Youth hostels for families?

[mamnotmum]

We are looking at a weekend in Manchester to visit friends and see a concert.

Looking at accommodation and booking.com shows a youth hostel as a 'family friendly' option (it's very cheap in comparison to other options)

I've never been in a youth hostel and wondering if they are really family friendly or do we think they would be noisy on a night?

Thanks

The only hostels I’ve stayed in have been in the Lake District or Derbyshire Peak District. Some do have rooms for 4 which we have stayed in with our girls and they have been great. Others I’ve been on weekends away with friends. We have been quite loud in the bar areas but never had it noisy in the dorms. It could be different in a city hostel.

I think a city centre youth hostel would be noisy. They're cheap because you'd all be in the same room and have to share bathroom facilities with a lot of drunk revellers.

I stayed in a 4 bed room in Manchester and we had an en-suite.
Not as a 'paid for extra' , but that's just where we were put. We booked / paid for normal 'dorm'. I think that's just the layout there.
Not noisy at all.
I mean, obviously I can't guarantee you would never be disturbed, but, as a rule, the people who use Youth hostels are a lot less likely to be on a hen weekend for example, than people using hotels.

Family rooms in most hostels have their own bathrooms, anyway.

I'd have no reservations about booking a hostel.

Thanks.

It would be a family room with a private bathroom just to clarify.

But yes it's more the noise I'm worried about. Obviously not in the room but maybe through walls, in corridors etc.

Yes, YHAs come in all sizes and types. Most in large towns now have private family rooms which are lockable and have private facilities. And no, they are generally not noisy at night at all. We used them all the time when our 3 boys were younger. Much cheaper, and generally very well located.

Thanks. Yes it is a 4 bed with en suite we saw. It's £85 for the room as opposed to £200 in the nearest hotel.

This is not correct - many rooms are ensuite and most rooms are private.

If it's a YHA as opposed to a generic hostel you'll be fine. I've stayed in family rooms many times. Often quieter than hotels tbh, very few drunk revellers! Quite basic facilities, but clean and comfortable.

No more noisy than a hotel, and usually fewer dickheads. Can be busy with school groups who do make noise.

The other thing I like is there's a kitchen and lounge, often a games room etc.

If you’re talking YHA and a family room with private bathroom, they’re brilliant. We’ve taken the kids loads of times. Even without a private bathroom it’s fine.

Thanks everyone. Yes it's a YHA one. Rates 4*s and good reviews. It's only for 1 night so I think we will give it a go!

We've stayed in a fair few Youth Hostels around the country and abroad (you might even find an elderly thread of mine on the subject).

We used to enjoy the ability to cook/ use communal areas.

They'll probably be quieter than a Travelodge/Premier Inn.

The noisiest stay we had was in a Dutch castle, below a dorm of pre-teens.

If you are travelling to a big city during Uni holidays, University accommodation might also be worth a look.