Men coming into a family room at Youth Hostel!

[newdocket]

Weekend before last we (family of 5) booked a family room at a youth hostel for two nights. Room was noisy due to generator attached so on morning after the first night we asked if we could swap rooms. Looked at other room, same problem, so took the key back to reception and told the manager we'd stay put.

Cut to second night, we're all asleep (about half 10) when a man lets himself into the room and prepares to sit down on my bed and eat a plate of sausages! DH suggests he's in the wrong room. He grunts and leaves. DH goes to reception, explains what has happened and is assured that this mix up won't happen again, they are so sorry, etc.. But lo and behold, an hour later another man lets himself in! He is mortified. DH goes to reception and they apologise (although acknowledge that the key was given to this man after they knew about the first cock up). Youngest DS is still talking about it and scared of men coming into his room at night.

Is this just 'one of those things' or am I within my rights to ask for a refund?

@AsthmaQ it was not a YHA hostel you stayed in. They don't take council temporary housing tenants.

@2014newme

I never said it was YHA. I said there are far better hostel options available now then YHA.

I have no issue sharing a hostel with council tenants in need of temporary accomodation.

Feed we really only started using them after DC 3 came along and we realised that very few hotels accommodate families of 5 without the adults having to sleep in different rooms with a child or two each. Youth hostels can offer ensuite family rooms for families much larger than ours.

Also a lot of hotels will provide a family room with two king-size beds, and our kids sleep a lot better when not sharing a bed, especially now they are not toddlers putting g opposite sex pre teens in a double together is obviously fine in an emergency but no longer ideal!

Lured in by the beds we've found the facilities to actually be a massive plus compared to hotels because they are just more appropriate for young kids who don't want to be confined and kept quiet.

Rural ones have playgrounds - youth hostels in the Alps lend out sledges and have sledging hills... We were once the only guest in a little Italian mountain youth hostel and were sent to the most amazing tiny locals cafe for our free breakfast and had the best hot chocolate in the entire universe... The kids still talk about it...

Youth hostels aren't what they used to be when I was back packing 25 years ago, the democratic has changed.

• demographic not democratic obviously

Blimey I thought only kids stayed at places like this.

asthma

Are you saying that YHA's are used for temporary accommodation?

Or just hostels...

5more. I've only got 2 kids and the premier Inn we last stayed in gave them a bed each. I can see its trickier with a bigger family.

I could be tempted abroad though - that place sounds lovely :)

Having stayed in youth hostels, your issue isn't with 'random men' but with that particular hostel who mixed things up big way.
It is very likely that the two people coming in did expect someone staying in already (men as rooms aren't mixed sex) and will have been very put out/surprised to find a family instead!!

I have stayed in numerous youth hostels and never had that issue.
And yes that particular hostel has been massively incompetent TWICE.

@Orlantina No. I am saying youth hostels are commonly used for temporary accomodation, as our safestays and boutique. Not every hostel is a member of the YHA.

I am saying youth hostels are commonly used for temporary accomodation

So to be clear - YHA's are NOT used for temporary accommodation.

I have no bloody idea what they are used for. I don't stay in them anymore as there are far better options available.

@newdocket

"I don't think it was possible to do anything to the lock. It was one of those doors that has a lock on the outside only and once you are in it locks iyswim, you can't do anything on the inside as it doesn't even have a lock on the inside."

The EasyLock is a neat little gadget that locks the door for you - only constraint - the door must open inwards.
15 quids' worth of peace of mind for your next stay in a hostel or budget hotel.
www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Unbreakable-door-lock-claims-to-guarantee-hotel-room-security/

Strange that he sat on an occupied bed to eat his sausages, even if it had been a single sex dorm!

This happens to me all the time in hotels! I've even had a hotel receptionist trying to let my 'girlfriend' into my room, despite me having sole occupancy.