Summary (by AI): I was pleasantly surprised by the modern and economical YHA in Cambridge, which exceeded my expectations despite its utilitarian rooms and my frustration that such hostels are not available in every county.
Blog: I recently realized I was going to be visiting Cambridge, so I had a quick look online and discovered there was actually a city-based YHA right in the middle of town. Brilliant, I thought. There happened to be a room available on the night I needed it, so I booked it immediately.
I was staying up there with a friend of mine who, to be perfectly honest, was very skeptical. He was like, “Wait, you’re staying in a Youth Hostel?”
I just told him, “Look, it’s all part of the ABC process. We’re going to do it.”
As it turned out, it was a real pleasant surprise—much like all the YHAs I’ve visited so far. This wasn't one of those traditional, older buildings; it was a relatively modern build. I don’t know whether it was actually built specifically for the YHA, but it was certainly designed as a proper hotel-hostel hybrid. The reception was really plush, and the people working there were lovely and incredibly helpful. The room itself was utilitarian, but comfortable—everything you need, really.
I’m becoming really impressed with the way the YHA operates. In fact, I’m trying not to shout about them too much because I don’t want them to get any more popular than they already are! I’m finding them to be a very economical way of visiting new places and a great way to find out a little bit more about a town.
Location-wise, it was about a 15-minute walk to the main sites, so it was perfectly situated. I’m glad we did it, and I shall definitely be continuing my tour around the country.
I am a little frustrated, however, that not every county in the country has one. If you saw my post about Lincolnshire, you’ll know I ended up not being able to find even an alternative hostel to stay in. I just couldn't find anything. But, you know what they say: where there’s a YHA, there’s a way. (Is that a saying? It should be).
Anyway, I like it. Bye!
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