Andrew Howard

Review of Hostelling International San F...

Whilst the prices are very competitive there were ...

Whilst the prices are very competitive there were too many problems with my stay. I was presented with a good welcome and was given my key - great. However when I entered my 4 male room dorm it was much smaller than I had expected. So small that to even move the cage out from under your bed requires huge amounts of space and with 4 people in this very small room it's certainly a challenge.

I was expected to make my own bed which I thought was strange. The beds make a lot of creeky noises (since they're metal) if you need to move about and if you're trying to be mindful of your fellow guests it's very easy to wake them up this way. There was way too much noise at night that I just couldn't sleep. Now I understand that the downtown noise isn't down to the hostel, but I think management need to at least make the rooms soundproof.

The shower didn't always have hot water. One could ask, was I using it correctly? There's only one dial to use it, there's not much to get confused by. The dorms own shower room had a window with slanted flaps so basically you can't fully close the window so you are going to get cold once your shower is finished.

The communal areas of the hostel from the stairs to the chill out area had a particular odour that wasn't pleasant. I can't put a finger down to what it was, perhaps a disinfectant smell but it wasn't very nice each time you are entering the hostel.

With all these things going on and my lack of sleep I decided to move to a hotel further away. When I checked out earlier than planned I wasn't asked as to why I was going early... so I told them! And that it was mainly down to the noise (to cut a long story short). At least there was no quibble in returning my money for the unused days. When I got to my hotel I slept for an undisturbed 18 hours! That was how tired I was.