Backstay Hostel Ghent

I liked Backstay much more than the other hostel I tried afterward. It was nicer, cleaner, and better maintained, so I regretted moving. The location isn’t the most central, though. Free breakfast was much better than at other places I’ve stayed, with waffles and toppings. The third-floor bathroom and shower area was clean and well kept, with no clogging or anything like that. There’s no lift, so if you’re on the top floor, expect to carry your luggage up several long flights of stairs. The fitted sheets are tiny, too, and getting them to fit meant folding the mattress in half. Lots of work.

We arrived in town without knowing where anything was and with no place to stay or park. The hostel staff spent plenty of time helping us sort things out, and gave us useful tips on where to go and eat. Their helpfulness and the accommodations were the best parts of our stay. Prices were good, too. We stayed at the Backstay Hostel on its third day open that summer, in 2014. It was brand new and really nice, with a cool hangout room for chatting, games, music and meeting travellers. I made friends from England and Finland during my two nights there. It was our favourite hotel experience of a two-week, four-country tour of Europe. We had a great time in a lovely city. Greetings from Texas!

A clean, modern-looking room, friendly people and a cosy atmosphere made for a nice welcome after a long day of hitchhiking or just about any kind of commute. Backstay Hostel is close to the centre, and there’s good coffee when you feel like taking it easy. The room keys are shaped like watches, so you won’t lock yourself out, and lockers are included in the rooms. The only downside I can think of is that the shower area gets a bit damp, though that doesn’t matter much once you’re done.

The breakfasts are really good, and there’s a great all-you-can-eat ribs cafe called little Amadeus just down the street. Some rooms were still under construction, and the cinema room wasn’t open. There are a few board games, but the kitchen is lacklustre.