This place was a pleasant surprise, and so was the bustling town of Llandudno, since my first…read morechoice was to stay in the quaint village of Caernarfon, home of one of King Henry I's castles and it's original walled city. No reasonably-priced accommodation were available there during my stay. This turned out to my advantage, in that not only did I get to explore a whole other area of Wales I wasn't planning to see, but I got to stay in this sweet, five-story Victorian-era structure, which may have been built originally as a private home. The building doesn't seem to have been remodeled too much, though the walls have been insulated, and the place isn't drafty like truly untouched Victorian structures. The owners recently updated the kitchen, which is state-of-the-art, though not open to guests. The newer shower, and toilet facilities are green certified. The bedrooms, both private and dorms, still have the charm of the Victorian era with floral wallpaper, curtains, bedding and small chandelier lamps. The hostel, which considers itself a guest house, was more expensive than I would have liked, but it was less than other places in the area, which had availability. It may be more expensive, because of the "guest house" designation. Continental breakfast is included. I was disappointed that the kitchen wasn't available for guests to use, but I understand it had something to do with Welsh laws. Beyond all that, this place is definitely worth the stay. It's within walking distance to several restaurants, pubs and a variety of shops. The young women working here are friendly and helpful.

Set at the bottom of the Snowdon Ranger path, overlooking a lake this hostel is in a beautiful…read moresetting. I stopped there as part of a group so we had the hostel to ourselves. It was my first time in a traditional hostel so i was unsure of what to expect. The decor is a little alarming on the first floor, but the rooms and communal areas are clean, free from smells, and feel homely. When you look at the price you pay to stop in a YHA anything more than that really is a complete and total bonus. I'd stop there again without hesitation.

We came for one night, giving the kids their first experience of youth hosteling. A stunning…read morelocation, nestled right in the mountains and overlooking an impressive lake, we enjoyed our stay here. The staff are friendly and helpful and the communal lounge is a great place to chill out at night and have a game of cards - wifi available in the lounge. You can order dinner / breakfast at a reasonable price or use the self catering communal kitchen if you like. The washrooms are clean and well kept as was our dormitory room - it slept 6 in bunks and we had it to ourselves. Clean, fresh linen is provided and you can hire towels should you wish. The only downside was that the rooms were just so hot that it was a little uncomfortable to sleep - I noticed that a few rooms had their doors propped open with their bins. Overall, an impressive youth hostel.

Canolfan Corris Hostel, or Corris Hostel for short, is a magical place in the small, sleepy village…read moreof Corris on the southern edge of Snowdonia National Forest. They don't accept credit cards here. But don't fret. You CAN trust them. Paying via a bank transfer is an option, especially if you don't have time to send a check through the mail. Back in the U.S. when I first corresponded with Michael, the owner, to figure out the best approach to reserving a room with a deposit, he actually said he would hold the room for me, and I could pay once I arrived. I have a feeling this was an exception. He also welcomed me "... to an ancient culture," meaning one where people don't even think about trust issues between strangers. It's taken for granted. This exchange was the beginning of a truly refreshing and enlightening experience. They pride themselves on being an environmentally-friendly hostel, and they really are. Their dorm rooms are roomy with bunk beds, and decorated nicely. The same is true of their private rooms, which have a double-sized bed below a single-sized bunk bed. They have plenty of private showers. They have a great hall, or common room, where at one end long tables are set up for eating meals or hanging out to play chess or to talk with others staying the night. The other half of this great hall is more cozy with couches in front of a wood-burning stove. Their brightly-lit kitchen is open to everyone staying there, and it has all the basic modern conveniences you need, and if I'm remembering correctly, that includes a food processor. They also have a laundry room, which you access from the outside. Just ask about it. Though they have a dryer, they encourage you to air-dry your clothes, and they do have a powerful dehumidifier to help facilitate the process. I was there only one night, so I didn't get a chance to fully discover all the gems of this place. It's nestled in the picturesque village of Corris. Because it's a mountainous region, the walking is fun for exploring. The grounds keeper, Kevin, is an endearing person, bursting with all kinds of knowledge and philosophy on life to share. Allow yourself the chance to spend some time to take in the tales of this man. Directions Now finding the hostel is a bit tricky. Coming from either the south, take the road A487 to Corris. When you come to the Braich Goch Inn (see photo in Canolfan Corris Hostel's gallery), you'll see a road heading down at a very sharp angle to the left. I believe it's called Bridge Street, but there may not be a sign. You go a ways. When you get to Slaters Arms (pub), turn left. This should be Old School Road (which also may not have a sign), and head up a steep hill. You'll see the hostel on your right. Parking is back down the hill, but it's all right to park your car temporarily to check in, then move your car to the lot. Though I didn't arrive from this direction, if you're driving from the north, it looks like you come from A487, and you'll see Neptune House. There you'll see, what I believe is Old School Road, and you take a sharp left. Go for awhile, and you should get to the hostel. If I ever find myself in Wales again, I will definitely make sure to reserve a room here and try to stay a few days.

This was my home for the first week of my life in this beautiful part of Mid Wales and I'd…read morerecommend it to anyone visiting the area on a budget. Corris is a funny little village an old slate miners' village which is appropriately grey in winter but it's set right in the hills and with easy access to good walks, the Corris Craft Centre, King Arthur's Labyrinth and the Centre for Alternative Technology. The hostel is an old Welsh schoolhouse with lovely wood burning fire for those chilly winter eves. Those that run the hostel are friendly and helpful and will point you in the direction of things to do in the area.

If you're spending a weekend away with a big group of friends, finding decent accommodation that's…read morenot too expensive is usually priority number one. I didn't have to do any of the organising for this trip, just turned up on Friday night, so wasn't exactly sure what a 'bunkhouse' looked like on the inside. This one was a really good find. A recently converted 19th century chapel, it sleeps up to 14 people in three bunk rooms (four, four and six berth). They only provide the mattresses though, so bring your pillows and sleeping bags. Other facilities include two shower rooms, each with a loo and there's a third separate WC so no long queues! The large open plan lounge/diner/kitchen has a log burning stove, fridge freezer, oven and microwave so it has everything you should need for cooking meals. There's under floor heating as well, to add to the cosiness, so you won't be chilly in here! There's plenty of off-road parking (we fit five cars outside) but as it's on the A5 trunk road, vehicles drive past at considerable speed so be careful when pulling out. The price is £13.50 per person per night which was an absolute bargain. If your group is smaller, you'll either have to pay for the beds you don't use or be prepared to share the place with others. The Bunkhouse is in a beautiful location in the Ogwen Valley, with the hills to the front and back (snow capped when we were there). One of the nicest views when doing the dishes :) Tip: The owner lives on the upper two floors and is a lovely fella if you need anything. Tip: Bethesda is only a short drive north and has a Tesco Express and Spa shop. Tip: The oven is not catering size, just a normal domestic one, so if you're planning on cooking for the masses, be prepared to make meals in batches. Tip: A large basket of chopped wood for the stove costs £5, but the bucket of coal is free.