BS: youth hostels?

Subject: BS: youth hostels?
From: Janie
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 08:08 PM

We are wondering about youth hostels for housing for my 18 y.o.son's 2 week internship in Washington DC late this spring. He is not quite as provencial in experience as am I, but close. He turned 18 in December and this internship will finish out his senior year in high school.

I have absolutely no idea what the scene at a youth hostel might be. Our three biggest concerns are personal safety, security of possessions, and not bringing bed bugs home. He is more comfortable with adults than with kids his own age and I think a dorm-type situation might be a little challenging - but he will be very busy with the internship, and if last year was any indication, won't be at the hostel for much more than to sleep, shower and change clothes.

He has the option of staying at the parkour gym where the internship is, sleeping on a mat in the gym. He is inclined to do that except that he is concerned about getting enough sleep - people are often working out and practicing at the gym up until 1 a.m. and he will have to be up, showered, and his stuff out of the way by 6:30 am. My boy does like his 8 hours of zzzz's and knows he doesn't function well without enough sleep.

We are both wondering which option is best for him.

I'm sure there are any number of catter's who stayed in hostels in their youth. What can you share from your experience that might be helpful?

Many thanks.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: youth hostels?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 09:27 PM

I would vote for the gym floor. It is only two weeks and he can wear earplugs and have an MP3 player etc. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to shower and roll up a sleeping bag and mat and there should be lockers there. THen he can nap somewhere later. Hostels are going to be even later and noisier and definitely have a bedbug concern...have a bedbug plan regardless and quarantine all travel clothing and luggage outside the house when he gets home.

Subject: RE: BS: youth hostels?
From: ranger1
Date: 17 Feb 12 - 09:41 PM

I have no idea how US hostels are, but I stayed in hostels all over Europe during the 3 1/2 months I spent travelling. Never had a problem with my belongings, never had a problem with bed bugs, and there are usually quiet hours in hostels belonging to associations, or at least there used to be.

Subject: RE: BS: youth hostels?
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Feb 12 - 02:27 AM

I have stayed in a hostel when traveling and I have been the housemother/chaperone another time. Despite the name the hostels I have stayed in were never just for youths.

The last one I stayed in was a major surprise for me, though.

I had been assigned a bed; I hadn't unpacked but I had a bathrobe on the chosen bunk and my bag was in the closet. There were three other bunks in the room, all vacant.

I had a fun, interesting evening downstairs talking with young people who were a mix of mountain climbers and long-distance bikers. Finally I excused myself and went upstairs for bed.

I opened the bedroom door- and the first thing I saw was a large, bare, hairy, unmistakably male leg attached to a sleeping form sprawled across a bed.


The first time I had been faced with a gender-free hostel.