There are many options out there for lodging when traveling. Here’s one that has been around a long time but isn’t necessarily widely-known. Real Food Traveler’s Hospitality Editor, Ron Stern, made great use of Evergreen B&B Club on a recent road trip and discovered an affordable travel option for seniors, with comfortable lodging and much more.

Keep this article about the Evergreen B&B Club handy by saving it to Pinterest. Photo above and on cover courtesy of Canva. Graphic by RealFoodTraveler.com.

Evergreen B&B Club:  The Best Kept Secret in Affordable Travel for Seniors

For more than four decades, Evergreen Bed and Breakfast Club has been providing seniors affordable accommodations for only $20 per night. Surprisingly though, many still don’t know about this so-called secret that is available to anyone over 50 years of age. They continue to offer comfy digs and a hearty morning breakfast through their vast worldwide network of like-minded fellow travelers.

Background and Requirements for Hosts

Started in 1982 by Patti Wilson, this practical resource was conceived as a simple but brilliant alternative to traditional “hotel” stays. Kathleen Kavanagh, who formerly worked for the club as an administrator, took over the reins in 2015. To enroll, members in North America pay annual dues of $120 for one year from the joining date. If they live in other countries, then the amount is only $80 for a full five years. This allows them to travel anywhere and enjoy “non-commercial” bed and breakfast accommodations.

Barbara from Gibbon, NE and Evergreen B&B’s Kathleen Kavanagh (standing). Photo courtesy Kathleen Kavanagh.

The other requirement is fairly simple. Each member needs to have a spare bedroom or some other type of guest accommodation. They also agree to host when it fits with their schedule and on average, members host 3-5 times per year. As you might imagine, the types of available homes vary widely and can range from modest to luxurious. They could be in the city, country, mountains or even at the waterfront.

Upon arrival, couples pay the $20 “gratuity” to their host and $15 if they are a solo traveler. Stays are informal and after an hour or so of friendly conversation, guests are free to plan outside activities during the day, leaving the hosts to their normal routine. Guests can arrange to stay multiple days upon mutual agreement. Hosts provide clean, comfortable accommodations and breakfast the next morning.

So just who are “Evergreeners?” Many are retirees or “empty nesters” who love to travel and enjoy the company of others. Part of the enjoyment of this club is the opportunity to meet others and learn about each other’s backgrounds, interests, hobbies and life experiences.

Once they join, access is provided to Evergreen’s online membership map and profile guide. You can decide where to stay based on a variety of preferences that can be filtered to suit your needs. These include private bathrooms, pets allowed, bed type, smoke-free homes, dietary restrictions, and more. Non-members can also travel with a member.

Their online platform also includes a blog containing scores of helpful videos shot by club members. Many are informational destination stories such as “Travels in Northern Italy,” and “Exploring Nova Scotia.” Others include recipes such as they might serve as part of the morning breakfast (see resources).

Another advantage of staying in a private home is that they provide local inside information as to the best restaurants, attractions and interesting sights. Many times, hosts take it upon themselves to accompany guests for a meal or show them the best of their community. According to Kavanagh, lifelong friendships have started as a result of this sort of interaction.

My wife and I were fortunate to be able to try the services ourselves on a recent road trip. Our itinerary took us from Colorado through Arizona and then on to California. We think our experience was fairly typical of other “Evergreeners” as some call them.

Hungry for more? Read Ron’s article about great food in Ames, Iowa.

Enjoying Evergreen B&B Club in Sun City, Arizona

Our first night was spent with Bob and Judy in the planned community of Sun City, Arizona. Most hosts would expect members to arrive around 5pm or so, but this is quite flexible. We drove in after dark around 7pm and found our hosts waiting for us on their patio.

After getting our things settled in their clean and spacious spare bedroom with a queen bed and private bath, we met them outside for some refreshments. Both were retired and we learned about their previous careers, fascinating lives, and how they loved to travel. Judy had worked for the State of Colorado, and Bob was a real-estate entrepreneur.

An example of a guest room offered in Sun City, Arizona through the Evergreen B&B Club. Photo by Ron Stern.

Judy said that in addition to belonging to Evergreen B&B, they also use housesitting as a way to extend their time away. They are rarely home during the hottest months and said they have met the nicest people through their extensive use of the club. They also loved the fact that they could do so by only paying $20 per night compared to more than $100 for a “typical” hotel room.

We bid them goodnight and had a great sleep in their comfy bed. We arose at our normal time to the sweet sounds of songbirds right outside our window. Fortunately, we didn’t have to pay extra for that privilege.

We joined Bob and Judy at the breakfast table the next morning, continuing our conversation from the previous evening. They prepared some delicious blueberry pancakes, sausages, juice, and coffee. Leaving after breakfast is the custom unless you are planning on staying multiple days. Offering to show them around our Colorado hometown the next time they were in our city, we said goodbye and departed to California.

A Stay in Palm Desert, California

Our next stop was at the home of Duncan and Stephanie in a Palm Desert gated, manufactured home community. As we drove in, we noticed how all of the properties appeared clean and well-kept.

After making introductions, they showed us to our room which included a queen-sized bed adjacent to a private bathroom. Both provided a brief tour of their home while learning that Duncan was a custom fine jewelry maker and Stephanie had been an executive in the healthcare field.

The guest room of Duncan and Stephanie in Palm Desert, California. Photo by Ron Stern.

They asked us to join them on their rear patio where they offered us our choice of beverages. When I say “rear patio,” that was quite an understatement. Living in a golf course community, the exterior was a gorgeous blanket of manicured green that extended as far as the eye could see in both directions. The beautiful San Jacinto Mountains were visible in the background, completing this picture-perfect little desert oasis. I could tell from their satisfied smiles that this million-dollar view was something they were quite proud of and loved sharing it with others.

After getting to know each other a bit, we moved to the side of their house where Duncan fired up the barbeque and we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of BBQ chicken, and homemade coleslaw, with rolls and dessert. It was obvious that our hosts truly enjoyed the company of others, and they found Evergreen B&B Club to be a great way to save money while meeting interesting people.

Retiring for the evening, we rejoined our hosts the next morning in the cool desert air around a firepit next to the golf course. The quiet stillness of the terrain while taking in the brilliant colors of the grass, foliage, and the sun reflecting off the mountains was a major factor in why they chose to live here.

Bob and Stephanie outdid themselves for breakfast with an assortment of bread, muffins, fruit, granola, juice, and coffee. We then packed up, bid them a fond farewell and thanked them for their kind hospitality.

A delicious breakfast provided by Ron and Stephanie as part of their Evergreen B&B Club hosting. Photo by Ron Stern.

Hungry for more? Get the Evergreen B&B Club recipe for Make-Ahead Bran Muffins.

Worldwide Connections Through Evergreen B&B Club

Members who live outside North America have reported similar experiences to ours. Here, for example, are the thoughts of Ron and Sandar, who reside in Brisbane, Australia:

“We recently completed a 2400-mile driving ‘loop’ vacation around California and Arizona and stayed with seven Evergreen Travel Club members for 2 or 3 nights each. As Australians, we discovered Evergreen B&B Club about ten years ago and have probably stayed with over 40 hosts on eight previous trips around a variety of USA states.

“All hosts have been extremely welcoming, and when we send photos back to our friends in Australia they marvel at the receptions (and the food!) that we get served. Most hosts seem to go out of their way to make special breakfasts for us! Surely Americans don’t ALWAYS eat so fancy at 8am?”

Sandar and Ron are fans of hosting and being guests through the Evergreen B&B Club program. Photo by Ron Stern.

While the secret may now be out, we now know the attraction of Evergreen B&B Club. Not only can you stay for a fraction of the cost of other accommodations but something is enriching about connecting with the special moments in the lives of others. What a kind, genteel way to travel, we thought and hope that many others can share in this joyful experience.

To learn more about the Evergreen B&B Club, visit their website, here.

-Story and photos by Ron Stern, Hospitality Editor, Real Food Traveler

Please note: we were provided a one-year annual membership to help facilitate this article but did pay each host their fees along the way.