Hostels are primarily for teens and twenties on tight travel budgets. However, those bargain inns also welcome senior sojourners who seek informal, inexpensive places to sleep.

Additionally, many older guests look forward to socializing with the younger ones, for swapping stories and giving sage senior advice. One of the best cities for hostels is the very friendly, hip and tolerant Amsterdam.

Of course, hostel room rates are usually considerably less than those of hotels, averaging about $40 a night in Amsterdam, with some including free breakfast. If  your European wandering plans involve some Dutch roughing it, consider some examples.

Stayokay Amsterdam Vondelpark: Stayokay Vondelpark, Zandpad 5, 1054 Amsterdam, Netherlands, phone +31 (0)20 624 68 32 , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it One of half a dozen Stayokay hostels in and around Amersterdam, this most centrally-located inn offers double and quad rooms and dorms, some with flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and private baths. In a stately former merchant’s house, the comfortable hostel is steps away from transportation, restaurants, taverns, shops and museums.

The Italians call it Firenze, but by any name it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The capital of the region of Tuscany was where the Renaissance evolved in the 15th and 16th Centuries, due to superb artists Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Donatello and many others. They lived and worked in Florence, nurtured by the picturesque city around them.

Among countless artistic and architectural wonders, consider five must-see sights.

Gallerie dell'Accademia: See the genius of Michelangelo's world-renowned statue of David as he prepared for battle with Goliath. Standing 17 feet tall, the 16th Century marble figure is on display in the Gallerie among other works of Renaissance art and sculpture.

Of course, it isn’t only fellow oldsters who make the worst flying seatmates. However, we must admit there are too many bothersome elders who can make a fast two-hour flight seem like a slow ten. Further, when they see you’re also a seasoned citizen, they suddenly feel a warm fuzzy kinship, and simply must share their affairs in the air. For example:

Gabby Granny: You’ll be treated to the latest photos of her grandkids. Ain’t they cute? A smile from you is never enough. She expects you to look, gush about the evil little faces, and listen endlessly to the brilliant antics of her wonderful descendants.

Political Polecat: He demands you agree that one party is all bad and the other all good. You may try to endure shrillery about Hillary, melodrama about Obama, wailin’ about Palin or a moaner about Boehner.