Travel q&a

Shape, Sept, 2007

Q I'd like to stay in a hostel, but aren't they only for students?

A While hostels have a reputation for catering only to cash-strapped students, anyone can use them. Just be prepared to share your room and bathroom with fellow travelers (usually anywhere from six to 10 of them). More hostels are now offering single rooms but at a higher price, says Mark Vidalin, marketing director of Hostelling International USA. To find one, start with hiusa.org, which has listings for more than 4,000 hostels that adhere to specific safety standards. Then get a second opinion on hostels.com, which reviews more than 10,000 spots around the world.-SB

"It took 10 days to sail 500 miles during this yacht race. Here, there were 100 boats around us."

Send your travel questions to travelq&a@shape.com.

-Susan Johnson, Vail, Colo.

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