YHASalcombe

This was my family's first stay at a hostel and we were very pleasantly surprised. After an arduous drive from London, we arrived at Salcombe mid-evening. The drive up the steep hill was stressful, because we accidentally drove up a private drive, then had to back out and make our way up the hill to the hostel, in pitch black darkness, pouring rain, and in a Ford Focus that didn't like hills Much nail-biting later we arrived in the parking lot, but the only way I was certain it was Salcombe was due to the palm trees encircling the building. We were exhausted that night so didn't explore, but the next day we were wishing we had more time here because boy, is it ever a beautiful spot! After a great breakfast in the dining room with a lovely view of the tropical gardens, we walked around the grounds and enjoyed further views of the estuary and surrounding countryside. It was a gorgeous day, so we could see for miles. Unfortunately we had to leave that morning but if we are ever in eastern Devon again we will certainly stay at Salcombe. Most impressed!

The location is absolutely stunning, but make sure your car is fit for steep hills (1st gear) and frequent hair-pin bends. The views from the dining room and a few priviledged rooms amazing. I visited with a friend, thank goodness, to help with my twin boys of 2 1/2 years. The hostel knew their age, yet put me on first floor up steep hard concrete steps. The landing to our room opened directly onto the opening to the steep stairs which you had to step over to get to the tv room (tv didn't work and staff couldn't help). From our landing there was a gap of maximum 30cm (1ft) for my boys to walk through between the wall and the stair opening to get to the main landing, so we had to straddle the stairs to make sure my toddlers didn't fall down them! A truly ridiculous and dangerous arrangement. Our room was dingy, small and little more than a corridor with a very high ceiling and a tiny bulb that barely lit the room. We overlooked the back of the hostel, no view. I don't think we paid any less than other people for a very substandard room. (Room 1) There was an ill equipped kitchen - 1 mixing bowl, very few teaspoons, very old pans. The eating area opening off the kitchen was very small. Only 2 small families could eat there at one time. There was a high breakfast bar arrangement lining the wall and one peninsula unit. The stools were the same height as my boys. Really I wouldn't let a child under 7 use these stools - ridiculously high and not child friendly. The only alternative for eating was the dining room down a long corridor and through 4 fire doors. It was only available between 5pm and 10am. If I had been alone I couldn't have carried everything I needed and managed the children to get to the dining room and if I had forgotten anything I would have had to bring the boys with me all the way back to the kitchen. A real nightmare. Thank goodness my friend came to help. Don't think of coming on your own with young children. Staff were luke warm at best. I was struggling to get the children ready to go on the morning of our departure and at 10.05 a staff member knocked on my door and with me changing a nappy on the floor, instead of saying "Did you have a good stay" or "Can I help with anything" reminded me that I should have left already!! Most of our bags were already in the car. I was just told to leave the key in the door. No-one at any stage asked us how our stay was going. I felt quite unwelcome there. There was no table or surface suitable to change nappies in the room and only a small open unit for hanging clothes. There was nowhere to put anything with doors to keep it away from the inquisitive fingers of my twins - no cupboards or drawers. The car park which can only be used between 5pm and 10am was 100 yards from the disabled parking (which you can use to unload) but the disabled parking was itself separated from the hostel by a long set of steps and quite a walk. Great when you have a lot of luggage - as is pretty standard with young children. This was my first holiday with my boys and I will certainly think long and hard before trying the YHA again. It certainly wasn't a cheap option.