What is a Hostel? What is a bunkhouse? and What is a Camping Barn

What is a hostel or bunkhouse

A hostel or bunkhouse provides self catering accommodation which can be booked for stays as short as one night, providing a unique form of accommodation. They have shared areas for relaxation like lounges, games rooms and gardens.  Sleeping is often in bunk beds and these can be in private rooms or dormitories.  Traditionally hostels were always available to individuals but now even some YHA hostels are only available to groups.

This page explains the similarities and the differences between hostels, bunkhouses, group accommodation centres and camping barns.  It also lists all the accommodation in the Independent Hostel network which welcomes individuals.

There is no clear distinction between a hostel and a bunkhouse, but there are some trends which are outlined below.  Camping Barns are generally more distinct, providing very basic accommodation, but even here the name is sometimes used for better equipped accommodation like “Luxsury Camping Barns” !

All accommodation promoting friendly interaction between guests through shared living areas is welcome in the Independent Hostel Guide.

Accommodation Types

Hostel

A typical hostel often has dormitories but many will also have private rooms. It is safe to say that any place with hostel in the name will provide self-catering facilities and some kind of social area (dining room/lounge) to relax in.  A typical hostel would be in a house as opposed to a barn, although there are hostels in barns, factories, lighthouses and carriages.   A hostel will welcome outdoor enthusiasts or international travellers, depending on the location of the accommodation.  City Centre Hostels tend to cater for international travellers whilst rural hostels tend to be more popular with outdoor enthusiasts.  Hostels generally provide all bedding and linen, but bring your own towel and toiletries.

Youth Hostel

A youth hostel is a hostel which has affiliated to the YHA marketing scheme or is owned by the YHA.   All the Youth Hostels in the Independent Hostels network are privately owned and affiliated to the YHA.

Bunkhouse, bunkbarn or bunkroom.

A bunkhouse (or Bunk Barn)  is more likely to be a conversion of a barn or outbuilding.   They are generally in rural areas and cater mostly for outdoor enthusiasts, with sole-use bookings from groups quite common but individuals still welcome in many places.  A bunkhouse will be self-contained with toilets, showers, cooking and dining facilities. Sleeping will be in dorms or private rooms and you will need to inquire whether you need your own sleeping bag.   Depending on how recent the conversion, bunkhouses can be very swish with under-floor heating and all mod cons, or more traditional with cold floors and solid fuel stoves.   Look out for the SIMPLE logo when researching bunkhouses.   The simple logo together with the price will help you work out if the accommodation you are looking at is modern or basic.

A bunkhouse is not to be confused with a bunkroom.  Bunkrooms are often outbuildings attached to a pub where low cost accommodation is provided in bunks.  Bunkrooms generally have their own toilet/showers but no kitchen. The idea is that all eating, drinking and socialising take place in the adjacent pub.

City Centre Hostels

There are some fabulous city centre hostels .  With stylish decor and designer furniture they are often referred to as Boutique Hostels.   Keeping the shared social areas that we all love, but often with bars instead of self catering kitchens. Who needs to cook with the city on your doorstep?  The key to these brilliantly central hostels is dormitory sleeping, which keeps the price of the prime city centre locations affordable.

Camping Barns

Camping barns offer very basic accommodation and are often known as a stone tent. There is no bedding and often only a hard sleeping shelf. Guest need to bring a sleeping bag and sometimes a sleeping mat too. It is also quite common for the food preparation area to have no cooker or utensils; again the camper is required to bring their own.  Camping barns are very rural and sometime so remote they have no electricity. Aimed at the walker who might walk from barn to barn, these barns are also sometimes booked by groups of outdoor enthusiasts and because they are often small (from 6 beds) and cheap  they can also be surprising fun for families.  This website has a page listing camping barns.

Although every hostel on this website would be delighted to accommodate a group, this category is unique in that they will not accept individuals and minimum group sizes are specified. Group accommodation centres are often outdoor centres but they can also be large houses.  They are different to holiday-lets in that they provide much better value and generally have less expensive decor and  there is always the possibility of dormitories which would not be expected in a holiday let. Group accommodation can sometimes organize the catering for your group and they often provide outdoor activities and other courses or training.

All the accommodation in the Independent Hostels network will welcome a group.  If you are organising a group you find your ideal place to stay using our online group accommodation service.

Save