Eight of the best secluded and affordable places to stay in Andalucía, Spain
From B&Bs and cabins to fincas and family hotels, these rural boltholes make ideal bases for exploring the region’s mountains, trails and historic towns and villages
Can an Austrian hostel give a luxury ski chalet a run for its money?
Ski accommodation can be prohibitively expensive, but a cosy youth hostel puts the Montafon resort and its glorious runs within reach for those on a budget
‘Mingling is part of the adventure’: a family trip to Wales shows why hostels are booming
Forget draughty bunk rooms and awkward social encounters, hostels now provide home comforts and a sense of community private rentals will never match
Castles to barn conversions: 12 of the best UK holiday pads for large groups
We pick gorgeous country pads, from Pembrokeshire to the Peak District, that make perfect bases for groups of friends and family get-togethers
Very cheap and incredibly cheerful: we hired an entire hostel in Wales
In winter, the YHA hires out whole hostels for exclusive use by large groups of family and friends – and they are in some of the loveliest parts of the UK
‘We loved pub trips, wild swimming and sing-songs’: readers’ favourite UK hostels
From the Surrey Hills to the Hebrides, hostels offer affordable lodgings in some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes. Here are our readers’ top picks
‘The magical places’: readers on their youth hostel memories
The YHA – which has provided many with cheap, yet unforgettable, adventures – is selling off 20 properties
Cost of living crisis prompts YHA to sell off 20 of its 150 hostels
Covid lockdowns and current pressures on finances are behind sales but there are hopes that buyers will operate the properties as indie hostels
Share your memories of staying in YHA hostels in England and Wales
As the association puts 20 hostels on the market, we want to hear about your experiences of staying in YHA dorms
10 of the best group trips for solo travellers
From wild camping in the Sahara and the Lakes to culinary adventures and tours of Europe, these holidays are also a fun way to meet new people
My life in budget holidays has been a priceless experience
From chance encounters to thrilling train rides, holidays on a shoestring have been some of my best
10 of the best ways to find bargain places to stay in the UK
From priories to Wetherspoon’s, Oxford colleges to seaside cottages, we share ideas for low-cost breaks around the country
Walking Pendle Hill’s new trail: the Two Toms
Honouring two giants of UK hiking, this 25-mile Lancashire route links to the Pennine Way – and finally frees the hill from its witchcraft associations
Five of the best sustainable holidays across Europe
From a spa-and-cycling trail across Slovenia to the coolest energy-saving hotels in Berlin, these getaways tick all the eco boxes
West Highlands on a budget: a hostel amid Scotland’s mountains and waterfalls
Our series of low-cost stays continues at the revamped Glen Nevis hostel, handy for long-distance trails, plus safer routes for frisky weather