Hostel Attitudes

After reading “Straying Into Hostel Territory in New Zealand” (The Wander Year, Feb. 27), I am unimpressed with Mike McIntyre’s whining and closed-minded attitude. Youth hostels are open to budget travelers of all ages. I am a 56-year-old woman, and I have stayed in many hostels in the last decade. Some are extremely comfortable; others are cramped or less than clean. But it is all part of the hostel travel experience.

I began using youth hostels as a senior Girl Scout advisor. This is a great way to introduce teens to budget travel and turn them into lifelong travelers. My experiences traveling with girls have led me to sometimes use such hostels when traveling with friends or my adult daughter.

KATHRYN SLATTERY

Laguna Beach