HAVING A HOSTEL EXPERIENCE

 Foreign travelers tend to be more comfortable than Americans with the concept of hostels. Most of us think of them as small, dormitory-style residences filled with youthful backpackers. While not wrong, that notion is certainly incomplete.
Hostels do offer clean, safe and inexpensive lodgings, but for travelers of all ages. Virtually all have separate, dormitory-style facilities for men and women; many also provide rooms for couples and families. Most hostels have cook-it-yourself kitchens and common areas for eating and socializing. Many offer extras such as laundry facilities, travel libraries, even hot tubs and swimming pools. On the other hand, many hostels have nightly curfews and many also expect overnight guests to help with basic clean-up chores.
Hostel staff often try to help guests make the most of their visit. Many offer his toric walking tours, movie nights, cultural programs, as well as discounts to local museums, attractions and restaurants.
And hostels often have a unique ambiance of easy, youthful familiarity. In fact, some adults actually prefer staying in hostels over hotels, less for their Spartan, price-conscious accommodations than the communal experience they offer, which provides a great opportunity to get to know fellow travelers.
The International Youth Hostel Federation, which, despite its name, has no age limits, is the largest and best-known hostel organization. Its directory lists more than 5,000 hostels in 71 countries. But budget-minded travelers should be aware there are hostel opportunities in the United States as well.
Whether touring Washington, D.C., hiking the Rockies, or seeing the sights of San Francisco, travelers of any age can find safe, inexpensive lodging at a facility of American Youth Hostels. The nonprofit U.S. affiliate of the International Youth Hostel Federation maintains nearly 150 locations.
In addition to its 54 beds, the Pittsburgh council hostel, which opened in 1997 in a turn-of-the-century bank building at 830 E. Warrington Ave. in Allentown on the bluff above the South Side, is the area center for details on hostelling.
Every other month, the council distributes a nifty newsletter packed with interesting workshops and other travel possibilities. And one evening each month, it hosts a travel seminar. Upcoming events include "Making the Most of European Rail" (April 14) and "Europe on a Budget" (May 12). The hostel also serves as a travel agency and equipment store. Call 412-431-4910 for information or to get on the mailing list.
Although AYH hostels tend to be associated with cities, it has facilities in dozens of resort areas, from Alaska to Vermont. For example, there's a resort hotel near Disney World, an ex-dude ranch in Colorado, and a lighthouse on California's coast. Pennsylvania has eight rural hostels near ski areas and several in state parks, including Ohiopyle. Guests cross-country ski from the hostels in Minnesota's Itasca State Park and Ohio's Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation area. Colorado has six hostels near such august ski areas as Aspen, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Crested Butte, Purgatory and Vail. Vermont hostels are near Killington, Middlebury, Stratton and Suicide Six.
A yearly HI-AYH membership card costs $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and is free for travelers under 17. While the card is not necessary to stay at many hostels, members do receive lodging discounts and preference for reservations. Reservations are not mandatory but always a good idea, es pecially in popular cities during the busy summer season.
The HI-AYH Web site (www.hiayh.org) and a computerized booking service make reservations easy. There's also a map that shows addresses and phone numbers for all Hostelling International locations. You can call 202-783-6161 for a free copy.
Finally, in addition to youth hostels, many cities also have unaffiliated, adult-oriented hostels. Rules and curfews in these establishments tend to be less strict, but they still offer clean, safe, cost-conscious lodgings in the middle of otherwise expensive places. The Worldwide Hostel Guide is the most comprehensive listing, with thousands of entries and a useful Web site (www.hostels.com). A Hostel Handbook for the United States and Canada costs $3. (Dept. IGH, 722 St. Nicholas Ave., New York, NY 10031).



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