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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About youth hostels

49 replies

Home77 · 12/02/2019 05:31

I grew up in one, parents were 'wardens', found it quite hard- little privacy or space (we had some accommodation but meant to be seasonal really) very cold in winter. But it came with the job, and lived in some beautiful locations.

It has meant I never want to go to one now as an adult though. I have too many memories of the bleakness of it and always having others in the house. Made me very glad of the warmth, cosiness and heating. My brother loves it though and takes his family to them.

What do others thing YY to youth hostels or no?

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Original poster

Home77 · 12/02/2019 07:55

It's nice to hear these comments as some kids at school didn't understand and would tease a little about my unusual housing set up. One time some neighbours (well nearest ones a mile or so away) tried to blame us for some kind of antisocial youths in the area. No-one was like that at the hostel though, there was never anything like that. It was mainly families and hikers. There was no smoking and drinking allowed.

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M1lesandM1les · 12/02/2019 10:22

I enjoyed staying in various YH when I was younger, with no complaints at all.
I stayed in UK & Europe

Spongeface · 12/02/2019 22:05

@Home77 it sounds brilliant now. But I imagine 10-14 would be pretty hellish... I would maybe try to revisit some old haunts for curiosity if I was you... As pp says tho often air BnB is cheaper depending on your numbers.. some rely haven't changed tho and that might be nice!
I have very fond memories and still go... Hellish job tho imo... What spare time?!?

cariadlet · 12/02/2019 22:18

dp and I have stayed in YHA hostels in the UK and often book hostels when going on holiday abroad. We've graduated from dorms when we were young and broke to family rooms now we're middle aged and in need of a bit more peace and comfort.

I've treated myself to a few days in London on my own at Easter (dp is working and teenage dd will - hopefully - be revising). I didn't even bother looking at hostels, just booked my favourite central London YHA.

Hippee · 12/02/2019 22:32

We love them - perfect for a family of five, as we struggle with finding hotels that will house us all at a reasonable price. They can be expensive, but they do have sales occasionally. We're doing two nights at Eyam in half term (ours seems to be a different week to the rest of the country) with sale and membership discount and it's only costing £52. We stayed in a 6 bed private room with ensuite in London (walking distance from Leicester Square) for £100 per night. The other bonus is that you can make your own meals - we find that making a picnic for lunch saves us so much on eating out. The kids (9,10 & 12) love them at the moment. I can see that living in one might be weird though.

jenthelibrarian · 12/02/2019 22:39

I stayed in a YH once.
The warden told me that I had 'entirely the wrong attitude for the Youth Hostel movement' after a minor disagreement over doing chores.
I am rather proud of this achievement and have never stayed in one since.

Original poster

Home77 · 13/02/2019 10:41

Yes it was teenage years it was quite hard and escaped ASAP to go off to university...it was not too bad with the time as you get time off in the day, and with children they were 'around' so i suppose didn't have to go out to work, but children could be there too...so worked in a way although breakfast and evening meal often fraught with checking people in and out..and of course seasonal so needed to find other work in the winters. Free accommodation came with the job, so even though it didn't pay much that was a bonus I suppose. Insecurity of not having your own home though.

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Chouetted · 13/02/2019 11:24

Depends on the country. I liked them when I was younger, but being locked out in the middle of the afternoon is just annoying now when I might need a lie down then.

RiverTam · 13/02/2019 11:29

Other than being very cross that YHA is yet another organisation that doesn't understand what single sex means, I am looking forward to staying in some for cheap holidays with DD (in family rooms).

About 13 years ago I stayed in some amazing YHA hostels in Australia - with pools! They were lovely.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 13/02/2019 11:43

We stayed with them as a family lots of times. Central London locations are particularly good. We’ve had six of us in a family room next to St Paul’s and DD and me have done a girls weekend round the corner from Liberty.

RiverTam · 13/02/2019 11:45

just been on their website and they do actually now say 'single gender' rooms.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

Original poster

Home77 · 13/02/2019 12:08

Hmm, that's a bit silly. There are large rooms and some small ones, unsure about the gender thing. But I don't remember any issues with that. there weren't that many hikers and family members who were I suppose..maybe times have changed.

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Original poster

Home77 · 13/02/2019 12:09

Sorry I mean there are private rooms no need to mix in as much as that don't think, we had smaller couples rooms for example. and think there is more of the smaller rooms, now.

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RiverTam · 13/02/2019 12:11

they have done this to allow transgender people into the room according to their preferred gender, rather than their sex. It's a lawsuit waiting to happen. And they have phrased it like this to avoid making it clear that they no longer have any guaranteed single sex dorms, they are all mixed sex.

It's a real shame as it means many girls will be unable to use their hostels.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 13/02/2019 12:14

Girls can use them by booking a room just for their group if they are that worried.

My young adult kids have used mixed dorms all over Europe with no issues though.

RiverTam · 13/02/2019 12:21

yes, but there's a difference knowing you are in a mixed sex room and that being kept from you. There are women and girls who could have many reasons for wishing to sleep in a single sex environment - just because your kids are happy with that doesn't mean others are or should be.

I travelled alone in Australia and I always ensured that I was in a women's dorm (couldn't afford single rooms every night). Luckily in those days I was in a single sex, not single gender (ie mixed sex) dorm.

spot102 · 13/02/2019 12:22

Was quite a fan until 'single gender' appeared rather than single sex. Now wouldn't recommend it for lone/young women unless they were happy to potentially share with a man who says he is a woman.

Would probably book a family room now, or find other accommodation, probably the latter. Shame really..

spot102 · 13/02/2019 12:26

Personally I'd prefer them to be mixed sex rather than single gender. Not sure about some of these gender changers motives!
At least if they are advertised as mixed sex you know what you are getting and if you don't like it you can book a private room for your party

RiverTam · 13/02/2019 12:28

Exactly. It's the sneakiness I hate. And the fact that women and girls are being used as validation.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/02/2019 13:09

We used to always stay in youth hostels. We loved it.
My sister has always worked for the YHA and has lived in some wonderful places. She feels that the YHA has lost its way and is trying to compete with hotels.
The local feel has been lost. They are also getting rid of live in accommodation for staff which is a huge mistake as people can't afford live in the high prices areas such as the lakes on YHA wages.
A hostel used to be my first choice TIL I discovered that budget hotels are often cheaper.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/02/2019 13:11

My sister is very much in the YHA. Bubble. She's 36 and never had to run a household or pay a bill.

froomeonthebroom · 13/02/2019 13:14

We have been using YHA exclusive hire for nearly 20 years now and have stayed in some great places. They've never been cold!

I particularly recommend Conwy. All rooms are en suite and sleep 2-5.

evaperonspoodle · 13/02/2019 13:16

YH are definitely not the cheaper option. I was trying to find budget accommodation and the hostels were often much more expensive that chain hotels.

Original poster

Home77 · 13/02/2019 13:30

Yep, same with my parents. (in a bubble) It all went tits up when they separated and had to find accommodation. They are in sheltered housing now. It was never very great for a family anyway. All a bit of an escape from the rat race perhaps.

I'm concerned about the gender thing. It's caused problems in our local pool recently as they have changed to mixed sex changing. Youth hostels have always been safe but I wonder if a "PC" stance on this will cause problems for them. All it will take is one person taking advantage, a scandal of some sort and their reputation will take a real hit into the bargain.

And YY to competing with hotels. Bring back £3.50 a night. We did look into staying at the Loch Lomand one, and it was over £70 a night for a basic family room with bunks. So, we didn't. We instead went to france and said in a nice Gite for half the price a night. There are plenty of budget hotels. and kind of defeats the whole object and principle of Youth Hostels being accessible etc. I agree it did look a lot more advertised - we used to have this SYHA Handbook with all the hostels in and I used to get to stamp the little red books- they all had a different stamp and people could collect them.

And as to 'never been cold'.. Hmm try the one we had to start with, in the Highlands. They told me it was -26 when they brought me home as a baby and had to sleep by the Rayburn in a cot. Must have made me hardy I suppose. Maybe they have heating these days.and it was the 70s.

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