Post by Lyra on Jun 15, 2005 18:07:55 GMT -5
London
Astor Victoria Hostel
6 bed dorm w/ ensuite shower
Clean, new room with underneath the bed lockable cages (use own lock)
ensuite shower was not ideal – literally in the room – no privacy
Madrid
Mucho Madrid
4 bed dorm
mid size in-room lockers and key provided, key deposit
Hand towels provided in bathroom!
one computer available for internet – not available 24/7
Breakfast
elevator
International Hostel Posada de Huerta
6 bed ensuite dorm
no rail on top bunk, top bunk was really high off the ground
ladders to access top bunk were on the end of the bed, with 2 bunks placed back to back with about 6 inches of space between them – impossible to fit a person in that space and therefore rendering ladder useless. We used the bench in the room to launch ourselves onto the bunk
paid internet available
breakfast
Cat’s Hostel
8 bed dorm, downstairs
good security - keycard access is almost too secure (more complicated than your typical swipe card), as many people had problems getting into the room, key deposit
Huge in-room lockers fit both my backpacks
4 computers available for internet
onsite bar has cheap drinks
timeout showers
beautiful common area
breakfast
Granada
Funky Backpackers Hostel
4 bed dorm
selection of organized activities/excursions to choose from – grotto cave/hot springs; tapas tour; flamenco
3 computers for free internet access
nice rooftop terrace
Sevilla
Hostal Nuevo Suizo
[Note: hostal in spanish is a cheap hotel, not a hostel. But, this particular hostal offered dorm rooms]
4 bed mixed dorm
room was very crowded, no lockers available, no locks on doors
Guys working on the ensuite bathroom would come in without knocking. Freezing at night, the window was permanently open. The 2nd and 3rd floor bathrooms are nicer than the ground floor one – I would go upstairs to shower.
can pay day-by-day, which is nice if you decide to shorten or lengthen your stay.
2 computers available for internet access
towels provided
Lisbon
Pensao Praca da Figueira
Single room with sink and shower – 20 euro per night; plain single room also available
double bed, tv, wardrobe, towels provided, no breakfast, paid internet available
I got some sort of insect bites here – bedbugs? I think I stayed in room 6,7 or 9 – it was on the same floor as reception. You couldn’t tell by the look of the place though, it seemed very clean.
Hotel American [?]
Single room with sink, 25 euro per night
The floor was slanted in my room. An older place, it had a well worn feel.
Breakfast [?]
Lagos
HI hostel
4 bed dorm
the most disgusting lumpy pillows I’ve ever seen. I found this hostel quite dumpy for an HI (in comparison to North American HI hostels). Nice enough but it lacked personality.
outdoor terrace
Good paid breakfast
Rising Cock
6 bed mixed dorm
I was there only one night, but my impression was stay there if you’re party oriented
Barcelona
Arco Youth Hostel
near Las Ramblas
6 bed mixed dorm
Spartan room – linen was extra, small lockers in the room, laundry and detergent available, key deposit
Breakfast
Albergue Internacional Colon
just off Las Ramblas
6 bed dorm
linen extra, small lockers in room, not cleaned frequently, noisy if your room faces the square
timeout lights in bathroom are annoying
breakfast
elevator
Avignon
Hotel Le Splendid
Inside the walls, near the tourist office
Single room with sink – 25 euro per night
very nice owners who speak english
Breakfast extra
Nice
Hotel Astor
Single ensuite room, 54 euro per night?
Felt shabby for the amount of money I paid, older building, tiny bathroom
Breakfast extra
Florence
David Inn
Super close to the duomo
3 bed mixed dorm
this place is actually split into 2 hostels, (run under the same name?); I booked into a 8 bed dorm but was put into a 3 bed dorm
no breakfast, no towels available to rent (a fellow traveller had to go out and buy a towel because they didn’t have any to rent)
Rome
Alessandro Downtown Hostel
10 bed dorm
I lucked out and got to go on a free walking tour, which was really great as an introduction to the city. Did not get around to checking out their bar at the other Alessandro hostel.
lockers located outside of the room
4 computers available for paid internet
breakfast
Gulliver’s House
6 bed mixed dorm
helpful if a little eccentric staff, 6 bed room not fully closed off – one section just had accordion door which does not block out noise from reception
timeout lights in bathroom – annoying when you are showering. I’d have to turn off the water, open the shower door, turn the lights back on, and resume shower
breakfast
2 very cute resident dogs (unfortunately at least 1 of them had fleas)
Venice
Hotel Antico Capo
15 minute walk from train station
4 bed ensuite dorm
hotel that has some dorm rooms
one computer available for internet, you’re supposed to sign up for 15 min. intervals, not available 24/7, you have to stand, no chair
breakfast at a nearby café
towels provided
Vienna
Panda Hostel
10 bed mixed dorm
Weird reception hours – 8am-12 noon, why bother running a hostel if all you can afford are 4 hours of the day? If you check in outside of these hours, you are greeted by a sign telling you to go to a café across the street to pickup an envelope, which has your keys inside.
No breakfast, no laundry, towels provided, key deposit?
Hostel Ruthensteiner
10 bed ensuite dorm
no ladders to access top bunks
large lockers in room
paid breakfast available, paid internet (2 euro for 30 minutes if I remember correctly)
Prague
Golden Sickle
9 bed mixed dorm
I know this place got good reviews, but my experience here was not good. Bathrooms not cleaned daily – I think it might have cleaned twice in my 5 nights there. The doors in the bathroom are accordion style with no locks.
I and a girl in the room next door unfortunately each had a bag stolen, apparently the outer door was unlocked during the day. There are 2 sets of doors you need to unlock before getting to the dorm room, so it would appear a fellow traveller probably left the outer door unlocked. There are signs everywhere reminding you to properly lock the doors, but obviously they didn’t work in this particular instance.
(NB: more like self contained apartments here – you do not walk past reception to get to your room – in fact, reception and all amenities on lower floor, rooms on second floor).
What peeves me – the reason my small backpack was out in the open in the room – was because I didn’t have a locker in the room. There were 8 lockers for 9 beds, so I originally thought that might be the reason why I didn’t have a locker, but I asked twice and was told they don’t have enough locker keys.
Literally, they didn’t have enough locker keys – at any one time, I think only 4 or 5 lockers could be used, as only 4 or 5 sets of room keys had locker keys on them. If I had been given a locker to start with, my bag being stolen would have been prevented. How hard is it to get a few more keys cut? If there are available lockers in the room, travellers should be able to use them. End of rant.
Breakfast, towels, key deposit
3 computers for internet
Berlin
A&O Hostel Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
8 bed mixed dorm
cheap nightly prices, but they make up for it by charging extra for everything – linen, towels, internet, breakfast, maps
huge in room lockers
some staff members incompetent/apathetic – I asked if they have laundry and the answer was no. Where’s the nearest laundry place then? Neither of the 2 girls at reception could tell me.
Amsterdam
International Budget Hostel
4 bed mixed dorm
the main staircase to get in and out had tiny steps
large in room lockers
locks for lockers 5 euro deposit which you get back when you return the lock
breakfast, towels, internet extra, key deposit
Paris
(all are hotels)
Republique Les Halles Pavillion, 10th
Single ensuite room
3 star hotel, the nicest I ended up staying at. I booked at an internet site, so the rate I got was really good, if I find it again I’ll post it. I paid 50 euro for 1 night, including breakfast (they normally charge 12 euros for breakfast).
Hotel des 3 Nations, 10th
Single ensuite room
Because I couldn’t get my room at the Republique for the same rate I paid off the internet (my room was supposed to cost 85 euro), I ended up here – just around the corner. Older and shabbier. 59 euro/night
Hotel Riviera, 9th
I had booked my last 4 nights in Paris here. I was supposed to be in what I thought was a 4 bed dorm, but for my entire stay I had a room to myself. I still have no idea if they even offered dorm rooms, since I was never put in one. They moved me over to Hotel LeBron after one night to make room for a large group reservation. Nicer than Hotel des 3 Nations.
Breakfast included
Hotel LeBron, 9th
Thin walls, not as nice as Hotel Riviera, elevator sometimes took forever.
Breakfast extra
I think the best hostels I stayed at were:
MuchoMadrid, Funky Backpackers in Granada, Cat's Hostel in Madrid, Alessandro Downtown Hostel in Rome
Astor Victoria Hostel
6 bed dorm w/ ensuite shower
Clean, new room with underneath the bed lockable cages (use own lock)
ensuite shower was not ideal – literally in the room – no privacy
Madrid
Mucho Madrid
4 bed dorm
mid size in-room lockers and key provided, key deposit
Hand towels provided in bathroom!
one computer available for internet – not available 24/7
Breakfast
elevator
International Hostel Posada de Huerta
6 bed ensuite dorm
no rail on top bunk, top bunk was really high off the ground
ladders to access top bunk were on the end of the bed, with 2 bunks placed back to back with about 6 inches of space between them – impossible to fit a person in that space and therefore rendering ladder useless. We used the bench in the room to launch ourselves onto the bunk
paid internet available
breakfast
Cat’s Hostel
8 bed dorm, downstairs
good security - keycard access is almost too secure (more complicated than your typical swipe card), as many people had problems getting into the room, key deposit
Huge in-room lockers fit both my backpacks
4 computers available for internet
onsite bar has cheap drinks
timeout showers
beautiful common area
breakfast
Granada
Funky Backpackers Hostel
4 bed dorm
selection of organized activities/excursions to choose from – grotto cave/hot springs; tapas tour; flamenco
3 computers for free internet access
nice rooftop terrace
Sevilla
Hostal Nuevo Suizo
[Note: hostal in spanish is a cheap hotel, not a hostel. But, this particular hostal offered dorm rooms]
4 bed mixed dorm
room was very crowded, no lockers available, no locks on doors
Guys working on the ensuite bathroom would come in without knocking. Freezing at night, the window was permanently open. The 2nd and 3rd floor bathrooms are nicer than the ground floor one – I would go upstairs to shower.
can pay day-by-day, which is nice if you decide to shorten or lengthen your stay.
2 computers available for internet access
towels provided
Lisbon
Pensao Praca da Figueira
Single room with sink and shower – 20 euro per night; plain single room also available
double bed, tv, wardrobe, towels provided, no breakfast, paid internet available
I got some sort of insect bites here – bedbugs? I think I stayed in room 6,7 or 9 – it was on the same floor as reception. You couldn’t tell by the look of the place though, it seemed very clean.
Hotel American [?]
Single room with sink, 25 euro per night
The floor was slanted in my room. An older place, it had a well worn feel.
Breakfast [?]
Lagos
HI hostel
4 bed dorm
the most disgusting lumpy pillows I’ve ever seen. I found this hostel quite dumpy for an HI (in comparison to North American HI hostels). Nice enough but it lacked personality.
outdoor terrace
Good paid breakfast
Rising Cock
6 bed mixed dorm
I was there only one night, but my impression was stay there if you’re party oriented
Barcelona
Arco Youth Hostel
near Las Ramblas
6 bed mixed dorm
Spartan room – linen was extra, small lockers in the room, laundry and detergent available, key deposit
Breakfast
Albergue Internacional Colon
just off Las Ramblas
6 bed dorm
linen extra, small lockers in room, not cleaned frequently, noisy if your room faces the square
timeout lights in bathroom are annoying
breakfast
elevator
Avignon
Hotel Le Splendid
Inside the walls, near the tourist office
Single room with sink – 25 euro per night
very nice owners who speak english
Breakfast extra
Nice
Hotel Astor
Single ensuite room, 54 euro per night?
Felt shabby for the amount of money I paid, older building, tiny bathroom
Breakfast extra
Florence
David Inn
Super close to the duomo
3 bed mixed dorm
this place is actually split into 2 hostels, (run under the same name?); I booked into a 8 bed dorm but was put into a 3 bed dorm
no breakfast, no towels available to rent (a fellow traveller had to go out and buy a towel because they didn’t have any to rent)
Rome
Alessandro Downtown Hostel
10 bed dorm
I lucked out and got to go on a free walking tour, which was really great as an introduction to the city. Did not get around to checking out their bar at the other Alessandro hostel.
lockers located outside of the room
4 computers available for paid internet
breakfast
Gulliver’s House
6 bed mixed dorm
helpful if a little eccentric staff, 6 bed room not fully closed off – one section just had accordion door which does not block out noise from reception
timeout lights in bathroom – annoying when you are showering. I’d have to turn off the water, open the shower door, turn the lights back on, and resume shower
breakfast
2 very cute resident dogs (unfortunately at least 1 of them had fleas)
Venice
Hotel Antico Capo
15 minute walk from train station
4 bed ensuite dorm
hotel that has some dorm rooms
one computer available for internet, you’re supposed to sign up for 15 min. intervals, not available 24/7, you have to stand, no chair
breakfast at a nearby café
towels provided
Vienna
Panda Hostel
10 bed mixed dorm
Weird reception hours – 8am-12 noon, why bother running a hostel if all you can afford are 4 hours of the day? If you check in outside of these hours, you are greeted by a sign telling you to go to a café across the street to pickup an envelope, which has your keys inside.
No breakfast, no laundry, towels provided, key deposit?
Hostel Ruthensteiner
10 bed ensuite dorm
no ladders to access top bunks
large lockers in room
paid breakfast available, paid internet (2 euro for 30 minutes if I remember correctly)
Prague
Golden Sickle
9 bed mixed dorm
I know this place got good reviews, but my experience here was not good. Bathrooms not cleaned daily – I think it might have cleaned twice in my 5 nights there. The doors in the bathroom are accordion style with no locks.
I and a girl in the room next door unfortunately each had a bag stolen, apparently the outer door was unlocked during the day. There are 2 sets of doors you need to unlock before getting to the dorm room, so it would appear a fellow traveller probably left the outer door unlocked. There are signs everywhere reminding you to properly lock the doors, but obviously they didn’t work in this particular instance.
(NB: more like self contained apartments here – you do not walk past reception to get to your room – in fact, reception and all amenities on lower floor, rooms on second floor).
What peeves me – the reason my small backpack was out in the open in the room – was because I didn’t have a locker in the room. There were 8 lockers for 9 beds, so I originally thought that might be the reason why I didn’t have a locker, but I asked twice and was told they don’t have enough locker keys.
Literally, they didn’t have enough locker keys – at any one time, I think only 4 or 5 lockers could be used, as only 4 or 5 sets of room keys had locker keys on them. If I had been given a locker to start with, my bag being stolen would have been prevented. How hard is it to get a few more keys cut? If there are available lockers in the room, travellers should be able to use them. End of rant.
Breakfast, towels, key deposit
3 computers for internet
Berlin
A&O Hostel Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
8 bed mixed dorm
cheap nightly prices, but they make up for it by charging extra for everything – linen, towels, internet, breakfast, maps
huge in room lockers
some staff members incompetent/apathetic – I asked if they have laundry and the answer was no. Where’s the nearest laundry place then? Neither of the 2 girls at reception could tell me.
Amsterdam
International Budget Hostel
4 bed mixed dorm
the main staircase to get in and out had tiny steps
large in room lockers
locks for lockers 5 euro deposit which you get back when you return the lock
breakfast, towels, internet extra, key deposit
Paris
(all are hotels)
Republique Les Halles Pavillion, 10th
Single ensuite room
3 star hotel, the nicest I ended up staying at. I booked at an internet site, so the rate I got was really good, if I find it again I’ll post it. I paid 50 euro for 1 night, including breakfast (they normally charge 12 euros for breakfast).
Hotel des 3 Nations, 10th
Single ensuite room
Because I couldn’t get my room at the Republique for the same rate I paid off the internet (my room was supposed to cost 85 euro), I ended up here – just around the corner. Older and shabbier. 59 euro/night
Hotel Riviera, 9th
I had booked my last 4 nights in Paris here. I was supposed to be in what I thought was a 4 bed dorm, but for my entire stay I had a room to myself. I still have no idea if they even offered dorm rooms, since I was never put in one. They moved me over to Hotel LeBron after one night to make room for a large group reservation. Nicer than Hotel des 3 Nations.
Breakfast included
Hotel LeBron, 9th
Thin walls, not as nice as Hotel Riviera, elevator sometimes took forever.
Breakfast extra
I think the best hostels I stayed at were:
MuchoMadrid, Funky Backpackers in Granada, Cat's Hostel in Madrid, Alessandro Downtown Hostel in Rome
