De Ploate Hostel

The noise from nearby rooms and the busy high street made it really hard to sleep. I appreciated having gluten-free choices at breakfast, though there wasn't much variety in fresh vegetables, which may be cultural. Our gluten-free dinners were very good, and the staff were helpful. At 45, I don't especially enjoy hostel bunks, shared rooms, or small bathrooms, but I was chaperoning my teenager and she didn't complain too much. The sporty youngsters could have used better nutrition overall.

The location is probably one of the hostel's best features, and Cafe den Artiest is just a few doors away, so give it a try and lift a keyte for us! From the station, take the 5 bus. It doesn't look far, but it's much easier with luggage. WiFi was strong and reliable, and I liked seeing everyone clear their own tables in proper hostel spirit. Breakfast is the usual hostel spread: bread, ham, cheese, cereal, jam and choco spread, with tea and coffee too. The mattresses were a bit thin, and the fixed shower heads are a pain, though I can see why hose showers would make things more complicated. Otherwise, it was a flawless hostel stay.

The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the staff were always friendly and ready to help. Everything was close by, with lots of interesting places to explore. I really liked all the recycling bins and the hostel's eco-friendly approach. Breakfast was yummy too. I had a great time and would highly recommend it for an enjoyable stay!

The hostel in Oostende, Belgium had great style, facilities, value, and breakfasts. The staff were brilliantly helpful and committed, including with bike storage. One morning surprise I didn't welcome was finding the common areas shut and inaccessible until well after 7am.