Hostelling for young and old
Two summers ago I worked as a researcher and writer for a budget travel guide, covering England and Scotland. And so, as June 1st rolled around, I dusted off my backpack and set off across the ocean, with a detailed itinerary and an almost impossibly low budget to guide me. I had never been traveling alone before, and as a 22 year old girl I was a little nervous about being on my own, but everyone assured me that hostels were great places to meet other young travelers.
On my first night in England, I stayed at the Scarborough Youth Hostel. Somewhat delirious from jet lag and an 8 hour bus ride from London, I arrived at my room eager to meet my fellow backpackers. In my dorm room I was greeted, however, by two 76-year-old women—not exactly what I had expected! As I would discover over the course of my two month trip, many “Youth” hostels actually cater to a wide variety of travelers—school groups, families, and the elderly, as well as to students and backpackers. I spent a very pleasant rainy evening sharing stories with a 72-year-old man who was walking from the Northern border of Scotland all the way down to the Southern tip of England.
As a solo traveler, hostels make wonderful places to meet people from all walks of life. I often managed to befriend the staff of the hostels, who not only are generally personable and lively, but also are very knowledgeable about travel information. As a female traveling alone, nightlife can be intimidating at times—walking into a bar alone can sometimes attract unwanted attention—but venturing out with fellow hostellers can be a great way to experience what the area has to offer.
So give it a try! You might not find what you expect, but you’re sure to meet interesting folks and come away with some great stories.
Comments (2)
Hostels in UK are very intimidating. Small rooms and you know what combination. Food is not great at all. However,I love the seeing the combed green grass countryside.
Hi Mimi09!
It sounds like you had a less-than-stellar experience! I agree that the countryside really will do wonders though!
There is definitely a wide range in the quality of UK hostels. The YHA and SYHA run the official hostels for England and Scotland, and these can be anything from a very rustic bunk room on a camping trail to an old mansion house with spotless kitchen. Rooms are generally for 4-6 people; expect bunk beds and a bathroom down the hall. Reserving ahead can save you a lot of trouble, and can sometimes get you your own room if the hostel isn’t filled.
In larger cities, commercial hostel chains such as BudgetBackpackers and others offer more variety in accommodation. Rooms here can range from 2-26 people! Bunk beds tend to be slightly comfier, and there generally are lockable cupboards in room (bring your own lock!), a public kitchen, and sometimes a fun common area. Many hostels have single-sex rooms available; be sure to call ahead to check what they offer!
For all the fun and adventure of staying in a hostel, it is important to always put safety first: do not leave your possessions unattended, ask the staff about the safety of the area, and if you feel uncomfortable for any reason with your room situation, don’t be shy about speaking up so something can be rearranged.