hostels from hell....
hostels from hell....
doing jogle in june and was just wondering if anyone has had any nightmare experiences with hostels and if there are any hostels which people think are worth avoiding
Welsh Bicknor.
Awful track down to the place after climbing an awful steep hill from Goodrich. The track bends round and about, then round a hairpin. 1 in 5 or 6 with potholes and stony gravel. I had to walk back up, although I took it easy going down with brakes hard on all the way.
I've been twice, and each time I was inundated with very noisy school children on exped and river trips. This was in term-time - not hols!
The last time, in June 2008, I'd booked an evening meal and breakfast and paid well in advance, but was told when I checked in that I couldn't have my meals as the dining hall was taken by the school and I wasn't able to go in! I got my money back for the meals and had to eat out for the evening, then leave in the morning without a breakfast. No fun at all.
I will not be going back.
Awful track down to the place after climbing an awful steep hill from Goodrich. The track bends round and about, then round a hairpin. 1 in 5 or 6 with potholes and stony gravel. I had to walk back up, although I took it easy going down with brakes hard on all the way.
I've been twice, and each time I was inundated with very noisy school children on exped and river trips. This was in term-time - not hols!
The last time, in June 2008, I'd booked an evening meal and breakfast and paid well in advance, but was told when I checked in that I couldn't have my meals as the dining hall was taken by the school and I wasn't able to go in! I got my money back for the meals and had to eat out for the evening, then leave in the morning without a breakfast. No fun at all.
I will not be going back.
Mick F. Cornwall
Hostels from hell
Smaller hostels are usually quieter, found larger hostels often full of school parties and very noisy.
Dormitories can be full of strangers who snore, try stopping that at 2AM when you cannot sleep yourself!!
Did not like Golant, Newcastle on Tyne, Edinburgh or Inverness - Too busy, noisey, hot & impersonal.
Liked St Just near Lands End, Steps Bridge - Dartmoor, Lincoln, Beverley Helmsley- North Yorks, & Wooler - Northumberland. Most were small or quiet, ie: we got some sleep.
Also used an independant Scottish YH, very quiet.
Some of the hostels which were open in 2004 may now be closed.
Dormitories can be full of strangers who snore, try stopping that at 2AM when you cannot sleep yourself!!
Did not like Golant, Newcastle on Tyne, Edinburgh or Inverness - Too busy, noisey, hot & impersonal.
Liked St Just near Lands End, Steps Bridge - Dartmoor, Lincoln, Beverley Helmsley- North Yorks, & Wooler - Northumberland. Most were small or quiet, ie: we got some sleep.
Also used an independant Scottish YH, very quiet.
Some of the hostels which were open in 2004 may now be closed.
I once did a Christmas as a 'volunteer' at one hostel. 20 guests due, but when I arrived - no food had been bought, nothing planned by the warden, no arrangements made at all. Quick shop on Christmas Eve, read riot act to warden who quickly got drunk and retired to her quarters for four days, roped in the best of the 'guests' (most of whom were not hostellers but singles looking for some company) and got cooking! Lashings of mulled wine smoothed the way, and we had some fun! I had to fund the whole thing myself, and fight for a cheque when I left! Narry a tip from the 'guests'!
Where was it? - well, it was on the south coast, almost offshore. Got it yet?
regards to all, Braz.
Where was it? - well, it was on the south coast, almost offshore. Got it yet?
regards to all, Braz.
-
thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
50 years ago, the YHA handbook had a little section about whether you needed to book in advance. It used to say you might have problems on the main cycling routes and quoted Shrewsbury as an example. I've no idea why.
You would think that with all the problems that the YHA has had, they might have spotted that the End to End route is becoming pretty popular with cyclists and they might have tried to cater for it.
As the Youth Hostels Association it's only right that they cater for young people but from what people say on here, as far as cyclists go, the YHA really does seem to have largely lost the plot.
If it was simply a case that the school booking was so large that it took over the whole place, you might have thought that you were entitled to at least the courtesy of being informed.
You would think that with all the problems that the YHA has had, they might have spotted that the End to End route is becoming pretty popular with cyclists and they might have tried to cater for it.
As the Youth Hostels Association it's only right that they cater for young people but from what people say on here, as far as cyclists go, the YHA really does seem to have largely lost the plot.
I'd be interested to know what bit of child protection legislation somebody thought they were enforcing there.Mick F wrote: I'd booked an evening meal and breakfast and paid well in advance, but was told when I checked in that I couldn't have my meals as the dining hall was taken by the school and I wasn't able to go in!
If it was simply a case that the school booking was so large that it took over the whole place, you might have thought that you were entitled to at least the courtesy of being informed.
I love Welsh Bicknor. It is a bit 'lost in the woods' but thats part of the charm? When my mate and I rolled up last summer we had the hill from hell described previously - so steep a farm dog would,'t chase us as we pushed - then a dangerous river crossing over a rickety bridge as we'd approached fro the wrong side. All good fun. Staff were lovely as I recall, letting me and my chum have a whole dorm to ourselves as numbers were low that day. The view over the river is spectacular too!
Only place we met with a poor reception was Cheddar, where the managers wife was having a very off day.
Carlisle - which is basically student halls has no atmosphere at all.
Tongue was the best, for everything really. Lovely manager, home made cake, great views. No bar though....
Only place we met with a poor reception was Cheddar, where the managers wife was having a very off day.
Carlisle - which is basically student halls has no atmosphere at all.
Tongue was the best, for everything really. Lovely manager, home made cake, great views. No bar though....
The Welsh Bicknor story ...
I arrived tired and hungry, checked in, and asked what time the evening meal was to be served. I was told that I couldn't have one because they had the school children. No matter, I'd go in after them. No, I couldn't. Go in before? No.
I hit the roof!
What about breakfast? Same story!
I'd booked and paid for the meals weeks before, so I asked if the school had booked before or after me in an effort to establish priority. (as I saw it). I'd booked well ahead of them, but because the place would've closed years ago had it not been for school parties, they always have priority, and none of the dining facilities would be open to other guests whilst the school are resident. I was told it was YHA policy.
The members' kitchen was open of course, so I could self-cater, but I wasn't prepared, and in any case, I wanted them to feed me. I'd paid for goodness sake!
I got my meal monies back, and went to eat at a pub on the English side of the river. I left without breakfast the following morning, vowing never to return.
I arrived tired and hungry, checked in, and asked what time the evening meal was to be served. I was told that I couldn't have one because they had the school children. No matter, I'd go in after them. No, I couldn't. Go in before? No.
I hit the roof!
What about breakfast? Same story!
I'd booked and paid for the meals weeks before, so I asked if the school had booked before or after me in an effort to establish priority. (as I saw it). I'd booked well ahead of them, but because the place would've closed years ago had it not been for school parties, they always have priority, and none of the dining facilities would be open to other guests whilst the school are resident. I was told it was YHA policy.
The members' kitchen was open of course, so I could self-cater, but I wasn't prepared, and in any case, I wanted them to feed me. I'd paid for goodness sake!
I got my meal monies back, and went to eat at a pub on the English side of the river. I left without breakfast the following morning, vowing never to return.
Mick F. Cornwall
If that happened to me, I think I'd book into a decent pub/hotel'B&B and sue the hostel for the costs. Breach of contract - open and shut case. If the hostels want to exist as hostels, then they need to cater for their core membership: walkers & cyclists, not mobs of schoolkids turning up in buses 
N
N
Advena ego sum in Terra
Carlisle, on the other hand, I found brilliant!
I was tired and hungry, hot and bothered, and I found the little rooms cool, comfortable and quiet. Also, there's a wonderful pub a short walk away - The Globe - old fashioned, good cheap beer and friendly locals.
Also, a little cafe a few yards further on that opens at very early o'clock for slap-up breakfasts. Bliss! "Purdy's", is the name - I think.
The bike shed is secure and huge, with Sheffield stands in abundance. You're given your own door key too.
Carlisle is one of the few YHAs that are not at the top of a hill. Tired and worn out after 100 miles, and what do you get? A steep hill!
Not at Carlisle!
I was tired and hungry, hot and bothered, and I found the little rooms cool, comfortable and quiet. Also, there's a wonderful pub a short walk away - The Globe - old fashioned, good cheap beer and friendly locals.
Also, a little cafe a few yards further on that opens at very early o'clock for slap-up breakfasts. Bliss! "Purdy's", is the name - I think.
The bike shed is secure and huge, with Sheffield stands in abundance. You're given your own door key too.
Carlisle is one of the few YHAs that are not at the top of a hill. Tired and worn out after 100 miles, and what do you get? A steep hill!
Not at Carlisle!
Mick F. Cornwall
Obviously Mick F was treated badly at WB. No argument. With hostels and their turnover of staff being what it is, I'd say that we can clearly have great/dire experiences depending on who's working there on the day? I think Cheddar would have been fine if we'd arrived two hours earlier (maybe).
Golant and Welsh Bicknor are certainly up there on the list of most hilly approaches - maybe only beaten beaten by Wanlockhead indie YH (sadly open to groups only now)?
Tongue the best though? I think it benefits from having a great permanent manager, Norwegian I think, who makes you feel like a house guest.
Golant and Welsh Bicknor are certainly up there on the list of most hilly approaches - maybe only beaten beaten by Wanlockhead indie YH (sadly open to groups only now)?
Tongue the best though? I think it benefits from having a great permanent manager, Norwegian I think, who makes you feel like a house guest.
Agree - Tongue YHA is amazing! Can't fault it
Street YHA is very sweet too. Esp the fully stocked freezer which you can buy items out of.
Worst? Didn't have a truly bad experience but staff in Loch Ness were unflexible (I arrived 30mins before opening time in a downpour and they wouldn't me in to keep dry/warm) and Loch Lomond hostel is very big and I was on the top top floor so after a long days ride it was a long trek up and down the stairs.
Street YHA is very sweet too. Esp the fully stocked freezer which you can buy items out of.
Worst? Didn't have a truly bad experience but staff in Loch Ness were unflexible (I arrived 30mins before opening time in a downpour and they wouldn't me in to keep dry/warm) and Loch Lomond hostel is very big and I was on the top top floor so after a long days ride it was a long trek up and down the stairs.
It's the extreme variability of experiences that put me off using YHs.
Last one was a near miss ( recounted to me by a cyclist I met at the railway station the following morning ). . . . . .
I tried to get into Pitlochry YH without booking. No places left !! I camped in some woods and had a wonderful sleep.
Meanwhile back at the hostel an odd & aggressive man had installed himself in the hostel. He disappeared for the evening, only to return around 2 a.m., very drunk, . . woke a whole dormitory up . . . started to threaten people . . . . . settled down to snore loudly for the remainder of the night.
The amazing thing is that nobody raised the alarm and had him chucked out.
I've had better luck in independent hostels.
Anyhow, as the financial industry & current political regime have done their best to destroy my life-savings I was wondering about the viability of building/running a ind. hostel / bunkhouse somewhere on the E-2-E route.
. . orientated towards cyclists
. . good value for money. . . . pay for itself + a modest income
. . trying to resolve some of the basic problems e.g. let people scatter themselves around smaller rooms rather than huddle them into as few rooms as possible,
I'm sure other people have considered such things.
I fear that such a basically good idea might now be drowned in Rules, Regs & bureaucracy.
Has anyone else considered runing a super, cyclists hostel on the E-2-E ???
Last one was a near miss ( recounted to me by a cyclist I met at the railway station the following morning ). . . . . .
I tried to get into Pitlochry YH without booking. No places left !! I camped in some woods and had a wonderful sleep.
Meanwhile back at the hostel an odd & aggressive man had installed himself in the hostel. He disappeared for the evening, only to return around 2 a.m., very drunk, . . woke a whole dormitory up . . . started to threaten people . . . . . settled down to snore loudly for the remainder of the night.
The amazing thing is that nobody raised the alarm and had him chucked out.
I've had better luck in independent hostels.
Anyhow, as the financial industry & current political regime have done their best to destroy my life-savings I was wondering about the viability of building/running a ind. hostel / bunkhouse somewhere on the E-2-E route.
. . orientated towards cyclists
. . good value for money. . . . pay for itself + a modest income
. . trying to resolve some of the basic problems e.g. let people scatter themselves around smaller rooms rather than huddle them into as few rooms as possible,
I'm sure other people have considered such things.
I fear that such a basically good idea might now be drowned in Rules, Regs & bureaucracy.
Has anyone else considered runing a super, cyclists hostel on the E-2-E ???
No, not a hostel, but a cafe.
We have cafes and pubs round here, right on the main road, that could cash in with the E2E'ers. You could even call it the "E2E Cafe" or "LEJOG Restaurant" or somesuch.
Perhaps a camp site out in the back garden?
A hostel would require real estate to a much greater degree, unless you already own the place, it would turn out to be very expensive.
We have cafes and pubs round here, right on the main road, that could cash in with the E2E'ers. You could even call it the "E2E Cafe" or "LEJOG Restaurant" or somesuch.
Perhaps a camp site out in the back garden?
A hostel would require real estate to a much greater degree, unless you already own the place, it would turn out to be very expensive.
Mick F. Cornwall
-
thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Graham
A lot of things to balance.
I'm sure that a strategically placed cyclist-sympathetic establishment would attract a lot of business - although some cyclists are inveterate cadgers. You might get riders arriving at 11-30pm, wanting away at 3-30am with breakfast, but only expecting to pay half-rate because they had only been there half the night
and taking your helpfulness for granted. With a discount for CTC membership, some would be expecting you to pay them, but hot showers, quick wash and dry of togs, poste restante facilities all cost money to provide and should be worth paying for.
I presume End-to-Ending is seasonal so if you could combine it with something wintery - snow sports? - bird watching? climbing Munros? - to make the £££ flow a bit more continuous.
I think MickF is right about getting flexible capacity under canvas. You probably know that a lot of continental hostels have tented accommodation in Summer and it would certainly do for anybody going for a quick ride rather than touring. Perhaps a bit vulnerable to the weather in some northern parts.
There does seem to be a lot of demand for reliable transport back from JOG. Again, a potential source of income, but only for somebody prepared to set realistic charges and stick to them. If you were a decent day's ride from JOG you might see them cycling up, then a second night resting on the way back if you were providing transport (and vice versa.)
Perhaps the big imponderable is, will it all last? Would you be getting in at the start of something that is going to grow, in which case you could probably franchise the 'LEJOG with Graham' brand, or is something completely different going to be the next big thing?
A lot of things to balance.
I'm sure that a strategically placed cyclist-sympathetic establishment would attract a lot of business - although some cyclists are inveterate cadgers. You might get riders arriving at 11-30pm, wanting away at 3-30am with breakfast, but only expecting to pay half-rate because they had only been there half the night
and taking your helpfulness for granted. With a discount for CTC membership, some would be expecting you to pay them, but hot showers, quick wash and dry of togs, poste restante facilities all cost money to provide and should be worth paying for.
I presume End-to-Ending is seasonal so if you could combine it with something wintery - snow sports? - bird watching? climbing Munros? - to make the £££ flow a bit more continuous.
I think MickF is right about getting flexible capacity under canvas. You probably know that a lot of continental hostels have tented accommodation in Summer and it would certainly do for anybody going for a quick ride rather than touring. Perhaps a bit vulnerable to the weather in some northern parts.
There does seem to be a lot of demand for reliable transport back from JOG. Again, a potential source of income, but only for somebody prepared to set realistic charges and stick to them. If you were a decent day's ride from JOG you might see them cycling up, then a second night resting on the way back if you were providing transport (and vice versa.)
Perhaps the big imponderable is, will it all last? Would you be getting in at the start of something that is going to grow, in which case you could probably franchise the 'LEJOG with Graham' brand, or is something completely different going to be the next big thing?
-
rualexander
- Posts: 2668
- Joined: 2 Jul 2007, 9:47pm
- Contact:
One of the problems is that most hostels are hell during the busy summer season due to the numbers of people staying there, and whenever there are school groups in of course.
I don't have experience of the English YHA network but the SYHA network has been steadily diminishing over the past 20 years whilst the number of independents has boomed from about 10 to about 200, yet the SYHA continue to close smaller hostels as being unviable! What is unviable is the way that they are run, marketed, furnished and regulated.
How many cyclists per year do LEJOG/JOGLE, are there any statistics? To make a reasonable lifestyle business from a hostel you would probably need at least 10 guests a day for most of the 5-6 month season from spring to autumn. Many of these could be backpackers and walkers of course.
If you had reasonable winter occupancy rates this would make it easier but there are not many locations where you would get that.
The alternative is to have more beds and pack them in over the short summer season, but that is what you want to avoid if you want to provide a pleasant, comfortable, enjoyable hostel.
I don't have experience of the English YHA network but the SYHA network has been steadily diminishing over the past 20 years whilst the number of independents has boomed from about 10 to about 200, yet the SYHA continue to close smaller hostels as being unviable! What is unviable is the way that they are run, marketed, furnished and regulated.
How many cyclists per year do LEJOG/JOGLE, are there any statistics? To make a reasonable lifestyle business from a hostel you would probably need at least 10 guests a day for most of the 5-6 month season from spring to autumn. Many of these could be backpackers and walkers of course.
If you had reasonable winter occupancy rates this would make it easier but there are not many locations where you would get that.
The alternative is to have more beds and pack them in over the short summer season, but that is what you want to avoid if you want to provide a pleasant, comfortable, enjoyable hostel.