`A FREE ICECREAM HOSTEL'

`SIMPLY THE BED')

Hi! My name is Irena and I would very much like you to stay with me in my large 4 bedroomed flat, right smack in the centre of the most Scottish city of GLASGOW.

If you take my private cosy bedroom (double bed plus three-quarter couch) the charge for each of you will be twelve and a half pounds sterling (including bedding and as much FREE Ice Cream as you can eat since GLASGOW is famous for its' tropical heatwaves - grin).

I also have a very large dormitory (12 feet high ceilings) with 4 double bunks and 4 single bunks (and en-suite shower, wash-hand basin and WC) that costs eight pounds per person per night if you have your own sleeping bag and stay for two nights or more. [If you need bedding there is a once only charge of two pounds sterling - again as much FREE Ice Cream as you can eat].

For several years I've offered hospitality in my home and I've already had people from more than 60 different countries stay with me. I speak English, German, Czech, Russian and a little bit of French and I will try and make you feel very welcome and special and share my knowledge of Scotland with you - as long as you don't smoke in my home!

Where?

My Home is in a typical GLASGOW sandstone tenement building dating back to 1859 but I do have smoke alarms, central heating and colour TV, etc. My next door neighbour is Strathclyde Police HQ so there is very little traffic noise despite all the clubs, pubs, shopping and nightlife being within yards.

When?

Not before 1 May or after 30 September each year.

Booking?

To be sure of a bed, you need to pay in advance for at least the first night. (If you simply don't show up on the night you've booked for, I'm afraid there'll be no refund since I will have kept an empty bed for you. However, if you simply need to postpone your arrival then you can probably do so - provided you call me reasonably early!)

You can PHONE me with your VISA or MasterCard details:
Card Number, Expiry, Billing Address, Date of Birth

You can FAX me with your VISA or MasterCard details:
Card Number, Expiry, Billing Address, Date of Birth

You can WRITE me with your VISA or MasterCard details:
Card Number, Expiry, Billing Address, Date of Birth

faq

ACCESS: I'm afraid there is no lift so access would be very difficult for wheelchair users.

Once you've checked in, you'll have the key ($16 returnable deposit) to my front door so you can come and go as you please (if you're sleeping in the dormitory, please make your bed up before you go out and try very hard not to disturb people already asleep.)
Normal check out time is between 08:00hrs and 10:00hrs BST - but tell me when you check in if this is impossible.

SAFETY: Leave me your gold bullion and diamonds to look after. I require photographic ID (eg passport) when you check in. Mine is the only place in Glasgow that has never had a theft - perhaps being small and personal and having the Police as my next door neighbours helps...

STORAGE FREE if you have booked your bed with me when you return - otherwise one pound sterling per labelled piece per day.

BREAKFAST: Served round the corner daily, 08:00hrs - 11:00hrs, except Sunday, and is probably more than you should eat: Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Sausage, Black Pudding, Toast and your choice of Tea OR Coffee OR Orange Juice. Two and a half pounds. Vegetarian option also available.

TRANSPORT: Since `A FREE ICECREAM' is right in the City Centre, you can walk from and to many touristically interesting sites within 10 minutes or so.
Nearest railway station is Charing Cross, 170 yards away as the fly crows, but most of you will probably arrive at Glasgow Queen Street (Edinburgh & the North) or Glasgow Central (from everywhere else).
The main Bus Station (Buchanan Street) is even closer. Ask someone to direct you to Sauchiehall Street (pronounced `Sucky hall Street' - it's also the main shopping street in GLASGOW) and then walk west until you get to Holland Street on the Left - there's a Clydesdale Bank right on the corner with a 24 hour Cash ATM or Automatic Teller Machine).
By Road, leave the M8 at Junction 18 (Charing Cross, City Centre), turn left into Sauchiehall Street and then third right into Pitt Street; then turn right again after the Police HQ and you're with us!

PUBS&CAFES: At least 100 Pubs, Bars, Cafes, Restaurants and Nightclubs within staggering distance ( - all with a smoking area).
24 hour food and convenience store at the end of Holland Street.

LAUNDRY: Launderettes are within walking distance - and I may sometimes be persuaded to do a load for you if you don't fancy staring at the drum for an hour when you've better things to do...

`A FREE ICECREAM' is a member of Interstop.
According to its' 1988 Constitution, "1. INTERSTOP shall exist to promote the efficient use of the Worlds' resources especially as regards transportation and tourism. It shall be democratic and internationalist in outlook.
2. INTERSTOP shall be a non-profit making collective; this does not preclude self-financing commercial activity, but any serendipitous profit is to be distributed to the membership.
3. Membership shall be open to all without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status...."