From 2025, an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) will be a pre-entry requirement for anyone travelling to the UK who doesn't require a visa and who doesn't have any existing UK immigration permission (or exemption from immigration control). To find out more and to apply, please visit the UK Government Website.

The Visitor Levy (Scotland), commonly referred to as a tourist tax, is a local charge that Scottish councils may choose to apply to overnight stays in paid accommodation, including hostels, hotels, guest houses, B&Bs, holiday lets, and campsites.  It is not a national tax; rather, it gives individual councils the authority to decide whether to introduce the levy in their area and to set the applicable rate. 

Where implemented, the levy is usually calculated as a percentage of the accommodation cost per night; however, in some areas it may instead be charged as a fixed amount per stay or per booking transaction.

The charge is collected by the accommodation provider on behalf of the local council, either at the time of booking or during the stay and is subsequently remitted to the relevant local authority. Any funds raised must be reinvested locally in services, facilities and infrastructure that enhance the visitor experience and support the local community, including tourism initiatives, public spaces, transport improvements and cultural activities.

Guests can find further information about the Visitor Levy on the official website of the local council responsible for the area in which they are staying (for example, The City of Edinburgh Council, Glasgow City Council, Aberdeen City Council). Details may also be available through official Scottish Government guidance published by the Scottish Government: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2024/8/contents?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Respiratory infections such as flu, can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness, high temperature or do not feel well we would ask you not to travel to a youth hostel.

We maintain enhanced cleaning and hygiene procedures throughout our hostels, with particular attention given to high-touch surfaces and shared areas. Cleaning is carried out regularly using professional-grade products that meet current public health and safety standards. Our team follows established cleaning protocols to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all guests.

Whilst the majority of our hostels will still accept cash, we would encourage the use of contactless methods or card payments wherever possible.

Youth hostels offer great value, flexible accommodation, expert local knowledge and a warm welcome for anyone wishing to experience Scotland. With hostels in some of the finest locations in Scotland – cities, islands, beaches, hills and mountains (and all points in between) – we have a range of accommodation types that won’t break the budget.

Our hostels are open to all and everyone is welcome.

A warm welcome and comfortable, clean accommodation. Our hostels offer a range of shared and private accommodation and are suitable for families, individuals and groups.

No – those days are long gone!  Our teams look after all the cleaning, so you can relax and enjoy your stay.

Your room will be fully cleaned and disinfected prior to your arrival. It will be cleaned again on your departure. No staff members will enter your bedroom during your stay, except with your agreement (eg to rectify a maintenance issue) for your safety and security.

We offer a range of private and shared accommodation, including single, twin and family rooms - some with en-suite bathrooms. Our shared dorm space starts with four bedded rooms in bunk style accommodation. Please check your booking confirmation to confirm the room/ bed type you have chosen. Upgrades may be available prior to or on arrival, subject to availability.

Large groups (ten or more guests) are welcome at our hostels, including clubs, youth groups, school and university groups. For more information go to Group Bookings.

Groups can also use our RentaHostel service and get exclusive use of a fantastic Hostelling Scotland property. Find out more here

We do not accept stag or hen parties at any of our hostels.

With restrictions currently in place, it is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of the current Government guidance on travel and gatherings. Details of Scottish Government guidelines can be found at here.

Dogs are welcome at selected hostels, in certain room types. Please book in advance directly with the hostel at a cost of £7.50 per dog, per night. For comfort, we have a limit of 2 dogs per room. Check individual hostel pages for details. In consideration of other guests please adhere to the ‘doggy do’s & don’ts ‘as set out in our dog-friendly facilities section

We do accept registered assistance dogs in all our hostels - please stipulate this when booking.

Please note that many of our hostels have licensed bars on site. Because of our responsibilities as the license holder it is not possible to let anyone staying at, or visiting the hostel, bring their own alcohol. This does not apply to those hostels without a license or when you have booked the whole premises under our Exclusive Hire arrangements.

Our non licensed hostels are: Achmelvich Beach, Glen Affric, Kirkwall, Loch Ossian, Perth, Port Charlotte, Portree and Tobermory.

Please note that we expect all of our guests to behave responsibly at all times and adhere to our behaviour policies and the conditions of booking.

Thank you for your understanding and support. You’ll find that all of our bars offer a good range of very reasonably priced alcoholic drinks and our teams will be happy to serve you.

Some of our hostels are available for exclusive private hire. Many are ideally suited for popular activities such as hill walking, cycling and canoeing, making them a great base for any club or group looking for exclusive use. Perfect for work or family gatherings, celebrations and activity breaks, visit RentaHostel for more information.

Parking facilities vary at each hostel. Some parking may be on street or at a public car park and charges may apply. All vehicles are parked and left at the owner’s risk.

Our affiliate hostels allow us to offer our guests accommodation in areas of Scotland where we have no Hostelling Scotland youth hostels. Affiliates are accommodation providers who are recommended by us but operate independently and are subject to different terms and conditions when booking.  Members of Hostelling Scotland will be unable to use their membership when staying at an affiliate hostel. Please see the affiliate hostel pages for more information.

An annual membership of Hostelling Scotland entitles you to benefits that will save you money on many visitor attractions, retail outlets and travel services across Scotland. In addition, it entitles you to bring up to eight non-members with you at membership rates, making it ideal for families or small groups.

When you do become a member you gain access to brilliant member benefits as well as an automatic membership with Hosteling International – perfect if you’re planning on travelling abroad.

If you prefer not to purchase an annual membership, daily membership during your stay will cost £3.75 per person per day (£4.50 per day when booking through a 3rd Party).

Yes, you can. We will have a record of your membership purchase and will use this to verify your entitlement to your member discount.

You should receive your membership card within 7-10 working days.

Yes, you can still become a Hostelling Scotland member.

Hostelling Scotland membership paid by Direct Debit is renewed automatically every year. This means that the membership fee will be debited from your bank account automatically, so you will not need to do anything to renew your membership. We will notify you at least 10 working days prior to your account being debited.

You must be over 16 to stay in one of our hostels without an adult. If you’re under 16 you can stay with us as long as you’re travelling with an adult.

Parties with younger children (under 12) must stay in designated family rooms.

Younger children can only share accommodation with their parents or guardians.

Some of our buildings and fittings have not been designed for children under the age of 5, though some hostels do provide equipment (cots/highchairs) which are suitable for infants (0-3 years). Please check with the hostel directly before you go.

You must be 18 or over to stay in a mixed gender dorm.

The maximum number of nights you can book at any one hostel is 14, however you may be able to extend your stay with the agreement of the hostel manager.

Check-in and checkout times vary from hostel to hostel. Please check individual hostel pages for more information. Early check-in and late checkout may be available, subject to a small surcharge, and at the discretion of the manager.

If you’ve booked directly with Hostelling Scotland, you need to notify the hostel or the reservations team of any cancellations or amendments to your booking.

This can be done by emailing the reservations team: hello@hostellingscotland.org.uk or by contacting the hostel direct.

Information on our standard terms and conditions for cancellations can be found here: terms and conditions.

For reservations made via a 3rd party or online travel agent you should contact them direct.

If you've not received your confirmation email then check your spam/junk folder. If your email system has identified the email as spam/junk then you’ll need to add Hostelling Scotland to your safe sender list.

If the email is not in your spam/junk folder, please contact us.

Our refund process is not automated and all refunds are processed manually by our team members.

Under normal circumstances all refund applications are processed within 4 to 5 workings days. However, as a result of card companies experiencing the same high volume of applications, we ask that you allow 28 days for any such refunds to be returned to the original payment method used.

Fully equipped kitchens are available throughout our hostel network offering you the opportunity to store and prepare your own food during your stay. This is a shared facility and we would encourage you to be mindful of usage, storage space and cleanliness levels in consideration of the other users. Each hostel will offer directions on where and how food storage should be done. Please note however that freezers are not offered in most locations.

Self-catering kitchens and dining spaces are limited to individual travellers and families only. Unfortunately due to the size and demand of this facility groups of 10 or more are requested to take catered services. Our kitchen and dining areas do close for cleaning. Please review directly at the property to ensure the access times meet with your requirements; we endeavour to keep closed periods to a minimum.

Most of our hostels offer a 'wee breakfast' to help get your day off to the best possible start. Some of our larger hostels provide a full meals service, including cooked breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals, prepared with fresh, nutritious and locally-sourced ingredients wherever possible. Our smaller, more rural hostels often provide simple but tasty ‘heat it and eat it’ meals. Teas, coffees and soft drinks are available at many hostels, while some offer a selection of wines, ciders, lagers and Scottish beers.

Please note that many of our hostels have licensed bars on site. Because of our responsibilities as the license holder it is not possible to let anyone staying at, or visiting the hostel, bring their own alcohol. This does not apply to those hostels without a license or when you have booked the whole premises under our Exclusive Hire arrangements.

Our non licensed hostels are: Achmelvich Beach, Glen Affric, Kirkwall, Loch Ossian, Perth, Port Charlotte, Portree and Tobermory.

Please note that we expect all of our guests to behave responsibly at all times and adhere to our behaviour policies and the conditions of booking.

Thank you for your understanding and support. You’ll find that all of our bars offer a good range of very reasonably priced alcoholic drinks and our teams will be happy to serve you.

We supply all bed linen, except in Glen Affric Youth Hostel where pillows and blankets are provided but guests should bring their own 3-4 season sleeping bag and a pillowcase.

Towels are offered for all guests within private rooms. Guests who book shared accommodation can hire a towel either directly at the property or booked prior to arrival at the point of booking. The cost per towel is £3.00.

These items are not provided in the rooms. In a limited number of hostels, we offer Premium Rooms which may contain a hairdryer or a kettle - please see the hostel page for more information.

The majority of bedrooms have adequate spare power sockets.

For more information about the specifics of a room you’ve booked or are thinking of booking, please contact the hostel directly.

Any luggage that doesn’t contain valuables, such as clothes and toiletries, can be left in your room. Phones, cameras, laptops, passports, etc, should be kept on your person or safeguarded if you are staying in shared accommodation.

Many of our hostels have luggage storage rooms and most, but not all, have lockers. Please check the facilities section of the hostel web page, where the presence of a luggage store should be indicated. If you’re still unsure, please contact the hostel directly.

Hostelling Scotland cannot be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Free Wi-Fi is available at most Hostelling Scotland hostels, mainly in communal areas, though some of the smaller, more remote hostels have no Wi-Fi access. Check individual hostel listings for more information.

We make every effort to provide accessible facilities at our hostels and a full access guide is available on our website. If you have difficulty getting around and would like one of our more accessible rooms, please contact the hostel directly or call the reservations team on +44 (0)345 293 7373.

To help us help you, please notify us at the time of booking if you or any of your party has any disability, medical condition or special needs that require specific facilities. We will endeavour to meet your requirements where possible but facilities vary – please check before booking.

Unfortunately not all of our hostels are suitable for dogs and several have limited availability. The following sites are able to accommodate your dog:-

Achmelvich Beach
Broadford
Cairngorm Lodge
Crianlarich
Durness Smoo
Gairloch Sands
Glasgow
Glencoe
Glen Nevis
Kirkwall
Lochranza
Oban
Pitlochry
Ratagan
Rowardennan Lodge
Torridon

As responsible owners we know that your dogs will be fully inoculated and well behaved and not left alone for any period of time.

Dogs are permitted in selected private rooms only and not in shared accommodation therefore advance bookings should be made via participating hostels direct.

The fee for any dogs staying with us will need to be paid on arrival

There is a charge of £7.50 per night per dog. This additional charge is made to allow us spend additional time cleaning and preparing our premises for the next guests.

Yes, there is a limit of two dogs per room.

Dogs will have access to public areas of the hostel with the exception of the kitchen, dining area and quiet rooms. Owners are asked to keep their dogs on a short lead in public areas and don't allow them to jump up. Owners are asked to be considerate to fellow guests at all times.

Hostelling Scotland does not provide specific dog bedding, therefore guests will need to bring their own bedding/baskets and dog food.

The hostel reception is happy to provide water bowls, dog treats and doggy towels if you need to dry your dog.

The hostels may hold a limited stock of poop bags but owners are asked to bring their own pooper scooper and poop bags with them.