Staying in Hostels

paddyrg

It can be very cheap (like £20/night in London), but the cost is privacy. Alas, privacy and my own space means everything to me, so I'll pay £100/night more just for that privilege, so if you want to meet people and share it's one heck of a deal.

If you can take your own clean sheets/cases you may find you'll be more comfortable. I wouldn't tend to book too many nights at a go in case the beds are uncomfy/no hot water, etc.

[Deleted User]

paddyrg wrote: »

but the cost is privacy.

That reminds me, some of the independent hostels have mixed dorms, so if that bothers anyone you need to check when you book. YHA dorms are all single sex, although I've ended in mixed on a couple of occasions when there had been booking mistakes.

If anyone's heard of the sheet sleeping bags, they were dispensed with a few years ago, it's all proper bed linen now.

mgdavid

jack_pott wrote: »

..........

If anyone's heard of the sheet sleeping bags, they were dispensed with a few years ago, it's all proper bed linen now.

do you know if this applies worldwide, as the OP didn't give any detail behind the question, and the thread seems to have proceeded to a point where the assumption is made that it's about YHA in Britain.

PompeyPete

Agree. Once the OP comes back with a bit of area specifics there's not much point trying to add to the thread.

I'm guessing she's well travelled, and after info on hostels in the far flung.

Chlorine7

PompeyPete wrote: »

Agree. Once the OP comes back with a bit of area specifics there's not much point trying to add to the thread.

I'm guessing she's well travelled, and after info on hostels in the far flung.

Yes, I do mean hostels 'in the far flung'

I don't really have area specifics as I wanted more general replies and experiences from those who have used them as solo travelers. I am aware that people snore and people come back late and that's something I'll have to accept. Having your own room doesn't ensure that you avoid these things anyway. I do usually pay more for privacy and I'd still pay a bit more for the better hostels.

I am considering Greece (Athens, Santorini, Crete) or HK & Japan or Isreal & Jordan as destinations if that helps for any reason. None of these are set, they're just what I'm thinking at the moment.

I've used hostels before but only with my own room and the jet lag meant I was never awake for breakfast to speak to people.

Chlorine7

jack_pott wrote: »

Bear in mind that where you really save money is on food, hotels and B&Bs don't have kitchens for you to self cater like hostels do. The last time I compared (2010) a set of three meals at YHA prices was about £20, compared with an average of £4.76 that I was spending to self cater.

I've always found the accommodation is my greatest cost rather than food but I do generally visit countries because I really want to eat the food!

[Deleted User]

mgdavid wrote: »

do you know if this applies worldwide

No, I've only hostelled in the UK.

Chlorine7 wrote: »

I've always found the accommodation is my greatest cost rather than food but I do generally visit countries because I really want to eat the food!

I suppose it depends what food and what accommodation, but YHA beds are 20 odd quid, which is about the same price as a days hostel meals. When I use hostels I'm cycle touring, and prepared meals just don't provide the 4500-5000cals/day I need.

[Deleted User]

Chlorine7 wrote: »

I do usually pay more for privacy and I'd still pay a bit more for the better hostels.

This is my idea of a hostel, 5 miles from the nearest road. The washing facilities were an enamel bowl on the table and a jug of cold water. When my father first stayed there during the war the bathroom was the River Liza. If you leave the door open, the sheep wander in and out of the dorm on a hot summer's night.

Chlorine7

Definitely not my idea of a hostel. I'm looking for travelling/holiday and meeting people and those experiences, etiquette & usage. Not cycling to the middle of nowhere and washing with a jug of water.

Sheep wandering in, I'm cool with.

loadsacash

Stayed in hostels last year with my husband and teenage son - we went to Croatia.

We stayed in a lovely new hostel in Rijeka - where we were given free breakfast - and they had a coffee machine!