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Summary of reviewsStirling Youth Hostel, situated in the historic heart of Stirling, is a prime location for travelers eager to explore the city's rich past and vibrant present. The hostel offers easy access to major attractions like Stirling Castle and Old Town Jail, as well as numerous restaurants, pubs and shops. Its central location coupled with free on-street parking makes it an ideal base for sightseeing and excursions to nearby cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow. Guests appreciate the picturesque views and serene environment provided by the historic district setting near the castle.
While breakfast at the hostel receives mixed reviews with some guests praising the basic continental options and others finding it overpriced and lacking variety, the hostel's well-equipped kitchen and spacious dining area give guests the flexibility to prepare their own meals. The availability of unlimited coffee is another highlight and for those dining out, numerous restaurants nearby are recommended by the friendly staff.
The rooms at Stirling Youth Hostel are well-reviewed for their cleanliness and spaciousness with many enjoying the ensuite facilities and views over Stirling’s rooftops. Although the decor and furnishings are basic, the rooms are generally comfortable and functional, making for a pleasant stay. Minor issues such as inconveniently placed outlets and occasional maintenance problems are noted but do not detract significantly from the overall positive experience. The hostel also maintains high standards of cleanliness in both private rooms and common areas, although some areas could use refurbishment.
The staff at Stirling Youth Hostel are frequently praised for their exceptional friendliness and professionalism. Guests commend the team’s helpfulness and engaging demeanor, which significantly enhances the overall experience. The majority of interactions with the staff are positive, contributing to a welcoming environment that many guests are eager to revisit.
WiFi availability is another aspect where the hostel excels primarily in common areas like the reception and communal rooms. However, the service can be temperamental and connections in private rooms tend to be weak or non-existent, which may be inconvenient for some guests.
For those interested in Stirling’s nightlife, the hostel's location is perfect, offering easy access to various pubs, cafes and restaurants. However, the vibrant atmosphere can lead to significant nighttime noise, which might be a drawback for some visitors. Despite this, the community vibe in the common areas and the hospitality add to the overall appeal.
Regarding the beds, guests generally find them comfortable, though there are comments about the bunk beds being narrow and mattresses varying in firmness. Cleanliness is maintained, but some minor issues with bed usability and outdated pillows are mentioned, suggesting room for improvement.
Overall, Stirling Youth Hostel is described as providing excellent value for money. The facilities, especially the kitchen and the beautiful building add to its charm. The hostel’s combination of cleanliness, warm staff service, central location and reasonable pricing makes it a solid choice for travelers. While accessibility features are mixed with convenient parking and an accessible kitchen but a challenging uphill walk from the train station, the hostel caters well to a wide range of guests. Show more
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Cheap Hostel
Offers budget-friendly accommodation with options for private rooms and dorms. Features a self-catering kitchen, lounge areas, and free Wi-Fi, making it suitable for budget-conscious travelers looking for a social atmosphere and essential amenities.
Accessible Hostel
The Stirling Youth Hostel features at least one accessible ground-floor bedroom with level access from the front door. It also provides accessible public toilets with handrails and offers wet room or level entry showers, catering to diverse accessibility needs.
Hostel near Nightlife Spots
4-Star Hostel
Room Types
2 Person Private Twin Room EnsuiteThis room includes shower and toilet facilities.
4 Person Private Room EnsuiteThis room includes private shower and toilet facilities.
3 Person Private Room EnsuiteThis room includes shower and toilet facilities.
Bunk Bed in Female Dormitory Room Rooms are 2 square metres.
Bunk Bed in Male Dormitory Room Rooms are 2 square metres.
2 Person Private Double Room EnsuiteThis room includes a bathroom with toilet, shower and sink.
Family Room with Private BathroomThe family room includes a private bathroom fitted with a shower. The unit has 6 beds.
Guest Reviews
7.8
Good
Location
Nestled in the heart of Stirling, the Stirling Youth Hostel boasts an exceptional location, perfectly positioned for exploring the city's rich history and vibrant cultural scene. Situated in a historic building in the beautiful historic center, it places guests just a stone's throw from the famed Stirling Castle, Old Town Jail and an array of restaurants, pubs and shops. The hostel's strategic location allows for easy walking distances to many of the city's main attractions including the Church of the Holy Rude and the bus and train stations, making it an ideal base for both local sightseeing and excursions to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Numerous reviews highlight the convenience of free on-street parking right outside the hostel grounds and the proximity to the city's central amenities, enhancing the overall experience. The incredible views over Stirling's rooftops and its quiet district setting near the castle provide a picturesque and serene environment for travelers. Whether for a short overnight stay or a longer visit, the hostel's central placement in the old town under the castle offers unparalleled access to Stirling's historic and cultural landmarks.
Overall, the Stirling Youth Hostel's central and convenient location, coupled with its excellent service and clean, functional accommodations, make it a top choice for travelers keen to immerse themselves in the heart of Stirling's storied past and vibrant present.
Breakfast
Stirling Youth Hostel offers a range of breakfast options, but the reviews present a mixed picture. Positive feedback highlights the availability of a basic continental breakfast with some guests describing it as good, decent, nice and even excellent. The central location allows for convenient access to breakfast options both within the hostel and in the nearby city, where guests have found delicious alternatives.
However, there are several criticisms about the breakfast offerings at the hostel. Many reviewers find the breakfast to be overpriced and lacking in variety. At £7, the cost is considered high for what is provided with some guests describing the meal as simple or too basic. Descriptions of the breakfast often mention minimal offerings, such as toast with butter and jam without extras like sausage, cheese or vegetables. There are also remarks about the breakfast being meager and not very abundant with one guest calling it unattractive.
The limited selection and high price have led some guests to recommend eating out for better value. There were also instances where breakfast was unavailable due to large groups or operational issues, which disappointed some visitors. Despite these shortcomings, the hostel's adherence to COVID-19 measures, including options for packed breakfasts, was noted as a positive effort to maintain safety and hygiene.
Overall, while some guests were satisfied with the breakfast, many suggest that improvements are needed, particularly in variety and pricing, to enhance the overall experience.
Dinner
Stirling Youth Hostel offers guests a well-equipped kitchen and a spacious dining area, providing the flexibility to cater their own meals. The kitchen facilities are comprehensive, allowing for the preparation of breakfast, lunch and dinner at any time. Additionally, the dining room is comfortable and accessible, making it easy for guests to sit and enjoy their meals. For those who prefer to dine out, there are plenty of good restaurant choices nearby and the staff are more than happy to recommend the best local spots. Unlimited coffee is a bonus, enhancing the overall dining experience.
Rooms
The rooms at Stirling Youth Hostel generally receive positive feedback for their cleanliness and spaciousness. Many guests find the rooms, including twin, double and private rooms, to be larger than expected with bright and airy atmospheres. Several reviews highlight that rooms come with ensuite facilities, which many find convenient. The views from the rooms are often praised with some guests enjoying vistas overlooking Stirling's rooftops and the historic city center.
While the furnishings and decor are noted to be basic and simple, the rooms are consistently described as comfortable and functional. Some rooms possess quirky layouts, such as having a sink or shower positioned within the bedroom itself, which can be unconventional but not detrimental to the overall experience. Guests appreciate the hostel's central location, adding that it’s quiet, despite being in the heart of the city, ensuring a peaceful stay.
However, a few reviews mention minor issues such as inconveniently placed electric outlets, stuffy environments and occasional maintenance problems. Despite these, the overall sentiment remains favorable, particularly valuing the hostel for its good value for money and the helpfulness of the staff.
Beds
At Stirling Youth Hostel, the beds have garnered a range of feedback from guests. Many have found the beds to be quite comfortable, often highlighting the comfort of the bedding and the good quality of the mattresses. Some guests even described their beds as unexpected comforts with a few noting that they had one of the best sleep experiences. The rooms and bedding also impressed some visitors with their cleanliness and readiness upon arrival.
However, several reviews pointed out that the beds, particularly bunk beds, are on the smaller and narrower side, which might be less accommodating for taller individuals or those seeking more space. The firmness of the mattresses varied in feedback with some guests finding them comfortable while others felt they were too hard or thin, affecting their sleep quality. In addition to these size and comfort concerns, occasional issues with bed cleanliness, outdated pillows and bed usability (like broken lamps and USB sockets) were mentioned.
Overall, while the hostel provides beds that many found sufficiently comfortable and clean, there is room for improvement in terms of bed size, mattress quality and bedding conditions to enhance the guest experience further.
Cleanliness
Stirling Youth Hostel shines with its high standards of cleanliness, making it a great choice for travelers. The rooms and common areas are consistently described as clean, tidy and well-organized. Guests often find the facilities, including the kitchen and bathrooms, to be well-equipped and spotless, although some areas show signs of wear and could benefit from refurbishment.
Many reviewers mention the comfort and spaciousness of the rooms, which exceed expectations and they appreciate the cozy atmosphere along with friendly staff. Families will find the hostel particularly accommodating and reasonably priced. Despite a few reports of minor cleanliness issues, such as outdated areas and some bathroom grime, the overall experience remains positive due to the hostel's consistent efforts to maintain a clean and comfortable environment. The beautiful building and great views add an extra touch to the stay, making it a value-for-money option.
Staff
Stirling Youth Hostel boasts a reputation for its exceptionally friendly and helpful staff. Guests have consistently highlighted the warm and welcoming nature of the team, noting that the staff are not only polite but also very professional. Many visitors appreciated the helpfulness and the attentive service provided at the reception desk, often mentioning specific staff members who went above and beyond to ensure a pleasant stay.
The hostel staff were also praised for their kindness with the hostel manager and team members commonly described as engaging and informative. Several reviews pointed out that the staff were excellent in providing useful suggestions and advice for local activities and amenities. Despite the occasional negative comment, such as instances of unresponsiveness or perceived rudeness, the overwhelming majority of guest feedback focused on the positive interactions with the hostel staff, emphasizing their commitment to creating a welcoming environment.
Overall, Stirling Youth Hostel is frequently recommended for the friendliness and professionalism of its staff, contributing significantly to guests' enjoyable experiences and many expressing a desire to return.
Wi-Fi
Stirling Youth Hostel offers WiFi service that guests have consistently noted works well primarily in common areas such as the reception and large communal room. However, several reviews mention that the WiFi can be temperamental and unreliable, often dropping out. The connection tends to be spotty with weak signals particularly affecting rooms upstairs and elsewhere outside the public spaces. It's also important to note that many guests found the WiFi was not available in their rooms, which could be inconvenient for those needing consistent internet access. The WiFi password is easily accessible from the reception, although not always pointed out directly to guests. Overall, visitors planning a stay at Stirling Youth Hostel might want to manage their expectations about WiFi connectivity, anticipating better service in shared areas compared to private rooms.
Nightlife
Stirling Youth Hostel is superbly located for those eager to dive into the vibrant night scene of Stirling. The hostel enjoys proximity to numerous good pubs, cafes and restaurants, making it convenient for guests to explore a variety of dining and entertainment options. Many reviews highlight the advantage of being so close to all that Stirling has to offer in terms of nightlife, suggesting visitors should definitely venture out in the evening to make the most of the lively surroundings.
However, the excitement comes with a trade-off as the vicinity to bars and entertainment areas can result in significant nighttime noise. Reviews indicate that the hostel can be particularly noisy at night due to energetic young people and rowdy teens. Some guests noted that this vibrant atmosphere could lead to disturbances, sometimes exacerbated by groups of youths staying at the hostel.
While there are positive aspects such as the community vibe in the common areas and complimentary tea and coffee in the mornings, it is also important to be aware of potential noise levels. Overall, Stirling Youth Hostel is well-suited for those who plan to engage with the local nightlife scene and can tolerate a bit of nighttime clamor.
4 Star
Stirling Youth Hostel offers excellent value for money with many guests highlighting it as great or even better value. The facilities, especially the kitchen, are frequently praised for being well-equipped and accessible to all. The combined kitchen and lounge areas are noted for their high standards. The location of the hostel is another strong point, often described as fantastic and set within a beautiful building.
The hostel maintains a high level of cleanliness and the staff routinely receive compliments for their kindness and fabulous service. Guests looking for a good price-performance ratio will be pleased with the single rooms that come with a bathroom and toilet. While some reviews express confusion about the hostel’s four-star rating, the overall feedback suggests that it meets strong expectations in terms of facilities and service. The dining experience, particularly during breakfast, is also positively mentioned. Overall, the hostel seems to deliver a solid experience that many find satisfying and worthwhile.
Accessible
Stirling Youth Hostel offers a mixed experience when it comes to accessibility for guests with disabilities. The hostel features convenient private parking and an allocated accessible room on the ground floor, making it easy for guests with mobility issues to settle in. The kitchen facilities are particularly commendable with a well-equipped, accessible kitchen that allows guests to prepare their own meals comfortably.
However, there are some challenges that guests may face. Parking can be limited, especially during events and some may find the short uphill walk from the train station difficult, particularly if carrying luggage. The hostel is located about 10-15 minutes away from the station on foot, though there is a bus service that can ease the journey for those who are not inclined to walk.
Overall, while the hostel provides important accessibility features, the ease of access can vary depending on individual mobility needs and the timing of one's stay.
No, Stirling Youth Hostel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Stirling Youth Hostel.
No, Stirling Youth Hostel doesn't allow dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Stirling Youth Hostel.