The Nunnery Accommodation

The Nunnery is a lovely old building, and I wish the current team all the best in keeping it going. It sounds as if it may be more run down these days, though. I stayed there for a few months back in 1992. One memory that has stuck with me is standing on the fire escape at the back of the top floor, thinking about life and smoking rollups. Regular ones, not the devil's lettuce. The view across the city from up there was fantastic. It was a wonderful place back then.

The outdoor area was nice, and the bathrooms were clean, but the rest of the stay was very disappointing. The beds were extremely uncomfortable and clearly old. I could feel the springs the whole time, so getting proper rest was hard. The front desk staff member with dark hair was unfriendly when we arrived, setting a bad tone right away. There was noticeable drug activity around the property, including weed and harder substances, and it seemed some people were couch surfing there. The place felt unsafe. During our stay, someone was stabbed and taken to hospital. The negatives far outweighed the positives, and I wouldn't stay here again.

The substance use was open on the premises, and when it rained the place flooded and felt unsafe. I checked in before a morning flight, but left right away because I wasn't willing to stay in those conditions. They refused to refund me and took no responsibility, saying, “it's a hostel” as their explanation. Honestly, it was the worst place I've stayed, even internationally.

I’d steer clear unless you’re after a rustic sort of stay. The other residents were nice and the facilities clean, but the receptionist wasn’t especially welcoming. The showers were the biggest issue: the water was either cold or scalding. I wouldn’t recommend it for the overall feel.