Requiem for the YHA

[Dogtrousers]

You did well to add the “if”. Whilst there can be general trends I’d be wary of saying people born in certain years ranges don’t want this or that. Either way the choices have been somewhat reduced here whether something is wanted or not.

I did say "if". The only real evidence I have for this "if" is that the YHA is no longer offering this service (shared dorm, shared facilities, chores etc) and I'm making the (possibly unwarranted) assumption that the reason for this is because the service wasn't working due to low demand, and that they've had to "move with the times".

Of course it's possible they have moved independently of the times, and have changed despite there being a demand for their rather spartan offering.

By the way, about 15 or 20 so years ago some friends did book a whole hostel for a party. It all went quite well.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I did hear of problems in the old days of arguments about bias where one person thought they had been given a "bad chore" and someone else had something "nicer"

and of sexism where the girls get a chore of washing up a few bits and pieces but the boys get to sweep a huge driveway

I suspect t was more trouble than it was worth at times

 

[presta]

The sort of hostels I like are the small or interesting ones like Black Sail, Skiddaw House, Telscombe, Perranporth, Tintagel, Tanners Hatch etc etc, and Travelodge don't do that sort of thing. The independent at Tremadog is Lawrence of Arabia's birthplace.

Independent hostels are the way to go tbh

I've stayed at quite a few independents, but the problem is that most of them are groups only.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

The only real evidence I have for this "if" is that the YHA is no longer offering this service (shared dorm, shared facilities, chores etc)

Shared dorms and facilities are still available at many hostels. Chores disappeared in the late 1980s, thus 40 years ago or so.

 

[OldShep]

I'Ve been staying at Alston since the kids were small. They are now in their 40s.
Recent news from Alston they are happy to have ditched the YHA.

Exciting news from Alston Hostel!
After being privately owned for some time, we have made the decision to end our partnership with the YHA and now can reveal we are proudly fully independent.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I'Ve been staying at Alston since the kids were small. They are now in their 40s.
Recent news from Alston they are happy to have ditched the YHA.

Stayed there when walking Pennine Way; coincidently 39 years ago.

 

[presta]

Alston's one of the ones I've done by foot, bike, and car.

 

[Mike Ayling]

I'Ve been staying at Alston since the kids were small. They are now in their 40s.
Recent news from Alston they are happy to have ditched the YHA.

YHA Oz have ditched all their franchisees for tax reasons. Every new visitor is automatically made a member so they are not making a profit from dealing with the general public or so the tax act says .
We don't use them much these days but we do so because of the self catering option.
Mary and I met in the English YHA. We were in The West London Local Group.

 

[TomDW]

I am planning out a trip up to, and along, the Coast and Castles route to Edinburgh for sometime next spring...probably mid May. I am finding that about £100.00 /night is what's needed to stay close to the trail. Sometimes with breakfast.

Ditto a daydream sketch out of Lejog maybe later next year

I blame the tourists😂😂

We did this end of June this year. Accomodation very hard to find. YHA Alnwick was great in the end. YHA Berwick fully booked but it was Saturday night so we paid loads for Premier Inn. It's a very sparsely populated area so had no offers from Warm Showers. Generally it's increasingly hard to find even medium budget options. If we'd planned more months ahead both rail fares and stays would've been cheaper but not always possible to nail down dates is it?

 

[teeonethousand]

We did this end of June this year. Accomodation very hard to find. YHA Alnwick was great in the end. YHA Berwick fully booked but it was Saturday night so we paid loads for Premier Inn. It's a very sparsely populated area so had no offers from Warm Showers. Generally it's increasingly hard to find even medium budget options. If we'd planned more months ahead both rail fares and stays would've been cheaper but not always possible to nail down dates is it?

No...stuck between availability (my brother still works☹️) weather and pre-book v risk it. I need someone to follow us in a luxury motorhome 😂😂.