Article on youth hostels in the Brisbane Times

Youth hostels: how the dorm became the norm
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/travel/traveller-tips/youth-hostels-how-the-dorm-became-the-norm-20101118-17ytq.html

Interesting article on YHA UK -- it focuses on a family who stayed in a private room with ensuite bathroom, but talks about the social atmosphere that they would have taken part of if they were traveling alone:

Our private room, while small and basic, was immaculately clean and had an en suite bathroom, so we didn't have to share with anyone else.

The biggest pro, apart from cost and location, was the social atmosphere, which is something you rarely find when using other types of accommodation.

The hostel had a modern cafe and bar downstairs and it was a great place to sit and have a drink, coffee or meal, listening to the chatter and observations of travellers from all over the world.

We didn't actively socialise but I certainly felt that I could have done so if I had been travelling alone.

The communications manager for the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) in Australia, Silke Kerwick, says many travellers choose hostels for social reasons as much as budgetary ones.

"Even when YHA builds brand-new, purpose-designed hostels with all en suited rooms and a high ratio of private rooms, we still place a huge emphasis on communal living aspects," she says. "We invest heavily in large, shared spaces ... from internet cafes to rooftop terraces."

At London Central (one of seven YHAs in London), I was pleased to discover there were several other families staying at the hostel, including some with young children and some with teenagers.