HOSTELING, U.S. STYLE

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(The handbook also notes any special restrictions that a hostel may have.) "

If, after leafing through the AYH guidebook, you plan out a dream vacation that you just can't pass up, be sure to make advance reservations to guarantee your space. To do so, just send a deposit (consisting of 50% of the total cost) to each hostel you plan to visit . . . and be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope so the lodge can confirm your deposit and let you know if the fee has changed. You should plan each day's excursion so that you'll arrive at the hostel between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m., since most of the facilities are closed from midmorning until late afternoon. Remember, too, that the maximum stay in any one location is three nights, unless prior arrangements are made with the house-parents.

Finally, although they are attractively inexpensive, hostels are more than just low-cost places to catch a few winks. They can be the focus of an alternative travel experience. If you require luxury and absolute privacy, if you prefer to pay others to provide services for you, or if you like to spend your holidays in passive pursuits . . . hosteling probably won't fit your lifestyle. But if you're a person who wants to stay active, prefers to be outdoors, likes to be self-reliant, enjoys meeting and sharing with others, and relishes the idea of experiencing a truly memorable vacation on a shoestring budget . . . you're almost sure to enjoy hosteling. Whether you tour Alaska, canoe in the Ozarks, or bicycle along the Pacific Coast, your trip will be filled with new experiences . . . and opportunities to make new friends.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Membership in AYH, Inc. not only enables you and your family to enjoy hosteling privileges at more than 5,000 hostels throughout the world and entitles you to a free handbook . . . it also allows you to take advantage of discounted prices on outdoor recreational books, travel information, and national and regional newsletters… and offers the chance to participate in AYH-sponsored trips. To become a member, send your name, address, date of birth, and appropriate fee (plus 75¢ shipping and handling) to Mary Bowling, Kiwanis Youth Hostel, Dept. TMEN, Route 2, Box 304, Knoxville, Maryland 21758. (To receive only the AYH book, send $1.75, plus 75¢ shipping and handling, to the same address.)

Another organization that offers an alternative to conventional travel is the Elderhostel Association (Dept. TMEN, 100 Boyleston Street, Suite 200, Boston, Massachusetts 02116). Among other activities, this nonprofit group organizes week-long academic programs, year round, at college campuses in the U.S. and Canada. People 60 years of age and over (or those whose spouses or companions qualify) can participate in the mini-courses. Write Elderhostel for more information.

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