FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Meriden, Conn. (April 4, 2008) — After 21 years of adventures down the canals of Venice, and bicycling through the streets of Holland, Elderhostel enthusiasts Betty and George Thomson have attended over 75 educational programs, and are about to embark on their next Elderhostel adventure, Splendors of Switzerland by Rail, this summer.

The Thomsons, who describe themselves as “Elderhostel Junkies,” try to attend local or international learning adventures together a few times a year. Their interest was sparked years ago when George, who was not eligible to participate in Elderhostel at the time —Elderhostel is open to adults 55 and over— read about the organization in a local newspaper. At first unsure about attending a program, the Thomsons’ worries were quickly laid to rest after their first Elderhostel adventure to Green Mountain, Vt. “We were very impressed with the high physical and mental activity level of the participants,” George Thomson says. “They were engaging people and it really was a pleasant surprise — one of the reasons we keep coming back to Elderhostel.”

The Thomsons often attend several Elderhostel programs back-to-back — some of their most memorable Elderhostel adventures have been discovering the adventures of Lewis and Clark, and traveling through Eastern Europe, learning about the history and heritage of these nations. While in Europe, the Thomsons enjoyed lunch with a local family in Poland, attended a private concert at the Mozart Museum, and learned about Hungarian history and daily life from a local expert in Budapest. The Thomsons have even served as volunteer Ambassadors for Elderhostel, giving talks to numerous groups and organizations about their experiences and what Elderhostel has to offer.

“It’s difficult to say which are our favorite programs because they are each so unique,” George Thomson says. “An Elderhostel program is really an educational adventure much more beyond a typical tour and shopping. We have the opportunity to see and learn things we would never get to do on our own.”

Elderhostel, founded in 1975, is the world’s largest not-for-profit educational travel organization for older adults. More than 160,000 people enroll in Elderhostel’s 8,000 programs annually. Elderhostel provides exceptional learning adventures throughout the United States and Canada and in more than 90 countries around the world. Expert instructors and experienced group leaders create extraordinary experiences by sharing stimulating information, leading fascinating field trips and providing meaningful cultural excursions. In 2004, Elderhostel launched Road Scholar to meet the needs of a new generation of educational travelers. For more information, please visit

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