Highland Hostel

The common area is pretty good, and the kitchen has the basics. I only stayed one night before finding a cheaper, better hostel in a much better location. The tours offered here looked more expensive than other providers, so I'm not sure why people rave about them. Maybe they don't know how to use Google? The windows face the main road, so expect noise. There are lockers, but some are so high that you may not be able to reach them, like bed 4, unless you use a chair or stepladder. Finding the hostel is tricky too. Its entrance is on an unmarked back road, and the door itself isn't marked. Once you find the right door, go up to the top floor, I think the fifth, and use the new metal door on the left. Ring the bell from the hostel's email or Booking.com message, or you probably won't find it.

We loved the cozy common space, with a couch and dining table where you can work, eat, or just hang out. Laundry was free, too. Vahag lives on site and is thoughtful, helpful, and fun to talk with. The location was perfect, and the instructions they sent made it easy to find. There is one private room and an eight-bunk room, with a locker for everyone and good security overall. Really good vibes here, and we can't wait to come back.

It felt really homely, and I enjoyed staying here enough that I'd definitely come back. I could do laundry at no extra cost, and the kitchen was well equipped with tea and coffee. It had all the amenities I needed.

The facilities were good: everything was clean, the large lounge and kitchen table were nice, and you can use the AC whenever you want. Laundry was free and came with powder. Still, the eight-person dorm smelled too bad for me to sleep in. It felt like a rude Russian house. During the day it was very quiet, but after 11pm people started drinking and talking. This place seems more suited to night owls who sleep during the day. One night, after I'd said goodnight, the owner kept talking loudly at the dining table outside, and I couldn't fall asleep before a potentially early day trip. I couldn't find a place for my fruit outside the fridge, and the owner threw it away and took out the rubbish. My expensive fresh walnuts were shared by the host and eaten by other people. How are new arrivals supposed to know which table is for shared food and which is for private items? Those norms were never explained. For this price, I expected at least a decent, quiet night's sleep. The €5.5 dormitories in Dubai are still much better to me than this €10 dorm, at least quieter and free of bad smells. I'm disappointed given the high score and what happened. The host offered me the last night free if I removed this review. I refused because of his sarcastic tone, and then he wanted me to leave. He was capricious. This is a factual review of my real experiences.