Youth hostel

[PerkyOchrePeer]

I found a thread on this title but it wasn't able to be commented on so I've made a new one

https://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/yha-ilam-hall?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA-ty8BhA_EiwAkyoa3xCLOaViWoEV55Zp3VpSOXr7-QiApLEsroNs41zZg1qVsVq9rMDFERoCfqcQAvD_BwE

just one example of a YHA that is FAR better than any boring hotel !
YHA’s are often beautiful locations !

I love a youth hostel. Much cheaper than a hotel and usually spotless and well run. DS11 and I have a private room (he can't go in a dorm due to his age) so it's like a hotel room with an en suite. We don't usually spend long in the room, except to sleep, but it's fine. The last YHA I went to (north yorks) had a restaurant on site, as well as self catering facilities so was perfect.

YHA York,

Beautifully clean. Could have breakfast and dinner cooked for you at reasonable cost. Access to kitchen which was needed for DS medical needs. Adapted room actually a manageable configuration for a family with a disabled child not adult. Ensuite bedroom more like its own little unit. tow path flat easy walk into York so didn't have to drive. And cheap

Planned a touring Cornwall YHA holiday for similar reasons, never got to do it because covid and DS got too sick after.

Wales has some gorgeous ones too

The Scottish ones are awesome. I stay with groups of friends for outdoor adventure holidays. It’s great because you can use the kitchen and there’s a drying room. Everyone is happy to bunk up in a shared dorm (we book our own 8 bed dorm ) for a couple of nights. Some of my friends have to watch their budget and some are extremely well off but it’s fab as we all bunk up together. We bring nice food. People in the hostels are friendly and you usually meet interesting people.

I’ve been to that hostel. It’s heavenly. Did you get the plane or the boat?!

I met DH in a hostel.
Travelled the world in my younger years stayed in hundreds of them and met some fantastic people. Many I’m still in touch with. Great places. Much better than an ibis

I bet the OP has a basket of slippers by the front door and makes people take their shoes off as they come in. 💣 🔥 😁

Have one booked next weekend and that is because we are arriving about 6.30pm, I need a kitchen to cook dinner (DC special food needs), want a family room whereas some hotels don't offer that and will be leaving 8am next morning so cheap is a key criteria. Probably wouldn't book one as a week long holiday destination but neither would I go with a hotel - definitely self catering apartment or camping. They are very varied though from very cheap and possibly a bit nasty/noisy (last one I stayed in in London) to some lovely ones in lakes or Scotland. And when younger and travelling abroad hostels were first choice to meet people and save money

I've just travelled around vietnam for 4 weeks using Hostels. I've turned 60.

Why did I use hostels? Well they are only £4 a night, had swimming pools, bars and lots of company.

I thought I'd be the oldest traveller so was surprised that it was about a 60/40 mix - 60% teens/early 20s and 40% over 50s. Oldest maybe late 60s, early 70s.

So I used hostels because of the cost, very very cheap. I couldn't afford to travel around Vietnam staying in hotels.

If I could have afforded it would I use hotels? Well before this trip i definitely would have, but now? No, I'd use hostels again. Especially now I know I wouldn't be looked upon as an old fogey.

I only used female only dorms and every single one felt safe and everyone from all nations were polite and very courteous towards their fellow room mates.

You sound like you're advertising Ibis

They are one of the few places where you can all stay together in one room if you are a family of six (as we are). It was a godsend when the DC were younger; also when I went away with the DC on my own and didn't have the option of taking two in one room when DH wasn't with us.

Always got an en suite, could sort bedtime milk in the kitchen and possible to do for just one night (week-long stays, we would always opt to self-cater).

We can do Prem Inn/Ibis now our girls are older (17 & 15) as 17YO counts as an adult and they can have their own room while we have a family room with the younger DC.

They are a godsend for larger families.

YABU to start a thread in AIBU, without asking a question.

Your perception that staying in an Ibis is preferable to Youth Hostelling is also unreasonable in my opinion, as you have far fewer facilities.

What do you mean by fewer facilities?

Kitchens for example. I've stayed in hostels with comfortable sitting areas, recreational facilities like a games room (and someone upthread mentioned pools in international hostels), libraries... When I stayed in Chicago the hostel offered free walking tours, and another rented bikes very cheaply.

I stayed in many when I was young..most of them were good..some were absolutely amazing!!!! Great way to meet people.

Lol. I've just stayed in a nice hostel last night in Edinburgh. Already en route to airport so wouldnt get moneys worth coughing up for hotel ( expensive here) after being out with a friend last night and up by 6.15am

I stayed in one when I went to Budapest. Own room, nice vibe and good facilities.

I spent a couple of very happy summers working in remote youth hostels. Met so many lovely people.

loved them when younger, but even then I remember the joy of getting a twin room rather than a dormitory. Now I’m o,d I’d stay in them happily as long as I could have my own room. My DH wouldn’t though! Like other poster above I’d mix it up though, hotels, hostels etc.

Well, there’s “holidays” and “ travel”

A holiday is usually a couple of weeks. Maybe a month at most.

Travel is when you want to explore more widely and usually for considerably longer.In order to make the money stretch,hostels become an attractive option.

I’ve done both. For a holiday I’ll stay in a nice hotel but when I travelled around India for 4 months, I did stay in hostels a lot. Not just for money. It was a way to meet like minded people and make friends.

I've used hostels because they are available in the best locations at short notice.
Most of the time is spent out doors at a stunning location and the hostels are fine to sleep in. I've met only lovely people from all over the World and usually younger than 40. They are great for cooking local produce meals from scratch. They are affordable. They include parking on site. Often have gardens, pools and games. Often located convenient to trains.
If you book early you can get ensuited apartments.
For a driving holiday, they are very appropriate.
For a remote destination holiday they are very appropriate.

If staying in a larger group or in a larger city for more than a night or two, hotels and air b&bs are more relaxing and private.

I could afford a hotel easily, plenty of savings in the bank and I e certainly had some expensive hotel holidays including the Caribbean.

For me though it depends on the holiday, so for a city break I like staying in youth hostels. Always in a private room though! Yes it’s cheaper than a hotel but people chat over breakfast, etc. it’s a nice vibe. On a city break I’m out and about exploring, I just need a bed for the night. I’m not relaxing in a hotel/hostel so as long as I have a private room I’m happy. I’m even ok about sharing a bathroom in the corridor.

Stayed in a couple of hostels in Europe last year and was paying £30 a night for the room (for two of us). Walking tours available, could go and play table tennis downstairs, yoga class one night for free.

congrats

This was the hostel I stayed at in Ghent last year, the building to the right of the bridge. Amazing location, view out the window was unreal. The building was like Hogwarts inside.

And others would make different choice. What’s your point?

Depends why you're travelling. I stayed in hostels in my early 20s travelling to Oz, met loads of people that way and had lots of fun experiences. I don't understand older people/ families using them on their holidays, but each to their own.