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.

Youth hostels are shite. They were ok back when they were cheap but as you say you can end up paying as much for one as you would for a half decent hotel.

I stupidly did this last year with the family. Worst decision ever it was hell

Totally depends on the YHA.

Some are great! Near the beach, lovely community feel, outdoor pods or just like budget hotels with ensuite etc.

Where as some are basically venues for school trips, getting wasted or stag/hen dos and can be over priced and not very pleasant.

You can usually read between the lines and find this out via reviews.

I’ve had more bad experiences in hotels but then I wouldn’t book a YHA in Manchester City centre for example, but I would in a remote location.

I also wouldn’t book a communal room these days, but I don’t really care about communal toilets/showers if the price or location justifies the annoyance.

Youth hostels are for the young. They are carefree and full of hope and glee.

The young that is, not the hostels.

Dh and ds are off to a youth hostel soon on a short youth rugby tour. Having changed clubs dh was horrified to discover that unlike previous club which stayed at normal hotels, this time it will be in a youth hostel. Worse, he will be paying more per person than if he were to have booked himself and ds into the local Marriott (complete with very nice pool and facilities) and more per room than we paid when we stayed there (the Marriott) on holiday a couple of years ago, plus he will be paying extra for breakfast at the hostel whereas it was included at the Marriott.

He is dreading it especially as they won’t guarantee double or family rooms - those are going to the families taking other dc and/or their partners with them first, so there’s a very good chance he will be in a dorm room. I’m seriously unimpressed with the organisers for for getting such bad value accommodation and worse - that they think it is a positive thing to encourage team building.

If it had been really cheap it would have been more understandable and softened the blow. But when even the Marriott is cheaper (and premier inns, travelodges etc even more so) its pretty miserable.

I've obviously missed something the past few decades - so YHAs aren't forthe Yoof anymore?

For the same price as Premier/Travelodge (off a major road), for probably far more spectacular surroundings, it's fit to complain that Young (possibly rowdy) People habituate accommodations called Youth Hostels?

OH to Hell with that! Leave as soon as you can! And thanks for the heads up, something I will never be doing, staying in one of these!

@haverhill my sister used to live in that hostel. I thought Youlgreve was a very depressing place and was very glad that they moved back to the Lake District!

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

I’m pretty sure they had it in York City centre YHA 2 or 2 months ago.

@HateIsNotGood, I’ve been visiting YHA hostels since the early 80s, and there been “older” people using them since at least then.

I stayed in a Youth hostel once.
A friend had arranged a walking weekend for her birthday, and rented the whole hostel.
I was the only person with a room to myself - was greeted with "we know you're not a hostel sort of person"
I wasn't, even with my own room, hated it.

Air bnb all the way next time

We're a family of 5 so most hotels insist on two rooms. Youth hostels have been great for us. We've stayed in castles, central Paris, an old converted factory, met loads of great people for a fraction of the cost of staying in a hotel. Choose yha hostels which aren't "party" hostels and have good reviews next time!

Youth hostels do NOT have an age cut off! They are cheaper if you're under 26 though. Stayed in lots of hostels though usually in rural areas so everyone is very outdoorsy and in bed early.

They used to be the cheapest option and often only option in remote places but that's changed since the advent of air bnb.

I’ve stayed in them before but I was about 20. No chance.

I remember a youth hostel in the Brecon Beacons over 30 years ago. It was self catering which was fine as a pub down the road for food. Friend and I arrived and settled in the one women's dorm. Soon after two other women arrived with a young child. Child perfectly pleasant in a winsome small childish way. Not so the women who demanded we let them have the lower bunks. Nope, we were there first so had first choice. Lot of muttering but calmed down eventually.

They asked what we were doing for eating that evening and we said heading for the pub. Wanted us to eat then come back and babysit whilst they went out. Nope, fuck off with that idea. We stayed out until closing time. Fortunately we were only staying one night so left next morning and went to our next hostel. The women still had cat’s bum faces several hours later.

I used to like hosteling when I was in my 20s. You knew what you were paying for and getting. Very few family rooms then so was the luck of the draw and could have a family in with you. Tasks were usually minimal, help with a bit of washing up or something similar. Now I am older and like comfort far too much. Give me a 5* hotel any day.

Used to stay in hostels when I was young backpacking and loved it because you’d always meet people and get drunk/ play games together. I would never do it now they are not for grown ups!

Frightful.... leave immediately! shudder

I have only been to one once in UK, it was great,

I can't comment on all 'brands' of hostel bit generally YHA are great. I've stayed in castles, huge manor houses, restored water mills....hostels opening directly onto beaches, lakes and moorland where I"ve seen wild deer as I stand outside with an early morning cup of tea. You're unlikely to get that with a similarly priced budget hotel. There are generally sociable places to sit in the evening and chat to others about their day and get ideas for places to go. Other children around for yours to play with while you relax nearby.

There are books, board games and often dedicated games rooms with a pool table/giant chess/connect four etc. There are drying rooms for wet towels, walking boots and wetsuits etc. And self catering kitchens so you can save a fortune by bringing your own cereal for the family/making packed lunches or cooking in the evening. If you don't want to cook, most serve reasonably priced food. So the value is in comparing the cost of a hotel in a similar location plus your food costs over 24 hours. Or maybe a travel.lodge further away from the location (usually a souless motorway junction) with petrol and driving time/parking and again buying food out.

Private/family rooms in hotels seem pricey in comparison with dorm beds, but that''s because they more or less multiply the standard bed rate. So a hostel costing £20 per bed (seems like a bargain for a single person) would be £80 for a family in a 4 bed room. And seasonal pricing as well these days. They don't really subsidise families/groups on price as would sffect income and so put costs up for solo travellers too.

So with a family you have to look at each occasion and compare what you need. A two night break somewhere scenic or right in a city centre where hotels are expensive, I would always prefer a family room in a hostel, for all the reasons above. For a one night stop to break a journey or stop over for a wedding, I would go budget hotel.

With baby gear to carry and toddlers to run about after I would veer towards hotel as YHA often have lots of stairs etc and can be harder to carry luggage and keep track of them. From age 4 up, YHA is almost tailor made for their needs.

Experience and memory wise, I have amazing memories of hostels all across the UK but I can barely remember the budget hotels as they were purely for convenience.

Maybe try another when the time and occasion is right?

Over the past 2 years we have had some incredibly cheap family weekends away (and longer) in some really beautiful places. DC are 8 and 10 have made some friends during our stays and we have met some interesting people - you never know who is going to walk through the door! I think we can get away with it for another year at least as DC still see it as a novelty. Everywhere we have stayed has been clean, some serve food and drink and have had plenty of space outside of the bedrooms. If you are looking for privacy and luxury however they aren't for you. We have never experienced a problem with noise late at night (we are admittedly night owls when on holiday). I do however think you need to use common sense when choosing a location and think about the type of people likely to use that particular hostel.

You could not arrive by car. Meals were communal and each hosteller was given chore
Gosh that takes me back! I remember those days. Sweeping the floor and washing up after breakfast. Did a lot of YHAing in my yoof - have taken a look at doing it more recently but doesn't hold the same appeal anymore.

Bed bugs?

I stayed in them a lot in my 20's but stuck to countryside locations and avoided peak backpacker seasons. I can only remember one occasion when there was late evening noise and someone else must have complained because a member of staff came and told them to shut up.

We stayed in a youth hostel in Budapest last year. Private room and bathroom it was like a budget hotel. Clean and modern we had a kettle. But cheaper. It wasn't a party one they had rules after a certain time for noise. It was a good stay and much cheaper than the hotels nearby.

I'd never right them off to stay in again but I would as with hotels read reviews etc first. Plenty of info online these days. Some will be ok for families and some will not ...