YHAgroup.org.uk

Changing in their view of youth hostels, that is. Earlier this year, The Times‘ “mystery guest” reviewer gave a severe panning to Oxford Street YH. Possibly at the prompting of “(rather upset) YHA folk”, (s)he’s gone back for another go – this time to St Pancras YH.

What a contrast!

This was completely different to the Oxford Street hostel, with a bright café-restaurant with stripy chairs, cool spotlights, funky music playing on a stereo, stylish black and white shots of iconic London scenes, internet terminals and a cheerful staff in smart uniforms — one of whom presented me with a door key as though I were staying in a five-star pad on Park Lane.

The café’s good too:

Amid lots of young folk tapping on laptops, I ate an acceptable chilli con carne and drank a reasonable glass of merlot, thinking that youth hostels seem to have come a long way of late (at least this one had).

Overall they rate the place 7.25 out of 10, which is pretty good for budget accommodation (at £22 a night, the cheapest the reviewer had ever seen). Oxford Street managed just half a point.

Obviously it’s good to see YHA flying high in the mainstream press again, though they seem to have picked two extremes of YHA’s offerings – shabby and run-down to shiny and newly refurbished – without really touching on the more typical fare in between.

Maybe they should be planning a third visit…

The 2009 AGM of the YHA Wales Council will take place at Conwy YH, Larkhill, Sychnant Pass Road, CONWY LL32 8AJ (see map below). All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.

The meeting will start at 2pm.

The 2009 AGM of the YHA Northern Regional Council will take place at Stricklandgate Methodist Church, Stricklandgate, KENDAL, LA9 4RF (see map below). All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.

The meeting starts at 1pm.