Phonix Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Just wondered if anyone's stayed in any? I often walk passed the one in keswick and it looks lovely sooooo.... I was thinking that next summer I might do a mini tour of Italy and stay in youth hostels along the way?! any thoughts? I would camp but my recent experience has put me off and also having to carry the tent etc and the time for setting up, decamping etc Also the hostels seem to have lockers to leave stuff in during the day instead of carrying it all while I go out to see the sights! If anyone has any ideas/advice I would really appreciate it! Thanks Stacey xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Youth hostelling around Italy sounds lovely, fab idea I've only ever stayed in one, in San Sebastian in Spain. Enjoyed it, a bit odd sharing a room with 8 other people in bunks (especially if you're a light sleeper) but a great way of meeting people and possibly finding travelling companions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Actually, I lie Also stayed in one in Zaragoza! Again, a pleasant enough experience although can't claim to have been travelling properly I was just trying to find a permanent address! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 Sounds like you had fun Lorna!! I'll just be doing it for a couple of weeks as I fancy a different type of holiday and my favourite holiday of all time was cruising and waking up in a different place each day sooo I thought a couple of weeks travelling would have kinda the same effect and I kloved Italy when I was on the cruise! xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I thoroughly recommend youth hostels to anyone holidaying on a budget. I have only used UK based ones but have just got back from a lovely few days in Suffolk. If you are going with a group of friends then you can get a family room and be guaranteed not to share with people you don't know. The one we just stayed in had really comfy beds, proper duvet and pillows without the sheet sleeping bags that tie your feet up in the night. We tend to opt in for breakfast at the hostel but eat out for other meals, although all of my most recent hostels have had excellent home cooked food available for them for evening meals. Try some in the UK to see what you think. You can look and book online at http://www.yha.org.uk. Have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 28, 2008 Author Share Posted August 28, 2008 there's only 2 of us going so most of the places i want to stay it seems like it'll be dorms but im sure we'll only be sleeping there and out for the rest of the day and evening... Only a couple of them had twin/double rooms... xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Whenever I travel abroad, I always stay in hostels. When I used to work behind a chair (I'm a hairdresser, now an Artistic Director) I used to take a month off every year and travel to Europe. I've stayed in hostels in the UK London @ Earl's Court, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Amsterdam, Germany, France, and have NEVER had any problems. My though is that I could get a hotel room, but I would be more likely to spend alot of time in there. At a hostel, you do meet alot of fantastic people and are more likely to see things you hadn't planned on seeing. In Germany I met a group of folks who were on thier way to Italy, we got along like old friends and hung out for a week before we had to part company. They were off to Spain, I was off to the Czech Republic. If I hadn't met them I wouldn't have been in Rome on the correct day to attend mass at the Vatican with Pope John Paul. I would have also missed the Scavi Tour, they had reservations for this tour for 3 months and I was able to get a spot, because some folks didn't show. I would recommend staying in hostels to anybody looking to save a bundle of cash. Some hotels have private room (which are of course a little more expensive) some also have "family rooms" just like a "traditional hotel". The only place I had problems was in Munich because of my age ("Ooops, word censored!"ody over a certian age I think 18yrs). I passed that ages ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 It can be quite fun sharing with strangers. I did a trek up Kilimanjaro last year and didn't go with anyone I knew. You get pretty intimate over the course of a week in those circumstances. Can be quite noisy at night though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizinsa Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 It's definitely a great way of meeting people, even if you just get insider tips from them! I'd recommend a website called www.hostelworld.com which allows you to find, read reviews, and book hostels through them. I'd definitely book your 1st night stay with one and then you can play the rest of your trip by ear. Im very jealous, I loved Italy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 I used to go Youth Hostelling a lot years ago, and have stayed at the one in Keswick many a time. A fab way to meet new people and a particularly beautiful location at any time of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 its sounds like more and more of a good idea! So far the places id like to go are: Venice Milan Florence Rome Naples Palermo Thinking of staying a couple of nights at each and maybe a few more at the end to have a sort of relaxing rather than sight-seeing couple of days! Anyone stayed in any of these or have any ideas of other nice places to go??? xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 Definitely try it! The ones in cities tend to be quite modern and have smaller rooms /family rooms /etc. There are places which aren't YHA hostels too, which can be much more variable. I know it sounds bizare, but I got married in a YHA (I know sounds odd, but could rent whole palce out and was a FANTASTIC building - odd to have your wedding night in a dorm though...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little cluckers Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I can let you know about the one at Derwen"Ooops, word censored!"er in about 3 hours! MS (14) has been there on a watersports holiday since Sunday and is due back very soon, so I'll give you the lowdown later if you'd like- it looks fab too, haven't seen the Keswick one yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 That would be great little cluckers! Id like to go to one of those just to see if i can cope with a dorm lol - haven't slept in one since my school trip in year 6 lol all the other trips were with rooms for much smaller groups! The keswick one looks lovely as it backs right onto the river Derwent! They serve coffee and cakes etc during the day so the next time I go home for a visit i might pop in! xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 My mum always stays in youth hosels with her mates. All are in and around 50 and they just book whole dorm of 8 or 10 rooms! They have stayed all over the place in the UK. Liverpool, Brum, Manchester, London and in the Peak and Lake District too. Ive also posted on your camping thread. Camping is also great abroad. We camped in Amsterdam and facilities and people were super! If its for a few weeks though I probably would go with the hostels! So jealous... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted August 29, 2008 Author Share Posted August 29, 2008 Does anyone know any smaller towns in Italy that are really nice but not so touristy?? I went to Santa Margherita in the north when I was on the cruise and love all the tiny streets with really tall buildings Sooo if anyone can think of any of these I'd like to go to a couple of those kind of towns too - see a bit of real Italy! I could take a stab in the dark and just go to some of the places where hostels are but i'd like to know where people recommend? Stacey xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I've just been to one! In the Lakedistrict in Windermere. We had a Family room though. We also went to one ine Grasmere in Easter, that was lovely! In Italy though that sounds fab! I reccomend! Not too expensive The beds are comfy-er than the ones in travelodges ( well that's because I always end up with the pull out sofa bed The views are great - the one in windermere you could see from the Garden the Lake, and one night it had a really nice sunset. Definitey go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angels4 Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 I've only been to Florence, Rome, Venice, Sienna so no real "small towns" but we did go in October (not season) and there were hardly any tourists, so everything was a bit more relaxed. If you stay in any of those major destinations, the little surronding towns are a good day trip. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted August 29, 2008 Share Posted August 29, 2008 its sounds like more and more of a good idea! So far the places id like to go are: Venice Milan Florence Rome Naples Palermo Thinking of staying a couple of nights at each and maybe a few more at the end to have a sort of relaxing rather than sight-seeing couple of days! Anyone stayed in any of these or have any ideas of other nice places to go??? xXx Have been to Venice, Milan, Florence & Rome. I wouldn't personally bother with a trip to Milan but recommend more than a couple of days in Rome.I'm a bit rubbish at remembering the names of the smaller towns we've been to but there are loads and they are are indeed very beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted September 1, 2008 Author Share Posted September 1, 2008 I might just google some of the places on the list on the hostels website and see where they6 are and what they look like and take a few stop offs!! Im thinking Rome might be extended and cut shorter some of the others lol! I can't believe how far in advance im planning - that may be due to my lack of holidaying this year and last and I need some sun lol - im just hoping I can afford it when the time comes! xXx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
