| > | | | | families paying less for just as much comfort — |
| If free breakfast,kitchen access, bike hire, a DVD | | | | and how much did you love bunk beds when you |
| library and a mix of international playmates would | | | | were a kid! The YHA in Hartington is a refurbished |
| improve your family's travel experience then World | | | | manor house, complete with oak panels and huge |
| Reviewer's family friendly hostels, with cheap rates | | | | grounds. It sounds grand, and as if your kids could do it |
| and basic but friendly facilities are the way to travel | | | | some damage, but it’s actually very family |
| with kids. | | | | friendly, they’ve put in an adventure playground |
| Hostels used to have an upper age limit of 26 and a | | | | and a wildlife garden — you can even bring your |
| lower age limit of 16 — families, and the potential | | | | pet. |
| noise and mess and extra requirements they can | | | | A family welcome is another nice thing to find when |
| require were definitely NOT welcome — but | | | | travellng with kids and there are lots of hostels where |
| those days are gone and the vast improvement in the | | | | the owners live in and run the place, ensuring a |
| quality of hostel life and the rising price of shacking | | | | comfortable home-y atmosphere on the road. One |
| your family up in a hotel make family hostelling a very | | | | Florence Close in Singapore and the Hostel Estoril in |
| promising option. Especially if you’re a | | | | Buenos Aires are a couple of good examples. |
| backpacker from way back and miss the hostel life | | | | Eastseven, one of the most popular hostels in |
| where you meet people and share traveling stories | | | | Germany, is known for the age range of its visitors, as |
| while on the road — and your kids are going to | | | | is Davos Switzerland’s Youthpalace — |
| love it too. | | | | very hotel circa 1920 — all sunny roof terraces |
| Basic and friendly is the way to go for both family and | | | | and clean air. |
| hostel accommodation. Features like a shared kitchen | | | | The new breed of luxury hostels offer some of the |
| space and sending you off with a free breakfast, | | | | most attractive family accommodation around. The |
| which many hostels now do, will save you on meals | | | | Imm Eco Hostel in Chiang Mai, Thailand is like a luxury |
| and help keep the kids from grumbling; and having a | | | | resort with all the mod cons including a spectacular |
| TV or DVD room may help keep them quiet. Bike hire, | | | | pool, but the rooms are basic and prices low - if |
| internet access and on site laundry rooms are also | | | | you’re a kid it’s only really the pool that |
| going to make your travels easier and in family friendly | | | | impresses you! |
| hostels your kids are likely to find the same caliber of | | | | As well as more comfort for picky eaters and |
| playmates you found on the seaside caravanning | | | | sleepers and less expense for Mums and Dads, |
| holidays of your youth, and because socialising is such | | | | hostels are also a good place to immerse your kids in |
| an important part of hostel life, parents are likely to | | | | other cultures and try and get them to pick up enough |
| meet people to have a proper conversation with as | | | | of the local lingo to order you a coffee or get you |
| well. | | | | your family discounted ticket into the museums. |
| The Edinburgh Central Hostel is a prime example of | | | | |