew by, had some wonderful lectures from teachers in Florence and Italy on a very wide variety of subjects(though sometimes too detailed). The walking tours were great, and several bus day trips to surrounding hill towns were excellent, and we happen to have a wonderful group of 40 people. Some of these people were professors from colleges in US, some were lawyers, doctors, other worked in offices,some retired, etc. ranging in ages from perhaps 53-78???<BR>All very peppy and healthy and fun...and we mixed up sitting at dinnertime. The Italian Elderhostels are put on by Trinity Uniersity in NH, I believe, and from all reports they are all wonderful. I'm certainly not an expert....but we DID enjoy this one..<BR>We hope to travel to southern France on our own this Fall. The main objection we have of the European programs is that they are all two weeks or more, and this is personally a little too long for my husband and I. But we will NEVER regret attending the one in Tuscany.<BR>We've traveled a lot in Europe, but have never been to Prague.....and that might be a very good program with Elderhostel. If NOT, then one would want to do a lot of private research. Sometimes trips like this are combined with Budapest Hungary, Vienna Austria etc. I notice Rick Steves has a 1 week only trip to Prague, and I'm sure others do also.<BR>Elderhostels are for people who are interesting in learning and keeping thier minds alert, something many people aren't interested in doing....and though we still like to travel independently there is nothing wrong with the majority of Elderhostel <BR>programs.<BR>

We just returned from Elderhostel in New Mexico and we met some nice people but we will wait another 10 years before our next trip with them. We are 67 and 69

Check the Idyll Untours web site (www.untours.com} and look at their options for Prague. They have a marvelous setup in various areas of Europe. It is very reasonably priced and includes roundtrip air, apartment rental, and ground transportation (either a mass transportation pass or rental car, depending on location). They provide great support system for you to use or not (your choice), very complete information about local sights, festivals, etc, and a few planned activities, but your time is yours to spend as you please.

If you want to try something active and unique with a group go on an Earthwatch or University of California Research expedition.<BR><BR>http://urep.ucdavis.edu/<BR><BR>http:..www.earthwatch.org/<BR><BR>

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions. We have decided to go on our own, and I am now planning side trips, etc. I know it will be another great trip and am excited about Prague.

A suggestion when you are in Praha. We just returned last week and the highlight of our trip was a day trip to Cesky Krumlov. We went by local bus for about $8 p.p./r.t., took about 3 hours each way, had about 5 hours to take the tour of the Castle and explore the town. Very quaint town and interesting castle tour. Try it.<BR>Need any more info. on Praha, I would be happy to respond at the above e-mail directly.<BR>Joanne