Family membership to Youth Hostel Association reduced to £10. Would you make use of this offer and have you used family rooms in one of the hostels

[pellmell]

Sorry can't do links but copied the following from moneysavingsexpert.com top tips....................

Reduced Cost Membership

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) is offering annual membership for for £5 per person or £10 for a family. It normally costs £16 (individual), £23 (family), or £10 (under 26).

Membership saves you paying the non-member supplement of £3 per person per night all at YHA hostels across the UK, as well as those run by its international umbrella organisation, Hostelling International.

As hostels can offer massive savings over hotel prices in the first place, this represents a brill saving.

But aren?t all hostels really grim?

No! These days it?s not all chores and cold showers, hostels are most usually clean and friendly, often with free internet access and breakfast.

Plus don?t think you?re automatically staying in a dorm bunk; many offer single, twin and double rooms. The YHA also has some rather glam new properties including converted castles and churches.

Cut and pasted from Moneysaving Expert Site:

How to grab the cheap membership

Simply call 01629 592700 and quote ?SUMMER BLITZ 08?. The offer?s valid for new members only, and expires 31 July 2008.

Where is this code from?

When we spotted a code, we checked with the YHA about the deal. It asked us not to use other codes and links, but wanted to use this one so it could track how many people used the deal. Whilst it's a special code, there is no commercial relationship between MSE and the YHA.

HTH

I will be phoning up, definitely!

Actually it does say, 'valid for new members only' so it may not apply to me.

Depends if they de-classify people as members after a certain time lapse.

Mumsnet HQ, any chance of you talking to the YHA about offering the same £10.00 for a family ticket deal for mumsnet members?
Would the YHA want to advertise with us? or could you run a competition with YHA family weekend away type of prizes?

PS there are some reveiws of individual YHA hostels in the mumsnet holiday reviews section - I know I added a few and I think other people have, too.

Lovesdogsandcats - you can take dogs to some of the camping barns.

Interesting bit from the 'Families' section:

Family Rooms
Over 100 locations are suitable for families and family rooms are available for those with children aged three or over. Many have en-suite facilities, some with double beds and meals are usually available, with special menus for children under ten. You can come and go freely, with access throughout the day to facilities including the self-catering kitchen.

Family Bunk Rooms
Most YHA locations have small rooms with bunk beds, which you can hire for private use. Facilities and daytime access may vary between properties.

So looks like you can use your room at any time if you have a family room, but not necc. if you have a family bunk room.

Are there any youth hostels with pools? Now, that would be something.

That'll be the day

nkf - I do believe there is one with a pool -will make some enquiries.

Has anyone been to any YHAs recently? Any recommendations?

We are going to Buttermere on Monday. Earlier this year we've been to Ennerdale, Langdales, and Borrowdale. The boys have been to Derwentwater and Eskdale with school. I like them all, but my fave so far is Ennerdale.

OK We've been to Buttermere so thought I'd post a brief review.

The location, is - of course - superb: about 10 mins walk from the edge of the lake, but also great point to start a walk up Red Pike etc., or round Crummockwater.

But we were quite disappointed in our room: it was very small: far smaller than any 4-bed family room we've had in other hostels.

Obviously it was summer holidays and the hostel was packed, which is great: loads of people to meet and talk to. But there really seemed to be too many for the staff to cope with: there was never a 'quiet time' at reception, breakfast was quite fraught, you had to book early for meals, and the s/c kitchen is not very big either. I think the staff were not as experienced as in other places, and they seemed thoroughly frazzled at times!

interesting - have just posted a request in the travel UK bit and then i find this.
have a code from getting a new rail card for 1 years free YHA membrship.

phone 0870 7708868 and quote ATOC2
am considering taking up the offer but have never done YH before. should I?

Ha ha crossed posts!
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