Back to hostel — The Bristol Wing
When I was travelling overseas, I usually stayed in hostels rather than hotels because I needed to travel for a long period of time and couldn’t afford hotels. Besides the price, hostels allow cooking and laundry and let me meet new friends in their public areas. But since pandemic, I didn’t travel much and I needed to move to UK for a new life. During these years, I do still travel but within the country. I either stayed in hotels, guesthouses or Airbnb since hostels are not in every town, and sometimes hotels can be very cheap.
Last year (2024) when I was visiting Bristol and decided to extend my stay, I suddenly wanted to stay in a hostel again, and I booked The Bristol Wing in the last minute.
The Bristol Wing is a part of YMCA hostel, and it’s been converted from the police headquarter. The historic building is well maintained, with spacious and comfortable public area so that travellers will love to stay there even reading alone in the evening if they don’t want to meet friends.
I was given a key card, and I love how they do the branding and design the card for us to collect it; and it looks like the bird on it represents backpackers who enjoy their own freedom.
There are a lift and a stair to access the rooms. The lift makes one go back to the old days, and the stair with illustrations is like an exhibition telling some stories.
I stayed in the most basic room: mixed dormitory with 9 beds. As the night I stayed was on Monday, there were not so many backpackers. There is a lamp, a plug and a curtain on each bed. A locker was also provided but in a form of wire mesh so people may find insecure although I didn’t worry too much about it.
The only thing I complained about is the triple bunk bed rather than double, which could make me hit my head when I woke up.
Let’s talk about the bathroom. I usually prefer it not being inside the room as I suppose it consists of several shower stalls for more rooms, compared to en-suite dormitory which includes only one shower, toilet and sink so eight to nine will have to wait at the same time. There are two bathrooms here which are outside the room, but each of them allows a person only. Imagine when the hostel is full, how many people will have to wait.
There is a refrigerator and some microwaves in the kitchen for backpackers to prepare simple meals. Free light breakfast is also provided in the morning.
It was the rainy summer night but not many backpackers stayed. My room was not full, and the communal area was quiet. People including me enjoyed their solitude and tranquility when outside was very rainy. Hostel is not hotel, but it can be so comfortable…
