Has anyone used Youth Hostels for holidays

[glitterbiscuits]

DH has some happy times growing up with his hippy mum using YHA for cheap holidays.

I ruled it out based on my image of dormitories with strangers. Although I under now there are family rooms with ensuites!

What are they like these days? Are they comparable to a Travel Lodge or Premier Inn or a bed and breakfast?

I'd love to hear about peoples experiences.

A few times, I joined YHA. I love the lounges generally and ability to cook (although i never have) but in reality I don’t enjoy the basic rooms.

Interestingly I stayed at Berwick and that was my least favourite one, my bathroom wasn’t clean, the tiny windows in the room with dark carpets and green bedding made it feel really oppressive.

Even with a family room you’d be using the shared (mixed sex) bathrooms.

Not necessarily, en suite rooms are available, I have stayed in them.

When did they change the Dorms to all mixed? I’m shocked. I did a lot of hosteling in my 20s and was looking the other day to take my DDs but won’t consider it now unless I can get a private room. Sounds like a poor decision from YHA!

Stayed in a private room. Found it quite cramped. Had planned to use the communal kitchen but couldn't really face it. Too crowded and stepping on top of strangers and worrying about the quality of their washing up as there were no dishwashers.

So ended up eating out and would have been cheaper in self catering. Kids had a great time and made lots of friends but I probably wouldn't do it again.

They also are fantastic to carers

Self catering can be as easy as sticking some pizza in the oven though.

We used to go for the family rooms, but as our kids got into their teens we found the en suite wasn’t much use when everyone wanted to shower at the same time.

Actually we tend to use air bnb more nowadays.

I think the showers and bathrooms have always been mixed. They are just single person use.

They vary hugely

Family rooms are still basic with bunks
I do them but can only manage couple of nights

Some are in stunning old Manor houses. Hartington Hall in Derby is particularly lovely.
Food is so cheap, amenities usually very good ie self catering kitchens.

You can open windows.
Premier Inn puts me off bwxssue you can't open windows.

Also it concerns me now that apparently they let men who self identify as women stay in female forms?

Lots of times, England, Wales and Scotland some are in stunning locations and handy city locations. Always a private room though. They also have some dog friendly pods options at some of the locations.

Robins Hood Bay is a pretty one for being right by the sea, couldn’t get any closer without being in it with stunning sun sets.

Have been to Whitby, boggle hole, Alnwick and Haworth and would wholeheartedly recommend.

We have 4DC and it's the only way we can get an en-suite family room for all of us. And it's generally £100 tops.

Admittedly we have to sleep in bunks but that's fine with the 3 older DC in the top bunks. We are at least in the same room, which we couldn't do otherwise, and there are kitchen facilities if needed (generally used just for tea/children's milk, but could do more). Fellow guests are always very friendly too.

It's definitely our first choice for a UK break.

Dribbling out posts here sorry.

The other advtantge with small dc is they can run around many hostels provide a games room, some like Stratford upon Avon have huge games room with pool table and that shuttle thing... Jenga etc.

Large gardens and often in old Manor houses.
I dearly wish they changed that Vile lurid green duvet cover and when they paint up places use sensitive colours.

Illam in derby was freshly done in beautiful colours.

We’ve stayed in a few.

The one in York was the best one, decent size family room and a pleasant walk to the centre of York.
The one in Stratford upon Avon was quite good too. The building was really nice, room was a decent size and like York was clean. You really need a car with that one as I don’t think there was much within walking distance. We stayed there as we were visiting Warwick Castle.
Then we stayed in YHA Sherringham. The room was tiny and stank of vomit, the bedding smelt kind of musty too. The window was tiny and couldn’t be opened properly. We had to buy febreeze to freshen it up. We were so depressed in that room, it felt like we were in a prison cell and were there to be punished. The only good thing was the location but we ended up being put off using YHA for life - would rather pay a bit more and get two premier inn/travel lodge rooms.

Have stayed in them several times - only in private rooms, also stay in premier Inn a lot (low holiday budget). DC much prefer premier Inn. It's sounds very grumbly but the bunk beds in the Youth Hostels we've tried are really chunky metal frames, they feel very institutional, think prison or asylum! Youngest DC is always a bit clingy at night, didn't feel cosy. I think if they were wooden it would feel quite different.

I love youth hostels for the location. Have stayed in a couple of stunning places for outdoors breaks with DC, beautiful really morning walks etc. While DC wouldn't choose the accommodation we've always had a good time.

The couple i've used have had nice communal areas and fantastic breakfast cooked to order, local produce. The few occasions we've been it's just been us and a big group which feels quite odd. We haven't experienced the communal vibe you'd expect.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD

Weaseling is where you scramble on rocks, following routes into cracks and crevices you squeeze through.

For those unsure about the comments about it now being mixed sex in dorms - YHA have changed the wording to single gender.
This will allow someone to effectively choose the dorm which they identify into. It could mean that the dorm is therefore mixed sex.

I felt the cell thing too. Decided I was done after the Berwick one. Yes to the beds being institutional and the green sheets being 🤮.

I just decided that I didn’t need to stay anywhere that wasn’t as nice as my home. I would rather go away less.

I loved them in my teens/twenties, tried again at 50 as I wanted to introduce Dd to them but not for me anymore.

Stayed at Ilam Hall in Derbyshire was lovely. Also stayed at Alnwick. The youth hostel itself was lovely but we were kept awake in the night by a burglar alarm going off nearby!

I'd like to go and visit The Sill - a new YHA property near Hadrian's wall.

I’ve used several, but they’ve become massively overpriced for what they are.

I do like the glamping pods. For everything else, a B and B is better these days.

Favourite - St Briavels Castle (Gloucester). A former hunting lodge and we stayed in the cell (!) We paid for the “banquet” and went the day before Halloween so took part in Cluedo all round the castle. We literally NEVER take part in anything outside of the family (ASD) but it was great. Paid an extra £5 for a guided tour plus archery in the grounds.

Brighton - a Georgian house near the sea front.

Borth - a bit 70s looking but opposite the beach. Played pool a bit.

Eden Project - made from those delivery crates that go overseas. Cramped and noisy. Food appalling.

Stratford on Avon - went with Autism WM years ago - amazing! Large Georgian house with huge grounds and good food.

The one in Surrey - name escapes me - stayed in the wooden glamping pods.

Stonehenge - very clean and quiet, nice garden, play farm and overhead runway tree things next door.

I have stayed in quite a few with my ds over the years. A private room can be quite expensive but the hostels are often in beautiful locations.

Best one ever was Hartington hostel in the Peak District. We had a private room in a small lodge house. Gorgeous place.

We camped very cheaply in the grounds of Arundel hostel. This was great as we could use their showers and kitchens.

Since then we have booked hostels through Hostel World. There are some amazing places to stay. Recently had a few nights in an old ex police station in central Bristol.

I looked at them when booking our holiday this year. We ended up abroad on a last minute deal, which was great but I'd loved to have done a few cheaper holidays in the UK, and I think that's what I'd like to do next year. My main concern was that its just me (21yo female) and my 5yo boy. Is it purely people who pay to stay there, like a hotel? Some of these sound great but I was worried there would be 'dodgy' people there who are put there by the council. I'm sorry if I sound rude but I can't think of a better way to describe it without being terribly offensive, and that's as somebody who had lived in a shared accommodation bedsit when I was homeless, I just think the term hostel brings up lots of negative images I suppose. Are they not like that?

I'm really enjoying reading everything. Thanks to all who have replied so far.
It may be that we will attempt to research some interesting places for next summer.
I'm generally happy with a Premier Inn as it's usually very clean and cheap but a Youth Hostel may be a bit of an adventure for us.

Are they not like that
No - YHA's are not used to host 'dodgy' people. You're not the first to think that - I think the word 'hostel' gives people that impression.

Generally used by people who are on a budget, or who like to meet other people. You often get individuals or small groups who are into walking - many have drying rooms and they are the ones who are up early for a walk. Or families who want to self cater but don't want a cottage.

In the city, you often find international travellers.

We have stayed in a few when I have spotted a good deal - the prices seem to vary a bit like Travelodge. When cheap I think they're great - the locations are often stunning and the set up works well for families with the kitchen and communal area. At full whack though they're a bit much - you are paying quite a lot to sleep in a bunk bed with a shared loo. Kids can't sleep in dorms - it's all private rooms - but you can't find a Travelodge up a mountain