Independent hostels?
Judith
I camped last year, but it went dark at 4pm so that meant spending a
very long time reading by torch-light or sleeping ........ so I slept!
Unfortunately, YHA(E&W) don't want my custom. I just want to stay
somewhere near a mountain. I don't want a New Year Experience or to
pay £150 for three nights. I just want to spend the days in the hills
then sit in the Common Room with a book or a jigsaw.
According to the YHA website, I can stay in Cardiff or a North Wales
(Dolgarrog, IIRC) bunkhouse. There are no advertised beds in the
Lakes, Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales or North Pennines. Bah!
So, I had a look for independent hostels in North Wales and there seem
to be quite a few who are advertised as being available all year
round. They all look great on the webpages but can anyone recommend
one?
I'm looking for a simple hostel/bunkhouse in either North Wales or the
English Lake District. I'd like a self-catering kitchen, a toilet and
shower, preferably some sort of lounge and a drying room. Parking
would be ideal.
Any suggestions for a perfect independent hostel?
Judith
Dave Pickles
> I'm looking for a simple hostel/bunkhouse in either North Wales or the
> English Lake District. I'd like a self-catering kitchen, a toilet and
> shower, preferably some sort of lounge and a drying room. Parking
> would be ideal.
http://www.bala-backpackers.co.uk/
No personal experience of the place (though I do know the owner). Seems to
tick most of your boxes.
--
Dave
underco...@hotmail.co.uk
bookings, but you have left it rather late - hence no availability.
YHA wants your custom, but you should have booked earlier. A few
packages are left but these are always going to sell last - thats life
- its like theatre tickets - the cheap seats sell first.
I don't think you can blame YHA on this occasion, its your fault you
have left it this late to book. Public holidays always sell out months
in advance, so book early and you will get what you want.
MrX
Judith
wrote:
Well that's told me then!
Hostelling is not something I plan. I like the spontaneity of just
getting up and going. 3 weeks planning, in this case, is a lot more
than I would usually do.
I know the YHA can't run a business based on the whims of a few
potential customers but neither can I use hostels which don't suit my
needs.
I used to be able to look through the handbook and identify which
hostels were open on what dates. I can't do that now.
Judith
underco...@hotmail.co.uk
> I used to be able to look through the handbook and identify which
> hostels were open on what dates. I can't do that now.
>
> Judith
No I don't agree at all.
You can now check where is open and available online! Go to www.yhabooking.org.uk
Select a single date and on the next page type 'YHA' in the 'name'
box. and enter 1 in male or female further down.
You will get a list of 'every' hostel bookable online and available
(almost all of them now!) for that night in E+W.
Do this for each night of your 'route' and in a few minutes you have a
weeks availability at your fingertips. This is MUCH better than a
handbook and telephoning around to check space.
Hostels are more available and 'open' then every before thanks to the
web booking engine. Even the really little hostels and volunteer run
places are now online. Try it!
MrX
Judith
wrote:
>
>You can now check where is open and available online! Go to www.yhabooking.org.uk
I don't think I have seen that site before.
>Select a single date and on the next page type 'YHA' in the 'name'
>box. and enter 1 in male or female further down.
>You will get a list of 'every' hostel bookable online and available
>(almost all of them now!) for that night in E+W.
>
>Do this for each night of your 'route' and in a few minutes you have a
>weeks availability at your fingertips. This is MUCH better than a
>handbook and telephoning around to check space.
Blimey! I tried it and it works!
Apparently there are various hostels with a free bed.
Hang on...... I've just checked www.yha.org.uk and it is also saying
that there is a bed in a hostel which had no availability when I
looked a few days ago.
Anyway, www.yhabooking.org.uk is simple to use so thanks for the tip.
I have just booked myself into Helvellyn.
Judith
underco...@hotmail.co.uk
>
>
> Apparently there are various hostels with a free bed.
>
> that there is a bed in a hostel which had no availability when I
> looked a few days ago.
>
>
> I have just booked myself into Helvellyn.
>
> Judith
Oh great! glad I could have been of some help. Availability can vary,
bookings get cancelled and some hostels hold back beds in case of a
group booking. When no group books that hostel releases for general
sale. So just becasue a hostel says 'full' one day does not mean it
will stay 'full' - keep checking every day or week.
Hope you have a nice stay at Helvellyn, you could not get closer 'to
the hills' there!
MrX
John Mann
<17e983d9-a122-49c0...@d27g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
underco...@hotmail.co.uk writes
Many thanks, that is an EXTREMELY helpful tip! Up to now I have been
checking for available hostels laboriously region by region.
John.
--
**** jo...@evenlode.demon.co.uk ****
http://www.evenlode.demon.co.uk
John Mann -- Hook Norton -- Oxfordshire -- UK
Judith
However, whenever I try to use this URL now, it resolves to www.yha.org.uk and I can't do a whole-of-England-and-Wales search. I can only search within a Region and can then only view the availability of each hostel one-at-a-time.
I'd like to be able to compare the availability of all hostels together on one screen so that I can see whether I could stay in different hostels if I moved my dates a few days to the left or right.
Can this be done?
Judith
On Thursday, 20 December 2007 07:26:17 UTC, John Mann wrote:
> In article
> <17e983d9-a122-49c0...@d27g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
> undercover_mrx@<snip> writes
> >> I used to be able to look through the handbook and identify which
> >> hostels were open on what dates. I can't do that now.
> >>
> >> Judith
> >
> >No I don't agree at all.
> >
> >You can now check where is open and available online! Go to
> >www.yhabooking.org.uk
> >Select a single date and on the next page type 'YHA' in the 'name'
> >box. and enter 1 in male or female further down.
> >You will get a list of 'every' hostel bookable online and available
> >(almost all of them now!) for that night in E+W.
> >
> >Do this for each night of your 'route' and in a few minutes you have a
> >weeks availability at your fingertips. This is MUCH better than a
> >handbook and telephoning around to check space.
> >
> >Hostels are more available and 'open' then every before thanks to the
> >web booking engine. Even the really little hostels and volunteer run
> >places are now online. Try it!
> >
> >MrX
>
> Many thanks, that is an EXTREMELY helpful tip! Up to now I have been
> checking for available hostels laboriously region by region.
>
> John.
>
> --
jurdsbi...@gmail.com
I always book my hostel through "Famous Hostels" http://www.famoushostels.com is a page that guarantees the best 37 hostels in Europe. I really recommend it. Hope it helps!
Jurdis.
Py Bada
For "Any suggestions for a perfect independent hostel?"
I would tell you to choose one of the Europe Famous Hostels (you have more than 37 hostels around Europe). http://www.famoushostels.com and they are guaranteed, and have a great value for money.
Hope it helps