Whats a youth hostel is it good or bad?

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Penfold

A youth hostel is typically a hostel that used to cater, or house, youths when travelling or visiting a region. In modern practice, youth hostels, like backpackers hostels, cater for all ages and groups of people and they offer similar facilities to each other. They are grouped into the same type of accomodation: hostel. However, youth hostels are generally, but not always, belong to the International Youth Hostel Federation (YHA http://www.yha.org.uk/ for the English & Welsh association), whilst backpacker hostels tend to be independant. They being hostels, they offer the same facilities: shared accomodation (typcially dormitories), shared cooking facilities (i.e. a kitchen that be used by those staying the hostel), and shared washrooms. Hostels are cheaper than the hotels, simply because you are sharing facilities and have no privacy - this lack of privacy is understood when you book the hostels because you typically pay between Â£6 and Â£20 per night. Like with hotels, you can get good hostels and bad hostels. I tend to stay in YHA hostels because you know what type of hostels you are staying in - they are clean, safe, reliable and staffed by professionals interested in their chosen profession. Independants can be one extreme or the other - I have stayed in one that are way better than YHA hostels but also one that are a lot worse than YHA hostels.

Personally, I have stayed in hostels, guesthouses, and a range of hotels. The type of acocmodation I stay is governed by the type of travel I am on and the length of time. If I am long term travel or wanting cheap but good acocmodation, I am more likely to stay in a hostel.

Stevie

we stayed in a youth hostel in Toronto and it was the best
apart from Corbie castle in Scotland (and yes its a real castle ) that was WoW also Eig on the Isle of Sky was wonerful with views to die for
we are Mature Hostelers they are clean comfortable you meet great people from all over the world and its so economical bin the chain hotels all they are interested in is profit Hostels are interested in people

Rags

a youth hostel is a place where young travellers can sleep for a night or two. they are usually very basic but also very cheap so perfect for young backpackers who dont really care where they sleep as long as it's cheap and they can get coffee and toast in the morning.

JODIE

A youth hostel is a cheap place for young travellers to stay usually in a dormatory with other people.
It can be both good and bad depending what you expect for your money but be warned some people use them as cheap accommodation when on a lad/girls weekend so you could end up staying with some very rowdy guests!

danyol

A hostel is somewhere cheap to stay for the night, it differs from a hotel because they are usually more than one person per room and they are cheaper. If you are looking for one in Toronto then I recommend Global Village, it's on king & spadina and is a great place, it's safe (keycard locked room doors), cheap (about CA$30 a night) and you meet some great people from all around the world (it even has it's own bar). I stayed there in march and ended up staying a couple of monthes!

old lady

Youth hostels were originally designed for the younger traveller, working on the assumption that they would be willing to give up a few creature comforts in return for vastly reduced rents. They are short term - some will let you stay a week or two weeks, but they aren't places you can move into for extended stays. Unlike conventional hotels, they don't have private kitchens in the rooms, and most rooms don't have private bathrooms. There are shared facilities, which is why the rent is so much cheaper. But although they were designed for the younger traveler, people of all ages are welcome to use them, and many people who travel on a budget (seniors, for example) enjoy their stay at a youth hostel as well.

des r

Youth hostels are economic short term places to stay, normally for backpackers and the like. They are NOT homeless shelters. I travelled australia several years ago, staying in youth hostels. They are a great invention. Don't be afraid of them.

flutterby

Youth hostels are great if you are travelling on a low budget.
They are a place to stay which offer the basics you need. You bring and cook your own food in a communal kitchen and clean up after yourself. Usually there is a lounge which is also communal and the sleeping facilities usually consist of male and female dormitories. Facilities vary from very basic to ones with a dining room and family sleeping quarters. In some of the smaller hostels you may be asked to help with a chore before you leave eg clean toilets, tidy lounge areas etc. You can book your place in advance ( which is probably advisable) or you can take a chance that they will have room for you as you arrive.

snowbarbie

A Youth Hostel is a great idea for inexpensive accommodation when you are travelling.

I took my 80 year old mother and my 10 year old daughter to Oslo, Norway, last summer, and we all enjoyed it tremendously!

We had 3 of the beds in a 4-bed dormitory, there were big bathrooms with lots of private showers, breakfast was included in the price and we were very comfortable there.

The cost was reasonable, around $36 Canadian dollars each, which was much cheaper than staying in a hotel

The Hostelers we met were from all over the world and it was a great experience for us all - I would not hesitate to stay in a Youth Hostel again

trebornosnikta

I used to go youth hostelling many years ago and it was great,
Campers and hikers were allowed to stay overnight in dorms
and have breakfast next day for a minimal sum, before
heading off on their travels..
YHA(Youth Hostelling Association) I am sure still exists today
as a worldwide association.

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