Have A Merry 'OleTime At Ho Ho Hostel!

Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland Highland, Argyll and Bute

Recommendation added: 29/05/2006 13:08
By: HighHopes (YSUK rating +40)

HighHopes has been thanked 7 times for this contribution

"Anyone on a budget wanting to visit Inverness and nearby attractions really should consider Ho Ho Hostel in the City Centre of Inverness.

Inverness has no shortage of B&B's and hotels which are fine for some but not always easy on the wallet and not always the best place for young people hoping for the company of their peers. Also, the accomodation isn't always in a convenient, central location but Ho Ho Hostel is the solution.

The Ho Ho Hostel is situated right in the center of Inverness, just opposite the Town House and the Tourist Information office and five minutes walk from the bus and train stations. It is in the middle of the main shopping district and there are plenty of pubs, restaurants and shops within a few blocks of the hostel to keep you well served. For those that are self catering you will find a large Tesco within an enjoyable 10 minute walk of the hostel (just over the River Ness).

Access to the hostel is via well signposted wynd off the High Street between Lush and Worthington's Jeweller. There is also another entrance via the same wynd just past Woolworth's on Baron Taylors Street. You will find an inconspicuous door in the wynd marked as Ho Ho Hostel. Simply ring the buzzer and they will let you in.

As you ascend the staircase you will see some gorgeous murals in vibrant colours painted by staff members over the years. This gives you a taste of the very essence of this hostel, exciting and full of life!

At the reception desk you will see a vast array of photo's taken of various travellers and their antics over the years, they are well worth a closer look after you've checked yourself in. The hostel will ask for some sort of photo ID so be prepared. A passport is the normal form however if you are a UK citizen with a photo license this should be accepted however you may wish to confirm this before you arrive.

Current room rates are as follows:
Dormitory Bedrooms of 8,10,12 beds are £12/bed per night
Twin/Double rooms are £15/bed per night or £30 for the entire room
Single Rooms are £30 per night

There are a few single rooms available and fair amount of twin rooms as well if you prefer more privacy. And if you are sharing with just one friend the extra £3 per night each for a twin room could well be worth it as last time we were there these rooms had locks so we were able to leave the bulk of our belongings in our room which made our sightseeing more enjoyable. Twin and Single rooms share bathrooms down the hall but within a reasonable distance. Most of the dormitory rooms have their own bathroom right off the room itself.

The main kitchen is currently being renovated but is of a good size and well equiped. The hostel is offering temporary kitchen facilities for self caterers at this time so if you are going soon you will still be able to feed yourself at the hostel without problems.

The dining/lounge are has several very large tables and many chairs set up against the enormous windows that overlook the High Street. The room is always flooded with light and has the same brightly coloured murals that feature in the stairwell. You will find several comfy sofas and armchairs as well as an array of well thumbed books and a good selection of board games. There is also internet access for a nominal fee.

One of the lovely things about this hostel is the relaxed atmosphere. They are child friendly which is a huge bonus for young families travelling on a budget. You are given a key upon request and are allowed to come and go as you please. When you do return many times you will find some one playing an acoustic guitar in the evenings and/or people singing and always a lot of socialising. Alcohol is permitted and there are no restrictions on the hours you can be in the common room however at night you must respect others by keeping the noise down. This normally isn't a problem with the rooms above the common room as the ceilings are approximately 15 feet high!

The rooms are fairly spacious for a hostel and the beds and linen are in good condition. There is a reasonable amount of toilet facilities so you shouldn't have to wait too long for showers in the morning. The staff are generally very friendly and well versed in the areas attractions and how to get to them. You will also find a good selection of brochures available in the reception area including information on hostels and bus tours in other areas for your further travels.

From this base you can visit many attractions both within Inverness and in outlying areas like Drumnadrochit, Beuly, Castle Urqhart and various areas along Loch Ness. Access to these is available either by car, bus or train please check with the Tourist Information Centre across from the hostel for more details.

The accomdation isn't that of The Ritz but it's convienenly located, inexpensive, clean and comfortable and very very relaxed which makes such a difference when you're traveling

I simply cannot recommend this hostel highly enough. We have visited it 5 times over the years both pre and post children (with young twins in tow). They have always been so friendly and helpful. The company is wonderfully rich in ethnic and cultural diversity making for a delicious evening of intriguing conversation with people from far flung regions of the world. Why not give it a try? I can honestly say we've always had a merry ole time at the Ho Ho Hostel and I believe you will too!

Email: hohohostel@hotmail.com

Address:
Ho Ho Hostel
23a High Street
Inverness
Scotland

Phone: +44(0)1463-221225

Location StreetMap.co.uk: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=266792&y=845270&z =1&sv=266792,845270&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf& ;searchp=newsearch.srf

Website* http://www.hohohostel.force9.co.uk/info.htm

*Please note: The website has not been updated since 2003, I called them to ascertain current prices for beds and facilities

Access by Train: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/download_tt.htm

Acce ss by Bus: http://www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm

Access by Car: http://www.multimap.com/"