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Grace/IL - Hi PDIN, welcome to the Elderhostel chat.
Grace/IL - Elderhostel is designed for travelers 55 and older although younger spouses are welcome.
PDIN - He Grace, I'm 51 years old, am I too young for this?
Grace/IL - If your husband is 55, you are very much eligible.
PDIN - Well, it's something to look forward to, the way the economy looks though I think I have many years of work ahead of me.
Grace/IL - Hello mar, welcome to the chat
mar/OH - thanks
Grace/IL - Elderhostel provides wonderful instructors in many areas of the world.
PDIN - My husband is 55. Is this program mostly for US or abroad? What do the instructors teach?
Grace/IL - Most trips last a week or two but some people book them back to back in the same areas.
Grace/IL - You can go almost anywhere in the world. They offer courses in birdwatching, scuba diving, service projects such a marking graves in remote cemeteries. You name it.
mar/OH - what is elderhostel? I looked in up on the internet and didn't get much.
Grace/IL - They offer train trips, cruises, bicycle treks, hiking, history courses, etc. Where would you like to go?
Grace/IL - People travel in groups and stay in comfortable lodging -- not the Ritz but very acceptable.
mar/OH - germany, we do have some friends over there and a few other countries. Hiking is out!!!
PDIN - I'd like to go somewhere to find more descriptions I guess.
mar/OH - I sounds like a great way to meet people.
Grace/IL - PDIN, you can request a catalog at the internet site: www.elderhostel.org
PDIN - Thanks, I'll go there and look for more information.
Grace/IL - Germany: Bonn,
Grace/IL - and
Grace/IL - a Fly to Frankfurt, 6 nights, coach to Bonn, 7 nights.
Grace/IL - Germany: Castles, wines and gardents, the spirit of the Baroque. Stuttgart to Tubingen to Wurzberg to Dresden, 14 nights total.
Grace/IL - Hi Kathleen
Kathleen - Hi! Sorry I'm late...Grace are you describing your trip (Frankfurt, Bonn)?
Kathleen - Grace, isn't Elderhostel an economical way to travel and learn?
Grace/IL - German culture: The classics of German culture -- the work of great writers and musicians, philosophers and theologians, scientists and educators -- have had a profound influence on Western civilization. Leipzig to Cursdorf, 13 nights.
Grace/IL - Kathleen, mar mentioned Germany so I'm just describing a couple of potential trips.
Kathleen - Oh, I see, thanks!
Grace/IL - It's about as economical as one can get with all that's offered.
Kathleen - Grace, do you know: When I watch C-Span there are often groups in attendance at speeches, lectures featured on that channel...are they Elderhostel participants?
Grace/IL - Opera of Berlin, 10nights
mar/OH - i went to tthe internet site mentioned. I guess I'll read what it all has to say. It sounds interesting.
Grace/IL - I really don't know. I don't watch C-Span.
Kathleen - Grace, tell us what trips you've taken with Elderhostel.
Kathleen - I'm guessing the groups sitting for those DC lectures are with Elderhostel, looks pretty interesting
Grace/IL - We did a service project at a school on the Navajo Reservation in Utah, working one on one and listening to children read. We had wonderful cultural experiences during non-school hours.
Grace/IL - We also did a History of Jesus tour in Israel for two weeks.
Grace/IL - Are they on right now, Kathleen?
Grace/IL - Hi Mary
Mary/PA - Hi Grace
Kathleen - LOL. No, it's not on right now, not that I know of. But I often see big names in gov't speaking before groups of "mature" audiences, many couples, so I thought it might be Elderhostel groups
Grace/IL - We did only the two trips with Elderhostel. We want to go to England but haven't been able to coordinate their tour dates with our schedule.
Mary/PA - The number is an Aussie number. I hope they try again.
Kathleen - Grace, have you always had clean, safe accommodations, with private bath?
Grace/IL - I don't happen to see a trip scheduled to Washington, D.C.
Kathleen - I used to receive the catalogs and remember seeing many opportunities to learn about gov't
Grace/IL - Yes, in Utah we stayed in a beautiful motel set in the Red Rocks area. In Israel, we stayed first at a kibbutz, then at a hotel in Jerusalem.
Kathleen - Grace, have you participated in the more rigorous trips, physcially challenging, or not?
Mary/PA - What is Elderhostel?
Grace/IL - Mary, elderhostel is a travel adventure for folks 55 and older although younger spouses are welcome. They also have intergenerational programs for grandparents and grandchildren.
Kathleen - The intergenerational is a terrific idea!
Grace/IL - Our elderhostel trips were not challenging although they do have some great ones. We have done more rigorous hiking on some other tours.
Kathleen - Grace, am I correct that many of the opportunities are within driving distance for those who don't want to fly?
Mary/PA - Oh, thanks. I was afraid it was a place for the older folks to go for their final daysThis sounds like a lot more fun!!!
Kathleen - LOL Mary
Grace/IL - Mary, would you like to go scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef?
Kathleen - Grace, are meals always included in the cost?
Kathleen - LOL!!! Mary won't even go up to her ankles in the ocean!
Kathleen - she's afraid of sharks
Mary/PA - No way, Grace!!! I don't want that much water over my head!!!
Grace/IL - Or visit the great cathedrals in Europe?
Grace/IL - Yes, ALL meals are included. That's a great part of it. There are NO hidden costs.
Mary/PA - I've heard about what goes on in those big waters!!
Kathleen - I would love to do those things. Right now I'm not fond of the idea of travel
Kathleen - So the stated cost is a better buy than it would at first appear, with meals included
Kathleen - Grace, are the guides local people?
Grace/IL - I'm sorry -- I meant snorkeling. There's a BIG difference!
Kathleen - Oh, I even thought you said snorkeling, no way I'd scuba dive. Does one have to be seen in a bathing suit in order to snorkel??
Grace/IL - Guides are usually local people. In Israel we had a wonderful Biblical scholar who is an American but lives there.
Kathleen - oops
Grace/IL - Well, I guess it would be difficult to snorkel without a bathing suit. LOL
Kathleen - That seems a great advantage, to have local guides, experts.
Kathleen - Can't snorkel in jeans and sweater, eh?
Grace/IL - In Utah, native Americans were our guides. We went way back to places on the reservation that the ordinary traveler wouldn't find.
Kathleen - Oh, good point, so Elderhostel gets you in to places you wouldn't ordinarily have access to
Kathleen - I like behind-the-scenes stuff
Grace/IL - As with many tours, it depends on the guide. In Israel we were able to visit a cave in ancient Nazareth. That's totally off limits unless the guide has an "in."
Mary/PA - Some day I'll do something. But it has to be safe. I don't like to get up too high or go down too low. I don't want to go where I might be shot at. Where else can one go? Oh, the reservation trip sounds good.
Grace/IL - In Utah our transportation to the remote places was a makeshift bus on the back of a pickup truck.
Grace/IL - You can go just about anywhere in the world. Ask about a place and I'll do a quick check to see what they offer.
Grace/IL - Hi REI, welcome to the Elderhostel chat.
Grace/IL - Mary, one neat thing is that they tell you right in the literature how difficult the trip will be.
REI - Thanks...Just "listening in". Not quite old enough to participate in Elderhostel trips.
Grace/IL - They will say, "minimum walking" or "involves hiking on flat terrain." so you know in advance what you're getting into.
Grace/IL - I think there are no Israel trips at the present. We went at a relatively safe time in 1998.
Grace/IL - Mary, like other tours, you have to pay a bit of a premium if you're alone but they will arrange a roommate if you like.
Grace/IL - Hi BL, welcome to the Elderhostel chat.
BL - Does the orgainization have bus tours?
Grace/IL - All travel is arranged. You mostly stay in one place for a week and take side trips from there. You get really immersed in a particular area.
Grace/IL - BL, what would you like to do. I can do a quick check to see what is available.
BL - Bus tours during the New England fall.
Kathleen - REI is yuour spouse 55 or older?
Kathleen - Grace, is it really still 55 the required age, or have they dropped that to 50?
REI - Kathleen...not married. Traveled through Europe by way of Youth Hostels for 25 days years ago. Loved it.
Kathleen - Well, REI, keep it in mind for the future, when you qualify
Grace/IL - For example: Vermont. On one trip you'll sty in Essex in a colonial-style 4 diamond inn on 18 acres with beautiful gardens. Programs led by Vermonters from all walks of life, some whose families have lived there for generations.
Kathleen - Nope, still must be one who is 55 or older, or with spouse 55 or older
Grace/IL - Kathleen, age is 55 but younger spouses are welcome.
Grace/IL - Just one has to be 55.
Kathleen - OH! You can go with an "adult companion" who is 55 or older, so you could go with a friend who is that age, REI!
Grace/IL - I think if you want a fall tour, you might be better off with one of the tour groups.
BL - Thank you
Kathleen - Our programs are open to anyone who is age 55 , as well as to their accompanying spouse or adult companion. [copied from their site]
Kathleen - LOL Mare
REI - Hmmmm.....that might be an option.
Mare, qualifies! - Greetings! Still chatting?
Grace/IL - World Wide Country Tours has a New England fall tour.
Kathleen - Still chatting for a minute or so. I don't know whether Grace is eager to return to the game
Mare, qualifies! - My parents LOVED Elderhostel programs!
Grace/IL - I'm not interested in the game. I'm here as long as anyone wants to chat.
Mare, qualifies! - My parents stayed in a sod hut for one, I think....yrs ago
Grace/IL - On one trip we were with a couple who was going around the world, one weekly EH program at a time.
Kathleen - Grace, you chatted here in 1999 about your trip to Israel, was that an Elderhostel program?
REI - How do I find out what types of Elderhostel programs are available? Is there a specific website????
Kathleen - Does a sod hut have a private bath??
Mare, qualifies! - oh, Grace, what fun! wonder if I can talk hubby into doing THAT!
Grace/IL - Israel was the second of our two trips.
Kathleen - yes, elderhostel.org but don't go yet! stay and chat for a minute
Mare, qualifies! - Kathleen, maybe they just studied about sod huts??
Kathleen - Grace's Israel chat (don't go now, go after this chat is over) http://teachers.net/archive/travel_021299.html
Grace/IL - I think they have a catalog online but it's much more fun to browse through the printed ones.
Kathleen - sod huts sounds interesting, but my roughing it days are over.
Mare, qualifies! - REI, you'd love the offerings...my folks poured over the catalog for days before deciding.
Kathleen - You can order the program catalogs, they arrive each season, list all of their many programs all over the US and the world
Kathleen - The print catalog is wonderful for vicarious travel
Mare, qualifies! - Oh no, they NEVER roughed it.....loved being served the food, even special dietary accommodations were made
Grace/IL - We keep looking and intend to go again. It's a matter of scheduling where we want to go and coordinating that with things we HAVE to do.
Kathleen - Grace, are some of the programs service oriented? such as habit for humanity?
Grace/IL - Hubby wants to go to the hill country in England.
Mare, qualifies! - Even programs to take grandchildren, or a canoe, or an RV!
Kathleen - That sounds wonderful, hill country of England.
Grace/IL - Habitat is separate from Elderhostel but there are lots of service programs.
Kathleen - yes, it's a wonderful thing, Elderhostel (well, I haven't experienced it directly, but those who participate seem very pleased
Kathleen - I'm getting enthused about this, going to get my catalog and look for a program we can drive to for our first experience.
Mare, qualifies! - wouldn't it be great fun if a gang of teachers.netters went on an adventure together?
Kathleen - uh oh...
REI - Just wondering....what about handicapped access? Are their specific accomodations if someone is handicapped?
Grace/IL - Intergenerational to Austria, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England,France,Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Azores,Scotland South Pacific, Spain, Switzerland, and Zambia.
Mare, qualifies! - REI, yes
Kathleen - REI, I think that is noted in each of the catalog listings, right Grace?
Grace/IL - They will tell you if the trip is handicap accessible. They're ver specific about special needs
Mare, qualifies! - I can't wait till my grands are old enough to go with us.
Grace/IL - Hi, r.o.n
Kathleen - Bermuda....I love Bermuda
Kathleen - ron, have you ever experienced an Elderhostel program?
r.o.n. - evenin' all and to our esteemed moderator
Kathleen - Grace is the moderator, highly esteemed
r.o.n. - no, I don't think I ever had that dish
Grace/IL - Service programs: tracking humpback whales in the North Pacific, Mexico, Hawaii or Japan.
Mare, qualifies! - Grace, have you heard any feedback about the RV programs?
Kathleen - tracking whales?? that sounds rigorous!
r.o.n. - I thought I saw industrial arts mentioned so I popped in
Grace/IL - Service program: Teaching English in Ostuni, Italy
REI - Hmmm....this might be something my mother and I could do. Do they have summer programs available for the US?
Kathleen - ron, I don't think so...mabye THE arts
Kathleen - REI, yes! many of them!
r.o.n. - I cannot take anymore of this cold here. Can I visit someone in a warmer climate?
Grace/IL - Service program: Investigate dolphin foraging in Peru.
Kathleen - Teaching English, wow, that sounds like an interesting opportunity
Kathleen - ron, yes, sign up for an Elderhostel program in Bermuda!
Mare, qualifies! - REI, you betcha...you will have such fun just looking at the catalog, or searching online....can look by date, location, type, etc
Grace/IL - Service program: Teaching English in Poland.
Kathleen - Peru, wow!
r.o.n. - I would love to teach in a foreign country. My choice would be France
Kathleen - ron, maybe you could host an Elderhostel group program on industrial arts
Kathleen - ron, i'll be the opportunity exists!
Grace/IL - Service program: assist with a basic water and sanitation project such as rehabilitating a well or bilding alatrine or village washing facility in Nicaragua.
Kathleen - I meant, I'll BET the opportunity exists
r.o.n. - no wait, dark chocolate, that would be switzerland
Mare, qualifies! - LOL@r.o.n
r.o.n. - well, let me run, don't want to disturb your group, cya
Kathleen - ron, send for a catalog and consider all options (white choc., milk choc., Swiss choc., bittersweet)
Kathleen - bye ron!
r.o.n. - today is backwards day, nor
Kathleen - We should let Grace go, she's been kind to stay on for us. Very interesting, and my husband qualifies by age so we could do this
Kathleen - !yb nor
Kathleen - !eyb nor
Mare, qualifies! - Thanks, Grace...sorry I wasn't here sooner.
Grace/IL - Oh, is this the ron of "what day is it?"
Kathleen - Grace, thanks for doing this. It's an interesting topic.
Mare, qualifies! - eyb lla
Kathleen - Glad you made it mare. And REI!
Kathleen - !eyb lla
Grace/IL - Thanks for coming. I've enjoyed poring over the catalogs as we chat.
Kathleen - Yes, that's the ron
Mare, qualifies! - REI, keep me posted if you find one you're going to do!
LE - Is this early childhood chat?
Kathleen - Thanks, all, if you want to remain and chat some more about Elderhostel, feel free to do so.
Kathleen - LE, no the topic was Elderhostel. Early childhood chats are every Tuesday, 9pmE and 11pmE
Grace/IL - This has been the Elderhostel chat -- rather the other end of the spectrum from ED.
Kathleen - Try http://teachers.net/mentors/early_childhood
Grace/IL - 'Night all.
Kathleen - LOL, true, Grace, good point! Good night now, and thanks again!
LE - OK, thank you. I always wanted to visit but didn't know how!
Kathleen - LE come back any Tuesday. And here's the meeting schedule http://teachers.net/chat/meetings.html
LE - thanks for the schedule. i was actually going to post about what's coming up, but I'll just hold for a bit.
