Cycling UK Forum

meic wrote:YHA pricing is pretty sporadic.
There is probably some offer coming to an end. By the time January arrives the prices will probably get reduced by some new offer to help try and fill the empty spaces in the booking timetable.

We are pretty opportunistic with our YHA stays, only booking in when offers bring the prices down low.
Trying to use them to fit in with other plans tends to meet the barriers of "no available spaces" or prices three or four times the "bargain" rate.

well the special offers earlier this year in Jan were like 20% off - that dont make much of a dint in £25? when this year was maybe £13. I wont be taken in by their generousity Atleast those places that still do camping the camping is unaffected it seems. It will be very interesting how the inflated prices are received - I have met many during my bargain jaunts, who will like me just laugh at them and walk away. So I think your opportunistic jaunts maybe be over

I just tried a search from West Pembrokeshire for both November and January (mid week for both) and for every 9 "no spaces available" there was a bed available £25 as you said, £40 in Cardiff! the only difference which I noticed was that Brecon was down a couple of quid for next year.

Mostly thought an overwhelming "no space at the inn".

This might explain some of the "no beds" nights.

Sole use
If you don't want to share, options are available to have the hostel for your group's sole-use.

https://groups.yha.org.uk/

So an organisation might book a hostel and whether or not they will use every bed they can get exclusive use of the hostel by paying for unused bunks. Which seems contrary to the old hosteling ethos but there you go.

Nobody's said much about food, self catering in a hostel will save you £15+ that you can't save in a B&B or hotel.

Really? Due to my work, I spend around eighty nights every year in hotels and guesthouses. I will eat out less than we do when we are camping, or cycle touring. You can eat well without cooking! (Frequently carry cooking gear and can tell you there is somewhere nice to set up within five minutes walk.)

thirdcrank wrote:Young people ... of limited means ... travelling under their own steam etc
All very last century. Last Millennium indeed.

I think you'll find the people whinging on here couldn't be further from that statement.

thirdcrank wrote:Young people ... of limited means ... travelling under their own steam etc

All very last century. Last Millennium indeed.

well those people now come in groups paid for by charities or the local authority rather than as independant travellers? But there are lots of older people of limited means now? I think ibbo68 should sponsor them as he is clearly well off, has more dosh than he knows what to do with He can set up the Ibbo68 Trust for Older people .... of limited means ... travelling under their own steam I have met quite a few on my travels who will be happy to send him their begging letters

mercalia wrote:

thirdcrank wrote:Young people ... of limited means ... travelling under their own steam etc

All very last century. Last Millennium indeed.

well those people now come in groups paid for by charities or the local authority rather than as independant travellers? But there are lots of older people of limited means now? I think ibbo68 should sponsor them as he is clearly well off, has more dosh than he knows what to do with He can set up the Ibbo68 Trust for Older people .... of limited means ... travelling under their own steam I have met quite a few on my travels who will be happy to send him their begging letters

I'm neither well off nor have more cash than I know what to do with.I just don't see the point in moaning about spending money on stuff I enjoy.That's the reason I go to work.
The way I see it if you're using YHs you're doing so because you're Touring...ie on Holiday?
Why put a price on it?
It costs what it costs.As long as you're enjoying it then whatever it costs has been worth it.

I am just glad I discovered advanced rail tickets this year combined with cheap YHA with special offers, as I have traveled more than before - Been up to Berwick upon Tweed and Edinburgh for a few days, Stratford Upon Avon ( 3 times for a few days), Sheringham, Blaxhall, Brighton ( 3 times for a few days) New Forest ( for a few days ) and Tanners Hatch then a week ago Portland ( 4 days ) and then Exford YHA ( 4 days ) ( Exford I think is going fully private soon not part of the YHA so no £3 reduction in future ) I was paying no more than £9 a night often less I think I couldnt have done this at £25 a pop

I would never stay at a YHA as you are guaranteed not to get a wink of sleep - doors being banged slammed at all hours, out of control screeching screaming kids. drunks stumbling into the dorm late into the night and early hours turning on the light and still crashing into most of the bunks in the dorm, inconsiderate selfish people rustling plastic bags late at night and very early in the mornings, snoring pigs keeping you awake all night, dirty tired crappy bed mattresses. Even if the cost was £1 a night I would not ever stay in one again. I prefer a BnB or most likely my tent in a quiet secluded spot.

Cycle touring is a peculiarly expensive hobby. Most people think of a night in a hotel and compare it to a night in a B&B - no big deal. But over 14 nights (let's say) is starts to compare very badly with two weeks on the Costa del Sol. On my most recent trip I stayed in the cheapest B&B I could find - £39. A bargain but more luxurious than I really needed. Usually it's about £40, so about £280 for a week. You are usually better off renting a cottage for a group but that isn't on your own and it isn't touring. A youth hostel at £12 per night might be the world's best bargain but it's about what I can afford over several days. Throw in the cooking facilities and comon room and it's unbeatable but still essential.

My guess is that the YHA are going to go more fiercely for the family/indpendent market and then subsidise "groups of kids in coaches" to salve their conscience.

horizon wrote:Cycle touring is a peculiarly expensive hobby. Most people think of a night in a hotel and compare it to a night in a B&B - no big deal. But over 14 nights (let's say) is starts to compare very badly with two weeks on the Costa del Sol. On my most recent trip I stayed in the cheapest B&B I could find - £39. A bargain but more luxurious than I really needed. Usually it's about £40, so about £280 for a week. You are usually better off renting a cottage for a group but that isn't on your own and it isn't touring. A youth hostel at £12 per night might be the world's best bargain but it's about what I can afford over several days. Throw in the cooking facilities and comon room and it's unbeatable but still essential.

My guess is that the YHA are going to go more fiercely for the family/indpendent market and then subsidise "groups of kids in coaches" to salve their conscience.

well thats now in the past it seems

I cant see how they can rake in any more money as Ivor Tingting above indicates sharing a dorm with other strangers is hardly a premium product. I wonder if they are in financial trouble due to over spending on the many upgrades and need to desperately get more income? I can see many turning their back on the YHA: When I was Portland YHA a few weeks ago now, I met a guy who had spoken to one of the top finance execs at the YHA a few years ago, the exec said he had been waiting for the receivers to be called in ( they werent but I suspect the YHA has been living on a knife edge since then )

Unfortunately the historic model that the YHA was founded upon no longer works financially, hence the loss of so many of the traditional smaller and remote hostels.
The idea of a few cyclists turning up for the odd night is not viable, unless like the Ellynydd hostels in mid-Wales or Gatliff in Hebrides they are largely run by volunteers.
Large parties of children with teachers apparently expect modern,en-suite facilities, hence the change in style & cost.

Well they still seem pretty popular during busy times. I find if I don't book at least a couple of weeks before I'm visiting then it's hard to get a spot.

For us single cyclists the price point is always going to be inbetween camping - hostel - BB/hotel.

For me I find camping tends to be £10, hostel £18 then B&B £40. If that's the case then a hostel is usually good value. When that gets to the mid 20s it loses it for me.

Is there a list of good YHA on here? (or somewhere else on the internet).

Thanks in advance.