Youth hostels worth a stay- and safe for a weekend on the beach?

Question

Basically I have just finished my GCSE's and three of my friends and I quite like the idea of celebrating by going to Devon for a weekend and going to the beach etc, possibly staying at a youth hostel. Would this be possible without an adult (we are 16) and would you recommend it- or is camping a better option as am starting to check out both?

Answer 1

i agree with brad_sr0. stay away from hostels!!!!!

Answer 2

Youth Hostels have done a good job for years.  They are regulated by the YHA so check the YHA webstie for expected standards.

Answer 3

I say go for it, maybe collect a tad info on the place before you get settled you don't wanna end up cooped up with some loonies in the middle of the woods or something! :P

Answer 4

I love youth hostels

Answer 5

Hostel is a FILM (although its very scary!!!). I went to a hostel in Newquay for my GCSE summer. Can't remember the name of the hostel but it was alot of fun. Definitely go in a group and be sensible. I'd recommend maybe going with a few boys (I know that sounds a little weird, and us girls can stand up for ourselves well enough but it is better to have a 'man' with you). Newquay is a good place to go for young people, there are alot of bars that will let you in (not that i condone under-age drinking =P). Its a place where alot of young people go for that kind of holiday so you will meet a lot of nice people the same age. Most hostels have a dorm system, so you might get put in a room with another mixture of girls and boys but you can sometimes upgrade to your own room. Try and find a good hostel with only young people. The one I went to was only 16-25 and the bar stayed open until 4am. You get a band at the beginning of the week but you can show a fake ID to get served at the bar if you are into that sort of thing. Look up for a hostel website and read some reviews before you book. Have fun, but be careful! You only live once!

Answer 6

Watch the movie Hostel, then let us know what you decide.

Answer 7

Do you mean 'youth hostels' as in the YHA which, unless in the centre of a city, tend to be rather off the beaten track, or are you using it as a euphemism for 'backpackers' hostels'?

I'm afraid that, these days, in order to stay in a YHA hostel you *MUST* be a member, if travelling solo, or the group leader must be if you're travelling in a group.

Backpackers' hostels can be found all over the country and <www.hostelbookers.com> and <www.hostelworld.com> are good places to look.

In my opinion, Cornwall's better than Devon (not that Devon isn't nice, I just prefer Cornwall).

Most YHA hostels are pretty inaccessible these days for those without transport. None, outside of the city hostels, are anywhere near public transport routes (TTBOMK at least).

Let me correct myself. You *can* stay at a YHA hostel as a non-member, but there is a supplement (in your case £1.50pppn). So, for example, if the listed pppn price is £10, you'd pay £11.50.

There are 5 YHA hostels in Devon: -

Bellever (£1 discount for those arriving by bus, bike or on foot)

Beer (almost vertical, narrow, access road)

Okehampton (no access problems listed, but how near to Okehampton station it is, I've no idea).

Exeter (no day access. New arrivals admitted between 17:30 and 22:30. No admittance after 22:30)

Salcombe (check-in from 5pm only. Coach stop 2 miles away. Groups should contact hostel for details of local minibus company (4 doesn't count as a group)

In Cornwall you have: -

Boscastle (I can highly recommend this - both the hostel and the village. I stayed there myself before the '04 floods, and went back in '05, when they were in the midsts of the clear-up. Okay, so I'm almost old enough to be your mum, but it was the best fortnight's holiday I've ever had. The North Cornish coast has some of the most stunning - and breathtaking - scenery in the whole of the UK, fantastic birding (if you're into that kinda thing which I guess, as teenagers, you're rather not!) There is a fantastic ice-cream shop selling the most wonderful homemade 'cream tea' ice-cream - b*gger the calories, you're on holiday! Proper clotted cream ice-cream, with real strawberries and shortbread (I guess scone pieces would go too soggy!) and laced with strawberry sauce. Yes, I had one nearly every day I was there - then wondered why I'd gained nearly a stone when I got home! And there's no better place to eat your ice-creams than standing on the bridge overlooking the river. Maybe I'm just old before my time, but I'm saving up to go back. The Napoleon does the best pub grub I've ever eaten (all homemade - and the drinks were very reasonable. I don't drink much alcohol, and ISTR that the J2Os were only £1.30 a bottle (of course that was 3 years ago). If you want a more 'pubby' pub, then there's the Welly, but I think they now have a very strict 'over 18s only' policy. I'm sure they used to run youth nights, but something must have happened for them to stop those.)

I don't know what you kids want from a holiday - I've never been much for the beach (even at 8st 7 I still don't look good in a bikini - and my bikini days are *LONG* gone!) The majority of the North Coast beaches are shingle, rather than sand (though it's sand when you get to Newquay)

The train journey (from Paddington) to Bodmin Parkway is about 4 hours, and then it's another 30 mins to Wadebridge and another 60 to Boscastle, so probably not the ideal location for a weekend break - but you got me all nostalgic there, you did!)

Right, I'm bored and tired now (we old'uns have to be in bed by midnight y'know!) so you can visit <www.yha.org.uk> and read up on the rest yourselves! I'm not going to do your dirty work for ya! ;o)

By the way, it's only £9.95 for a YP membership (under 26) and I assume you've all got YP's railcards...?

I'd help more with travel, but you didn't state where you were coming from (I said Paddington for the simple reason it's London and all trains go through there eventually!)

If I can help further - well, you know how to get to my inbox! <grin>

Answer 8

Someone mentioned Okehampton Station to you, that is no longer functioning and runs only occasional recreational steam trips to Exeter or Meldon quarry.

Google Devon Youth Hostel, and a selection comes up. With the sort of weather we have been having this July, wouldn't recommend camping! It is cold, wet, and windy here on the Devon/Cornwall border.

Answer 9

a youth hostel is fine.