Hostel accommodations in Italy (hotel, hotels, price, cheapest)

[xz2y]

I'm thinking about spending a few months in Italy, traveling throughout the country, and I'm wondering if anyone has experience with cheap accommodations (such as hostels) that might be suitable for a 60 year old woman. Any suggestions?

[Verseau]

I don't know much about Italy specifically, but if you're considering staying in a hostel, then I would recommend sticking with Hostelling International-affiliated hostels.

Most independent hostels are almost entirely filled with young people, whereas HI hostels tend to attract a wider age range. They also tend to be very safe, clean, well-managed, and often serve dinner and/or lunch (at an additional cost). (Of course, there are great independent hostels, too, but you'd have to do your research. Look at Hostels.com - Every Hostel, Everywhere - 20,000+ Hostels Worldwide )

You could also search for "budget hotels" if you really wanted your own space, but I think the really cheap ones are usually not great... dirty, primitive shared bathrooms, sometimes not even a shower... although sometimes you can find a decent hotel room for the same price as a bed in a hostel, so it's always worth shopping around.

[Verseau]

Just to add to that - if you are searching for hostels online, keep in mind that there are a few different types of rooms in a hostel.

"Dorms" are rooms with several different beds (typically anywhere from 4 to 12+). They're generally the cheapest option because you just pay for one bed. The hostel listing should tell you how many beds are in a room (rooms with more beds are usually a bit cheaper). The hostel listing should also tell you whether the room is female-only. Some hostels only have same-sex dorms; some have only co-ed dorms; many of them have both.

"Privates" are, well, private rooms, and are usually much more expensive than dorms (but not always!). Just keep in mind that if you see a private room listed, the price is usually per person; so if you happened to book a private room with two beds, you would be paying for both beds.

The other thing to keep in mind is bathrooms. "Ensuite" means that the bathroom is located inside the room. "Shared bathrooms" are outside the room and usually consist of toilet stalls, shower stalls, etc.

Finally, I'm not sure how you'll be travelling in Italy, but it's always important to know where the hostel is located within the city so that you won't have to take a bus or taxi to get to the city center (although if you're driving, it might be better to stay on the edge of the city!)

[BlueWillowPlate]

Another option is staying at a convent or other religious facility.
They are cheap, clean, and safe.
link
I'm mid-50's and at my advanced age have stayed at plenty of hostels (but none in Italy). Some of them are fine, if noisy. Some do have age limits, and some require you to pay the fee for membership, but many don't.