A Very Good Hostel - Former Hotel and other Glasgow, United Kingdom Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

Open! The Best in Glasgow! Totally Refurbished

My photo shows the decorators in situ, and doesn't do the place justice. It is a superb hostel. Easily the best place to stay in Glasgow.

Even if you generally stear away from the 'institutionalised' HI hostels, in favour of the more relaxed 'independent' backpacker hostels, Glasgow is one place where I'd suggest going with SYHA. (Both because the independents are inconsistent and a risk, and because SYHA Glasgow is a wonderful building, with great staff).

The best independent hostel is Bunkums, followed by either Eurohostel or Backpackers.

Unique Qualities: Glasgow SYHA is a former hotel that went bankrupt (I think), and it retains much of the swish grandeur, yet is heavily orientated to its present users - international backpackers.

Its very safe, clean and friendly, with small high quality rooms, yet with the large communal rooms and wood carved corridors, thick carpets and a plush feel. I love it.

Its one of the main money generating hostels for the SYHA, so they were pretty devistated when it had a serious fire last year, in the roof, causing it to close. They have spent heavily on it and I look forward to seeing inside again.

Breakfasts were functional, and simple, seeming to please most guests, though not me - maybe I'm a food snob, maybe I'm fussy, but as you'll discover, food is not Scotland's strong point.

I recommend self-catering - one of the greatest assests of hostels - helping you keep costs way down (especially in the evenings). Why, if you save money by avoiding poor take away food, you can spend it on private rooms, an extra beer, historic Scotland membership, a hire car ...

... just watch out for unscrupulous private hostel operators, and Glasgow had (has) its problems there! You can trust the SYHA. (In Scotland some of the independent hostels are fantastic though, so "mix and match" is my tip). Enjoy.

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Address: Glasgow YH 7/8 Park Terrace, , Glasgow, Scotland G
Directions: West of the M8, follow Sauchiehall Street west, about 20 minute walk from train / coach station.
Hostel occupies very classy viewpoint overlooking Kelvingrove Park (Don't walk alone at night). See my Must See Tip for map of Sauchiehall Street, etc.
Website: www.syha.org.uk
Other Contact: www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

Bunkums was by far the best Independent Hostel in Glasgow - in fact the only one I returned to, despite it being further out of the centre in the "West End".

It is the only hostel in Glasgow listed in the reputed IBHS "Blue Guide" which inspects hostels for mimimum standards. It is also small with only 34 beds.
http://www.hostel-scotland.co.uk/hostels/index.asp?ID=79

However, the family which ran it so well have now sold it and moved on. I am not certain it is even still open, and if it is I cannot verify it is still so well run.

I passed it last week (May 2004) and the street was looking much nicer (Hillhead) - definitely improving from the rough neighbourhood of some years back. Now it looks quite smart. Bunkums looked closed, as no signs were evident. Do check, before relying on this! It is still listed in the IBHS Blue Guide - Phone the hostel to check (number below)

Unique Qualities: Bunkums was good because it was family run, with the family living on site. It was therefore much more like a country hostel, than a city backpackers. It was safe, friendly, clean and cosy. The showers were ok, the kitchen great, and the info brilliant.

Roudy backpackers were deterred and women were much safer than at other hostels. Being away from the centre meant it was much quieter too.

Never-the-less, like all city hostels I have stayed in (many!), there is the late night returners from the pubs and clubs disturbing you as they bump drunkenly into beds in the dark. Noise is a problem in all hostels, including Bunkums, so take ear plugs and a chemical means of "knocking yourself out", if you want undisturbed sleep! At least at this hostel sleep is possible!!

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: about average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 0141 581 4481
Address: 26 Hillhead Street, , Glasgow, Scotland G12 8PY
Directions: West End, close to Hillhead Underground Station and the University. A good part of the city to see, and be based. Close to Botanical Gardens.
Website: www.bunkumglasgow.co.uk
Other Contact: www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

There are a lot of new Backpacker Hostels popping up in Glasgow, and demand suddenly increased last year when the large SYHA (HI) Hostel closed due to a fire (open in 2004 again, refurbished).

Globetrotters is one such group of hostels. it has small rooms, and runs like an hotel, but I felt uncomfortable, and did not mix with the other guests. But which of its 4/5 locations did I stay at? Cannot remember.

I did not feel relaxed there, though that was over a year ago, and I doubt much has changed. It had a culture of drinking and partying, and was not the clean, safe haven I needed after a day in a city beset with social problems too.

Unique Qualities: Its big business, packing bodies in, not fun but better than a night on the streets.

http://www.ukglobetrotters.com/

As you can see from this website, they have a load of houses in this location, and even seem to be associated with the dreadful Blue Sky Hostel. I don't know who owns these places but I do urge you to be cautious and see if you are looking at number 56, 63, 65, 67 or whatever number ... and the reviews on the net mean zip, including here!

Note:
I have found the hostel operators of a number of Independent Hostels, including Glasgow ones, to be competing agressively with their neighbouring hostels, putting down one while over praising their own - to the extent that "customer ratings" for these hostels cannot be trusted. This means even these satisfaction indices on VT must be questionable. (Look at who has rated these places so highly, and ask why that is their one-and-only tip, and they live in Glasgow. Hmm).

Do look at www.hostel-scotland.co.uk as this independent organisation (IBHS) attempts to atleast ensure mimimum standards are upheld. As a result of this checking process, this and other hostels in Glasgow were rejected from the IBHS "Blue Guide".

Before you believe supposed satisfaction ratings, check to see if these hostels have been re admitted into the IBHS network. If they are not there this year, be careful!
www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Address: 56 Berkeley St., Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland
Directions: West of the M8 Motorway
Website: www.syha.org.uk
Other Contact: www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

This was the most depressing of all the hostels I visited in Glasgow, a couple of years ago.

It was dirty, tatty and badly run, exploiting passing trade and doing little to promote good ethics.

Like so many other hostels in Scottish cities, it relies upon a constant influx of new backpackers, and a large percentage of long stay residents, dossing there while working in the town. Not very satisfactory for a visitor, so I would only recommend this place for the laid back, hard nosed, travel wise Backpacker.

Unique Qualities: Its big business, packing bodies in, not fun but better than a night on the streets.

Note:
I have found the hostel operators of a number of Independent Hostels, including Glasgow ones, to be competing agressively with their neighbouring hostels, putting down one while over praising their own - to the extent that "customer ratings" for these hostels cannot be trusted. This means even these satisfaction indices on VT must be questionable.

Do look at www.hostel-scotland.co.uk as this independent organisation (IBHS) attempts to at east ensure mimimum standards are upheld. As a result of this checking process, this and other hostels in Glasgow were rejected from the IBHS "Blue Guide".

Before you believe supposed satisfaction ratings, check to see if these hostels have been re admitted into the IBHS network. If they are not there this year, be careful!
www.hostel-scotland.co.uk

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Theme: Hostel
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$20  » Currency Converter
Address: 65 Berkeley Street, , Glasgow, Scotland G3 7DX
Directions: West
Website: www.syha.org.uk
Other Contact: www.hostel-scotland.co.uk