Hostelling is back in vogue, and it has come a long way since the damp and dreary days of yore, writes Alanna Gallagher, who rounds up 10 of the best hostels in Ireland
OKAY, SO YOU'VE been to Machu Picchu, partied on Copacabana Beach under the watchful eye of Christ the Redeemer and ticked the other five wonders of the world off your list of things to see. You stayed in seven-star luxury and did the spa thing until you were horizontal with relaxation but will the global downturn put a stop to your gallop?
Not if you know it's now hip to be prudent. Savvy voyagers are rediscovering the delights of hostelling in Ireland and abroad - and they are bringing their kids, too.
But this isn't the damp and dreary hostelling of yore - this is haute hostelling, where families are as welcome as fit singles. And home is where you should first sample this alternative to hotels.
It's been more than 20 years since I last hostelled. Recently my family were stranded without accommodation in Milford Sound on New Zealand's south island and we had to bunk in at the local hostel. With the torrential rain bucketing down, the place felt like the Four Seasons and came with an equally big welcome. Our room-mates had no concerns about our child sharing with them, and in the morning the hostel's common room was full of families as well as groups and singletons.
It was an awakening of sorts. Financially, and in terms of facilities, it makes sense to hostel, especially en famille.
Irish hostels are light years away from the dank, dark properties of old. Many are new buildings or have been refurbished, and perks such as leisure facilities, internet access and breakfast are often included in the price. It's a great way to see Ireland with the kids.
Another change is that hostelling is no longer the preserve of the young. The percentage of hostel users in the over-30 bracket has grown steadily since 2000 and now accounts for about 20 per cent of bookings with Hostelworld.com, an online booking agency with hundreds of hostels on its books.
Spokesperson Aisling White tells Go that the 40-plus age group has also shown considerable growth, illustrating the growth in "grey gappers", who now account for 7 per cent of bookings.
1Cairn calmYoga types will love Gyreum, overlooking Lough Arrow in Co Sligo. The 100ft latter-day cairn has a central hall that is aligned to the dawn and dusk of both the summer and winter solstices. Guests can stay in dorms that circle the round hall, which is ideal for yoga and meditation. Private accommodation is also available in the hostel. Rates are from €17 per night.
Gyreum, Corlisheen, Riverstown, Co Sligo, 071-9165994, www.gyreum.com.
2New sleepexperiences Shiplake Hostel, outside Dunmanway in west Cork, is a stone-built, traditional farmhouse at the foot of the Sheehy Mountains that also offers accommodation in yurts, for those who want to tick both the camping and hostelling boxes, and for Wanderly Wagon fans there are the delightful barrel-top gypsy caravans, to channel your inner Judge. Rates from €16 per night.
Shiplake Mountain Hostel. Dunmanway, Co Cork, 023-45750, www.shiplakemountainhostel.com.
3The west's awakeCulture vultures will love waxing lyrical about having slept in the historic Doorus House, where WB Yeats, Lady Gregory and Edward Martyn met with owner Count deBasterot to discuss the founding of the National Theatre. Set outside Kinvara, this is a great base from which to explore the Aran Islands, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren and Connemara. Rates from €15 per night.
Doorus House Hostel, Kinvara, Co Galway, 091-637173, www.kinvara.com/doorushouse.
4Island lifeExperience the ancient history of Dún Aengus and the churches of Saint Benan and Teampall Chiaráin. Why not pay a visit to the Aran Islands for a unique experience of Ireland as it used to be and stay at Kilronan, which is just two minutes from the pier at Kilronan Harbour on Inis Mór and has great views of the Atlantic. Free wifi internet access and a selection of free DVDs are available. Rates from €17.78 per night.
Kilronan Hostel, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, 099-61255, www.kilronanhostel.com.
5Scenery queensBig and imposing, the location of Knockree Hostel, in the middle of the Wicklow Way and boasting views of Glencree Mountains, is second to none. The newly renovated hostel reopened for business in April, so its facilities are all brand new. Try the double deluxe room, also known as "the honeymoon suite". Rates from €21 per night.
Knockree Hostel (seven kilometres from Enniskerry), Co Wicklow, 01-2767981, www.anoige.ie/hostels/knockree.
6High spirits and haunting scenesParents with not-so-small kids will love the idea of staying in a reputedly haunted castle that was once visited by a BBC team of ghost hunters. Foulksrath Castle, located 12km outside Kilkenny city, has dorm accommodation accessed via spiralling stone staircases - great fuel for the imagination. Rates from €15 per night.
Foulksrath Castle, Jenkinstown, Conaly Road, Co Kilkenny, 056-7767674, www.anoige.ie/hostels/foulksrath-castle.
7History lessonNewgrange Lodge is situated beside the famous Neolithic passage tomb of the same name, part of Brú na Bóinne and one of only three World Heritage Sites on the island of Ireland. It is older than the Egyptian pyramids and this well-appointed lodge is the perfect base from which to give the kids a grá for their heritage while having time to explore the other delights the area has to offer, including the site of the Battle of the Boyne and Trim Castle. Rates are from €18 per night.
Newgrange Lodge, Donore, Co Meath, 041-9882478, www.newgrangelodge.com.
8Whiskey galoreThe Mill Rest Hostel lies in the centre of Bushmills village, with the Giant's Causeway, another World Heritage site, just two miles away. The world-famous Bushmills Distillery is right on the hostel's doorstep, and you can witness the whiskey-making process first-hand on a tour of the site - and have a taste of the finished product in the distillery bar. The hostel boasts en-suite rooms and a walled garden, and is the ideal place to relax after a hard day's sightseeing. Rates from €21.30 per night.
Mill Rest Youth Hostel, 49 Main Street, Bushmills, Co Antrim, 048-20731222, www.hostelworld.com.
9Rare old timesGlobetrotters on Dublin's Gardiner Street is a 200-year-old building that was formerly the home of famous writers Dion Boucicault and Lafcadio Hearn. It has been painstakingly restored and is perfect for families wanting to enjoy the capital's delights on the cheap. The price includes a full Irish breakfast. Rates are from €24 per night.
Globetrotters, The Townhouse, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, 01-5005505, www.globetrottersdublin.com.
10Monastic settlementAbbeywood is a former monastery that has maintained many of its original features, including stained-glass windows, polished wood floors and high ceilings. It has only recently reopened its doors after renovations. Each room offers spectacular views over Croagh Patrick and Westport as well as new beds complete with orthopaedic mattresses. Rates from €18 per night.
Abbeywood, Westport, Co Mayo, 098-25496, www.abbeywoodhouse.com.
• All hostels listed above are available to view and book on www.hostelworld.com.
• Other useful resources include the Irish Youth Hostel Association ( www.anoige.ie) and Hostelling International ( www.hihostels.com)