# Can you still stay at the YMCA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583 "2004-05-28T22:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/1 "2004-05-28T22:12:52Z")
Can you still stay at the YMCA? Besides the song, it seems like this was a phrase you used to hear in old movies a lot: “I’ve been living at the Y.” I’ve certainly never met anyone who’s lived at the Y. Do they still do this anywhere? If not, when did they stop and why? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/2 "2004-05-28T22:14:18Z")
[Some of them](http://www.ymca.net/index.jsp). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/3 "2004-05-28T23:26:37Z")
Sure you can. And it’s fun. You can have a good meal. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/4 "2004-05-28T23:50:15Z")
They have everything for you men to enjoy, You can hang out with all the boys … ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/5 "2004-05-29T00:49:25Z")
You can always visit the [Salisbury YMCA](http://www.ymcahk.org.hk/general_new_e/) in Hong Kong. It’s not just a place to stay; it’s one of Hong Kong’s most popular hotels. Located right next door to HK’s most expensive hotel, it has the cheapest harbor views in town. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/6 "2004-05-29T02:56:19Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > They have everything for you men to enjoy, > You can hang out with all the boys … …especially the ones who are In The Navy. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/7 "2004-05-29T19:41:16Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > …especially the ones who are In The Navy. and you gotta be a MACHO MAN! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/8 "2004-05-29T19:59:52Z")
From the website **Otto** linked: > [@](#): > > The following YMCAs offer guest rooms for travelers. Guests must be at least 18 years old, unless otherwise noted. Do you have to be a member; or can anyone use them? In 1982 I stayed at the KFUM/KFUK (Danish YMCA/YWCA) in Copenhagen. I was not a member, although I did have an International Youth Hostel card. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/9 "2004-05-30T01:44:48Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > From the website **Otto** linked: > > Do you have to be a member; or can anyone use them? > > In 1982 I stayed at the KFUM/KFUK (Danish YMCA/YWCA) in Copenhagen. I was not a member, although I did have an International Youth Hostel card. Well in my town, it would be somewhat against the point. Our YMCA is one of the few affordable places to stay (or live) and is proud of that mission. Membership isn’t cheap. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/10 "2004-05-31T05:40:12Z")
> [@ltfire](#): > > They have everything for you men to enjoy, > You can hang out with all the boys … Seriously? I always thought it was “everything that you’re meant to enjoy” Whatever. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/11 "2004-05-31T11:47:18Z")
> [@TJdude825](#): > > Seriously? I always thought it was “everything that you’re meant to enjoy” > > Whatever. I have the score right in front of me, and it’s “They have everything for you \*\*there \*\*to enjoy,” though I’d never guess it from the recording. ---
**Author:** ![SpiderClan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@SpiderClan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpiderClan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/12 "2004-05-31T12:11:50Z")
I stayed at a Y in Sydney last month. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/13 "2004-05-31T19:23:10Z")
Did you stay at the first or the second one? ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/14 "2004-05-31T19:54:21Z")
Copy/Paste from [Lyrics.com](http://Lyrics.com) It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. They have everything for you men to enjoy, You can hang out with all the boys … It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. It’s fun to stay at the y-m-c-a. ---
**Author:** ![BrianS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c6cbf5/32.png) [@BrianS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrianS)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/15 "2004-05-31T20:44:29Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > Did you stay at the first or the second one? Larf! ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/16 "2004-05-31T21:51:45Z")
Is it _really_ fun to stay there, though? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/17 "2004-06-01T00:23:54Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Is it _really_ fun to stay there, though? I can’t speak for nowadays, but in the Village People’s era, they reportedly were VERY fun for certain segments of the population… ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2004, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-still-stay-at-the-ymca/247583/18 "2004-06-01T03:34:25Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > From the website **Otto** linked: > > Do you have to be a member; or can anyone use them? At the (a?) YWCA in Boston, a stay of 1 - 28 days also carries a $2(/day, I assume) membership surcharge. A stay of more than 5 weeks carries a $50(/month, I assume) membership surcharge. Source: [http://www.ywcaboston.org/berkeley/rates.html](http://www.ywcaboston.org/berkeley/rates.html)