In youth hostel hell

[AtSea1979]

What is this fresh hell? Go to a youth hostel they said, DC will love it.
Currently lay on a bunk bed, in a room with only two bunk beds and a cupboard. Cost as much as a 3-4* star hotel for this dump.
I miss having a kettle in the room, the kitchen is in a different building so I’ve gone to bed thirsty.
It’s so noisy, people are messing about and shouting and screaming, playing some sort of game that warrants lots of cheering every 30 seconds or so, not sure if they are outside or downstairs with the doors/windows open or what but it’s very loud.
AIBU to just get up and go home? 1 DC is asleep, the other doesn’t seem to be.

I'm currently lying in a bunk bed in a lovely small YHA on the coast. Its warm, clean and the beds are comfortable. Its within walking distance of the beach, and a couple of great pubs, and it cost £12 for the night. I've had a great chat with a few other people in the lounge over a beer.

It's not luxurious, but I didn't expect it to be. The experience is what you make it.

I think there may be some confusion in some people's minds between the YHA and backpackers hostels.

I'm 54, not looking to party or get laid, I've never slept on a rubber bed, or been interrogated about my age. I stay in YHAs with my teen son, in family rooms with ensuite bathroom, you can get towels at reception. The YHA has revamped itself over the last few years, most have a bar and a restaurant. People tend to be much friendlier in a YHA, I've met some really interesting people from all over the world.
I've only once had a problem with noise, and when I knocked on the door and asked them to tone it down they did.
We also use Premier Inns a lot, they can be very noisy as well. I wouldnt dream of striking up conversation with the a stranger in a Premier Inn bar, in the way I would in a YHA lounge.

@SarahAndQuack

“I wonder if the OP is related to the godawful person I met a few weeks ago, who demanded every person in the 12-bed dorm turn their lights out at 7pm, because his children needed to sleep! hmm”

She said it was a private room

Just stick it out now, it's late and the noise will die down. I would take dc to one if we had a walking type holiday. Clean and basic is right. They are usually in places that don't have Travelodge etc and nearby hotels are expensive.

My (v. cheap) friend persuaded me to get a family room in a youth hostel a couple of years ago.

Never again. Lots of school groups making noise, horrible bathrooms, etc. Even she said she wouldn't do it again!

It was fine when I was 18, but it doesn't work for 40+ year olds. In your shoes I'd stick it out tonight and book a hotel for tomorrow if you want to.

I stayed in a hostel in the old town in Edinburgh and it was lovely ensuite and everything, it was actually nicer than some hotels

Yes, @overnightangel, and that's why I wondered if she were related, right?

stayed in a hostel in dingle 20 years ago.
doors were a keycode.
spent all night fielding drunk people out of the room

It it sadly true that youth hostels are no longer the affordable stay they were many years ago. It is indeed cheaper to book a hotel room with your friends in most places than stay in one. Sad, but true.

Went to one at Harlech, Wales many years ago. Was suppose to be a family room but i was lumped in with some Germans who it seemed were on an "as much as you can drink expedition"!

After the first night decided if you can win ze war then join them!

Got legless and they were a really nice bunch of lads too!.

'It's an adventure!' Keep telling yourself and the DCs that and tomorrow you'll be back in your own cosy bed at home.
Youth hostels vary wildly. I've stayed in some amazing ones with ensuite facilities and private rooms. Others were bare bunks and lots of noise. Chalk it up to experience and do lots of research before you book one again.

Yep dirty, noisy, smelly hell holes.

I stayed in a youth hostel once. Never again, firstly shared bathrooms, I can just about cope with DH 'bathroomly mess', not 15 random strangers and all the glory their body produces (and i mean 'all of it'). The noise too, the walls were like paper and I could hear people having sex in one room, and groups of people staying up late drinking and jut being loud in general. Felt very unsafe, and missed the comfort of a secure hotel room.

I reckon op's asleep

I'm disappointed that the YHA has got rid of the bright green bedding. I liked it!

Stayed in a number of youth hostels in past 18 months. Can't fault them - if you have more than 2DC, hotels are generally not an option if you all want to be in the same room and they offer a reasonably priced solution. Hard to get self catering for under a week.

Maybe we just have lower expectations, but I have always found them and other guests great - always have a private en suite room. Hotels generally at this time of year (if DH and I are prepared to have separate rooms with 2 DC each) tend to be fairly dire, though.

Love Youth Hostels and stay in them a lot walking with friends. Rubbish and expensive if you’re a family though! Last time I did so with dc, dh and I were trying to cook with a baby each and nowhere safe for a toddler to toddler when we realised as OP did a hotel would have been cheaper. 🤦🏻‍♀️
See it out now you’re there OP

The worst one I ever stayed in was in Arsenal. There was something wrong with the drains. It was above a pub - can't remember the name of it. It stank so much that I frequently vomited from the stench.

Nicest one I stayed in was near Paddington - I think it was a backpackers one. Clean, modern, substantial breakfast - bread, cheese, yoghurt, cereal, Nespresso coffee. I loved that one.

Oh another shit one is again above a pub in Fulham (The Queen's Arms or Head?).
Rank, filthy, basic.

I stayed in the Youlgreave YH recently with 2 friends and our 5 kids; it was lovely. Clean, quiet, and fab breakfast.

The one in Paddington is on Westbourne Ave (aka millionaire road) if anyone ever needs one close to central London. Similarly priced to all other hostels but far superior.

This is the one in Paddington. Couldn't recommend it enough for anyone needing a hostel in London

www.travelstay.com/pages/EquityPointHostel.htm

It's Westbourne Terrace, not Avenue.

Tbh it depends on the hostel you stay in.

When my dd is with her dad I like to travel, but as a single person (if friends arent available/dont want to visit the places I want to go) I dont tend to spend a lot of time in my room. I need somewhere to leave my stuff, have a shower and sleep and I hate having to spend over the odds for a room I am going to spend very little time "enjoying" so I generally stay in hostels.

Whenever I am staying in a hostel I always read the reviews and make sure I pick the right kind of hostel - some places are more suited to party people, others to kids/families etc. Also I try to book smaller rooms or single sex, depending on the configurations available (eg I'd rather share a 4 person mixed sex room over a 14 person female room, but I'd rather share a 14 person female room over a 14 person mixed sex room).

Also you have to check the facilities and know it is a hostel not a hotel. I would never expect a kettle in a hostel room, even a private one, I'm happy to just get a top bunk with access to a plug socket so I can charge my phone without it having to be halfway across the room.

I remember being dragged to them on a family holifay when I was about 12. Horrible places, and the ones we stayed in were in the North of Scotland so they weren't even busy. Would NEVER go back to one.

They work for us as a bigger family where 1 premier inn room is too small. Also locations are good - remote beaches etc where there simply aren’t the premier inns or travelodges available. But we’re campers, like the social side, and can happily rough it. In your position I probably wouldn’t bother!