Just had a depressing stay in a youth hostel

[chicaguapa]

We went to a YHA place en famille two years ago and had a brilliant time. Friendly people, chats over breakfast with other families and DC really enjoyed it.

We went back to the same hostel in half term, and another one, and it was just so different. Unfriendly people only thinking of themselves, noisy at night and not caring that other folk are asleep when they come back to their room, and just a general free for all with the DC allowing them to make as much noise as they wanted at 6am.

I hated it. What's happened?

Which one was it?

Have never stayed in a hostel before - you are very brave

Every YH I've ever stopped in has been noisy and uncomfortable. I only ever stopped in them as a young single person though, so expectations and needs were low.

Are they still v cheap?

Hi. It was Ilam Hall near Alton Towers.

They're not cheap. About £75 a night but we had a special offer for £45 a night. But because you can self-cater it keeps the other costs down and that is for 4 people.

We really enjoyed it last time, but the people were completely different this time. Each person for himself at everyone else's expense. It was very disappointing. No craic in the evening in the lounge and no eye contact in the kitchen.

And the National Forest one, which was slightly better but still quite a few unfriendly families.

Sounds like you were really unlucky, we have had some great stays at YHs - I usually end up meeting another mum and we swig our wine out of coffee mugs as you're not supposed to take your own booze anymore . I love YHs - no, they are not particularly comfortable but you (usually) meet like minded people and having an only child its great as he usually meets other children to play with.
Don't give up, I am sure it will be better next time .

We wondered if it was because people had gone because of the offer and not because they were like-minded people, iyswim?

Last night finished me off as we were next to a room full of teenagers who were shouting & singing in the corridor and opening and closing their door till 2am. Then another family woke us up at 7.30am when their DC ran down the corridor shouting loudly. They didn't even tell him to ssshhhh! It was like an alarm clock and woke us all up. I wondered if they were pissed off because of the teenagers so didn't give a shit this morning.

I just suggested to the reception that they accommodate similar groups together if they want to appeal to families, as their advertising suggests. If that had been our first experience we'd have been put off forever.

I'm just being grumpy as I've had 5 hours sleep.

I don't think 7.30am is early to be up and about however most YHs have very strict rules about 'lights out'. Obviously too late for you now but I think it would be worth reporting back to this YH that there was a lot of noise/disturbance at 2am in the morning.

£75 a night is expensive! We use Travel lodges, £25 a night, DCs x3 in 1 room, us in the next room. Really, really comfortable beds and basic but lovely and clean accommodation, warm too.

7.30am isn't early to be up and about but it is too early for children to be shouting and screaming outside bedroom doors and for parents to be making no attempt to tell them to be quiet. Our DC know not to make any noise until breakfast, be it in a hotel, YHA or camping. It's about being considerate to other guests rather than forcing them to be awake because you are.

The teenagers were part of a group and the group leader had apologised the next morning. He looked really stressed and said that he'd settled them all down before he went to bed.

I don't mind the price as it suits us to self-cater because DD is a fussy eater, but I mind about the attitude of the other guests and getting a decent night's sleep. The general attitude from most people staying there was just of plain selfishness, no sense of mucking in at all. The staff were lovely though.

I now feel a bit sorry for the group leader - I am a Scout Leader and know what hell it is to settle teenagers, but that's why we have to stay awake --and get really cross until all is quiet. .

Hope you have a better stay next time, I do agree most YHs are great for self catering and (usually) meeting like minded people .

I worked in youth hostels for about 5 years before running one with my ex for another 11.
I loved to have families staying over, for me it was ideal for them, the self catering makes a huge difference in the price when you have kids with you.
There will all be a few noisy people though, I wasn't strict about the 11.30 curfew, if people wanted to sit and have a drink until later, when I did my lights off, lock up round I always said, please be silent when you leave the common areas and go to your rooms.
The vast majority were brilliant,
Youth groups always depended on the leaders, and again most were brilliant and a minority weren't.
The one I ran was a country one though, the city ones are another ball game.

Blimey! £75 per night is really expensive, when you consider the offers you can get at Travel lodges etc. I own a nice holiday cottage and only charge £295 per week for many weeks throughout spring and early summer.

I agree finethanks, YH prices are getting silly now.
It's a great way of meeting people, if you're travelling and sharing dorms, and the whole self catering thing too.
But they're pricing themselves out of the market IMO.