Severe scarcity of beds in England right now! - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

lone dawg · 02-29-2008, 03:20 PM

I've been here for most of February, which is considered the off season, but by how difficult is to find a bed you'd think it was July! Three times already I've had to leave a London hostel because they booked up before I could extend my stay. If fact that happened just today. Since I was moving out, I tried to find someplace outside of London to stay this weekend. First I tried Bath - nothing available tomorrow night. Tried Oxford - everything full. Tried Bristol - BRISTOL! Both hostels were full. Finally the hostel in Salisbury said they have male bed for tomorrow night. You'd think this was a bank holiday weekend or something! So a warning to anyone traveling in England anytime soon - book all accommodations well ahead! Do NOT attempt to just show up and walk in, or you WILL be sleeping in the streets!

**travelpunk** · 03-01-2008, 01:51 AM

Thank you for the update!

**joe7f** · 03-01-2008, 03:41 AM

I am finding something somewhat similar in Spain. For the first time, I also was booted from a hostel before I could book it.

Also, despite the dollar plunge, I am meeting a lot of Americans traveling...way more than in my past experiences. Weird...

--Joey

**lauren313** · 03-02-2008, 12:05 PM

How strange, I wonder what could be responsible for this?!

lone dawg · 03-05-2008, 09:32 AM

The hostels tell me that they have a lot of large groups coming in, especially on weekends. Often they fill multiple rooms. Groups this size, obviously, have to book ahead. As a result, so does everybody else.

**omisan** · 03-06-2008, 02:37 AM

Must be the group thing. Over here across the Channel, I've seen shit-tons of big student groups out on the weekends, and they've all got to stay somewhere. I thought the summer was the season for that, but apparently it goes on for a few weeks around this time of year, too.

Interestingly enough, here it's coincided with Fashion Week, so you see the touristy parts of Paris flooded by hordes of snot-nosed little kids as well as super-hot fashionistas.

**MeTurk** · 03-06-2008, 05:47 AM

I don't know about England but over the last few weeks there have been the collage rag weeks which means the city's are full.

London would also have big events going on. If there's a exhibition on in London/Birmingham it could easily fill up every hotel for miles around. You also have allot of soccer activity for the last few weeks and weeks to come.

There's places in Manchester, I had to have a check for next week.

**BelfastFlyer** · 03-06-2008, 03:58 PM

you know if the hostels in the UK are full try travelodge, you can get rooms from £25 a night!

Belfast has been jammed backed with back packers the last few weeks, I guess those easyjet and ryan air sales are working :eek:

csmithstudnt · 03-06-2008, 05:15 PM

Its also spring break season. My college has break next week, but it could be anytime this month or the next for various different schools. At least that might explain the US travelers.

**lauren313** · 03-07-2008, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BelfastFlyer

you know if the hostels in the UK are full try travelodge, you can get rooms from £25 a night!

I'd just logged on to say that exact same thing! Well, almost... I heard an ad on the radio saying rooms are £20. So if there's a couple of you, it's pretty bargainous!

**joe7f** · 04-22-2008, 05:07 AM

I am finding the same thing again in Barcelona. All the hostels are full for tomorrow. Hazel, the receptionist at Sant Jordi Aragó, said this has been happening a lot lately and I think she is on to something. The Budget Airlines' cheapest flights are during the week. So lots of people are choosing to leave on a Tuesday to avoid paying more for the flights.

And the people most likely to take advantage of an "inconvenient" take off day are more likely to stay at hostels.

--Joey

**MeTurk** · 04-22-2008, 08:18 AM

I noticed that with the airlines too while I was looking up the new flights from Galway airport to Amsterdam. Going to be going to Amsterdam again soon. :D

Monday to Thursday and Saturday being the cheapest weekend day. The price difference flying out on the Monday and coming back on the Thursday was compared to flying out on the Friday and coming back on the Sunday was around €70.

With travel lodges and the likes as well try and find the new ones. Their the ones that are £20. Once they get established in city centres the price can shot up to £100.