Quality budget stays

9:28am Friday 22nd February 2008

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For many people, a stay at a youth hostel used to involve draughty dormitories, chores, the smell of damp hiking boots and bland food.

But one leading hostel organisation is now offering budget accommodation that's more akin to hotels and guesthouses. The Youth Hostels Association's (YHA) network of more than 200 hostels in England and Wales has seen considerable improvements in recent years, thanks to a multi-million pound upgrade programme.

YHA hostels vary in size, and most offer a mix of private rooms (some with en-suite bathrooms), family rooms and dorms, while you can even book entire hostels for private use. Hostels can be found in all kinds of location, from big cities to mountains and coast, with an interesting range of architecture - from modern purpose-built hostels to castles and manor houses. You can also stay in simpler forms of accommodation, such as camping barns, tipis and bunkhouses.

Many hostels include facilities such as laundry rooms, internet access, a TV and a shop, and while well-equipped kitchens allow self-catering, you can also enjoy excellent quality home-cooked meals. Furthermore, the YHA is extending the use of local produce among its hostels.

Youth hostels are ideal bases for active breaks, as they are often located close to a range of activities - hostels provide information on these and can book them for you.

A charitable organisation, the YHA England & Wales was formed more than 75 years ago, and its aim has always been to provide budget accommodation, particularly for young people. But despite the "youth" part of its name, the YHA welcomes visitors of all ages who enjoy the opportunity to meet like-minded people and swap travel stories - something not experienced in most hotels.

While it is not essential to join the YHA if you want to stay in a hostel, members do enjoy benefits including reduced accommodation rates, and discounts from many high street stores. YHA membership also allows you to stay at Hostelling International hostels around the world, so whether you're backpacking around the globe or looking to save money on a city break you'll find similar accommodation to back home.

Here are a few examples of YHA hostels (prices quoted are for February 2008 and will vary according to the season):

London Central:
The YHA's new £4.3 million flagship hostel is located close to Soho and Oxford Street and offers quality, modern accommodation at a reasonable price (adults from £18.50 / under-18s from £14.50 per night).

Black Sail, Lake District:
A legendarily isolated former shepherd's bothy, Black Sail Youth Hostel is inaccessible by car. It offers instant access to some of the most spectacular hiking terrain in the country, and is a popular stop on the Coast-to-Coast walking route. From £12 / £9.

National Forest, East Midlands:
This recently opened "green" hostel is packed with eco-friendly features including underground tanks to hold rainwater for "greywater use" (ie flushing toilets), water heated by solar panels, a wood-fuelled boiler using locally-sourced, sustainable wood chips, and internal shutters to help insulate against extreme heat or cold. From £14.95 / £11.50.

Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall:
Sandcastles, surfing, sea views, sunsets and storms - if you like any of these, you'll love the fact that this hostel is just metres from the Atlantic. There's even a roaring log fire. From £15.50 / £11.

Stour Valley Bunkhouse, Suffolk:
Bunkhouses have many of the same facilities as you would expect in a normal youth hostel except there is no manager on site. This newly-constructed wooden building on a historic 1,000-acre farm, is fitted with modern facilities, and features a cosy kitchen/diner with wood burning stove. Flatford, made famous by John Constable's Hay Wain, is only three miles away. From £10 / £7.50.

Chenson Camping Barn, Devon:
If you want to rough it, why not stay in one of the YHA's camping barns. These generally offer basic facilities such as sleeping platforms, spaces to prepare food and eat, cold running water, a flush toilet and parking. Chenson is a cob and timber barn, formerly used for cider pressing, located on a working farm in the Taw Valley, between Dartmoor and Exmoor. From £6.50.

Edale, Peak District:
Set in a stunning location on the slopes of Kinder Scout in the Peak District National Park, this is an adventure lover's paradise, offering a whole host of activities, including caving, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, abseiling, orienteering and archery. From £12.50 / £9.

For further information about the YHA, call 0870 770 8868 or visit www.yha.org.uk. Details of Hostelling International hostels worldwide can be found at www.hihostels.com