youth hostelling for a week in August?

[Fridayschild]

I am looking for somewhere inexpensive for our summer holiday. DSs request a beach... Our party is me, DS1 12 and DS2 10. We could do a week split between a couple of youth hostels in the south west - in a family room. Has anyone done this? Are there other families there or will it just be adults?

There are some seriously cool places on the YHA website but they are all booked up for August! Still some nice looking hostels though.

[fridayfreedom]

We we've done family holidays in hostels. Last time we went to Tintagel. Small cosy hostel with stunning views of the sea. There were other families there too.
Also did one in the lakes to Buttermere. It rained +++ so the dc played cards with a Dutch family and other teenagers.
Avoid Westward Ho in the Southwest, not actually YHA but on their website, seriously grim!

[dragonfly007]

Done a short holiday in a yh, it was fine. It wasn't particularly cheap though I think we costed a premier inn at a similar cost although pi was nit so well located!

[fridayfreedom]

But in hostels you usually have access to a self catering kitchen so can keep the cost down by cooking your own meals and making up packed lunches.

[mandy214]

We have done a few nights and the kids loved it. I don't think it's particularly cheap either, if you're doing a week, you might get a cottage or something for a similar price?

[Fridayschild]

Thanks - yes it is about the same as a Premier Inn but it would be good to have other people to speak to/play with and to be able to self cater. For the three of us, still happy in one bedroom, cottages for 4 are quite expensive in comparison. And I think if everyone in the hostel is clearing up, the DCs will join in; if it is just us in a cottage it will be a lot like nagging to get them to help!

If we are going to Cornwall I would need to stop overnight en route, so the flexibility of staying less than a week would be good.

Fridayfreedom, Tintagel is obviously nice as it is one of the places which are pretty booked already!

[fridayfreedom]

Okehampton is nice enroute and does activities you can book into. Kitchen was a bit pokey though. Town is nice with a big park.

[serin]

We have done this a couple of times and are spending 12 nights this summer doing the same.

There are always other kids around to make friends with and every hostel has a USP, usually something like table tennis, badminton or a friendly hostel dog (Wastwater!)

We love Coverack hostel, nice walk down to the beach, chippy and pub, and Boscastle (lovely shallow river for them to play in outside). The new Eden centre YHA looks good too.

In the winter there is usually a half price sale of summer rooms so this year we have got accommodation for all 5 of us (teens have their own room) for 12 nights for around £600! There is no way we could get a cottage for less than this and although we do love camping my arthritis wouldn't let me do more than a weekend now.