youth hostel and membership...

Deals_2

any advantage having a membership card? are the rates quoted on yha site without the membership fee included? any tips for family outings to youth hostels and are they actually any good? thanks in advance.

SallyD

The cost on the YHA website is the rate for members per night. I believe there is a £3 additional charge per night for non members What they actually do is stamp a card and when you have enough stamps equal to the membership fee they issue you automatically become a member. Some hostels have family rooms. I have used lots of hostels abroad and stick to the ones affilliated with International Youth Hostel Association. All the details are on the YHA website just click "international". Like everthing there are good and bad but generally I have always had a clean bed,good breakfast and there are always city hostels although the choice of locations is very wide.I do find some of the UK hostels are a little modest compared to the europeon ones. German ones are hard to beat. Trouble is, these days people expect more than just a clean bed and want all mod cons, these you have to pay for and sometimes a Travellodge or IBIS can work out so much cheaper, so I would always compare. The ones with member kitchens are useful as they are always well equipped with multiple work stations equipped with ovens,microwaves,kettles,pots,pans,crockery,cutlery etc., and huge fridges to keep provision in. Over the years I have introduced friends to hostelling and they are always eager to book another jolly jaunt......give it a go, if you don't like it you do not have to go again.