On the basis of numbers, preferences and so on I have provisionally booked Helmsley for 23-37 October.
I need to return the booking form with a 25% deposit within 14 days to secure the booking… so, it’s firm committment time I suppose.
There are seven rooms at Helmsley.
1 x 3 bed
2 x 4 bed
4 x 6 bed
If I divide the cost of the hostel (which is £1090) by the per person when at full capacity of 35 people and then times it by bed available per room that seems to be the fairest way of working it out. Then if anyone shares a room they can work out how to split the cost of the room between them perhaps? On that basis the costs are:
the 3 bed room – £96 with a deposit of £24 due now.
the 4 bed rooms – £128 with a deposit of £32 due now.
the 6 bed rooms – £192 with a deposit of £48 due now.
Which leaves an excess of £30 to be the starting kitty for bread and milk and stuff.
It’s not the cheapest hostel option, certainly pricier than Melrose and I think we might need to do a fair bit of room juggling as there are already 8 families interested with space for another 6 people left over – which would of course adjust the cost slightly for individual families. If that becomes the case then I am more than happy to readjust the maths to make it fairer so that for example the non sharing families (such as myself) are paying slightly more for such luxury ;-).
So what do you all reckon? Too expensive? Not happy with that hostel choice? Too soon to make a committment (in which case I think we need to be realistic about possibly not getting a booking if we leave it much later, certainly for that half term week). As you all know I have £zero so would not be in a position to book anything unless all the 25% deposit has arrived with me – and I guess it would have to be a non returnable deposit too unless you could ‘sell it on’ to another interested party.
Well???
It’s not cheap is it?! If it’s a go-er I don’t mind sticking the deposit on a card just so that it’s definitely booked, iyswim, and you can pay me back when the deposits are in or whatever.
Do you think they would let us camp in the grounds as well? Is it worth asking? I certainly wouldn’t mind paying something to run a hookup from someone’s room but actually sleeping in the van, if that (a) frees a room up for another family and (b) brings the cost down a bit all round.
Comment by Sarah — 20 April 2006 @ 12:20 pm
I’ve emailed to ask and we’ll see what response we get. It’s probably unlikely due to insurance / Health & Safety / facilities being for the specific number of beds within the place etc I would imagine but worth the ask.
Comment by Nic — 20 April 2006 @ 12:34 pm
Oh and thanks very much for the offer of sticking deposit on a card – as you know I don’t have such facilities any more 😉
Comment by Nic — 20 April 2006 @ 12:35 pm
Bit of a youch to the cost, but we’d come 🙂 Out of interest, and if they’re easily obtainable, how much would the others cost?
Comment by Alison — 20 April 2006 @ 12:41 pm
6 bed room for me please. Will send deposit as soon as you want it.
Comment by Roslyn — 20 April 2006 @ 1:07 pm
I’m up for it and can share (withdrawing my toddler tantrum of yesterday, fun though it was).
Likelihood is it’ll be just me and Freya so we can share easily with another 3 or 2 or whatever.
Thanks for all your researching/organizing Nic!
Comment by Ali — 20 April 2006 @ 1:47 pm
I’m up for it too and can send deposit whenever – just shout.
Comment by Kirsty — 20 April 2006 @ 2:20 pm
Make that a 4 bed! Feels like I have more kids really 🙂
Comment by Roslyn — 20 April 2006 @ 2:31 pm
lol @ Ros 🙂
Comment by Nic — 20 April 2006 @ 2:38 pm
I won’t know for sure for a few days yet, and as my life is littered with lost deposits and mucked up holidays atm, I’m relectant to spend till I know for sure – prob by Wed next week. However, the three bed will do us fine 🙂
Comment by Joyce — 20 April 2006 @ 4:46 pm
*quietly speaks up from the back of the class*…
Yes please if there’s room for me too.
Comment by Barbara — 20 April 2006 @ 8:41 pm
We most probably will too. Just checking how far I have to drive to these places.lol
Em which one seems most likely
Comment by Leandra — 20 April 2006 @ 9:23 pm