China Town Hostel & Tours

The good parts are that it’s cheap, right in the center, the internet works well, and the bed is comfortable. But the listing on Booking.com gave me a very different impression. It said “ground floor,” but the room was actually in a basement. The hostel felt cold and damp, and the room was stuffy, with locked windows, so I slept with the door ajar. It was just a bed, a hanger, and a chair. I’m not especially picky, but I expected something else from the photos. The listing also said towels, slippers, and shampoo/soap were supplied, so I left mine behind to save weight in my backpack. There was nothing there. I washed with water, dressed while still damp, and went out anyway. If I’d known beforehand I needed to bring my own towel and toiletries, I’d have been a bit more generous in my review.

The hostel card is a great idea: it suggests places to eat, see, drink, or have fun in Minsk, and you can get a discount, a gift, or a treat by showing it. The location is central, the price is affordable, the beds are comfortable, and there are double rooms. It was fairly clean for a hostel, and the reception staff were nice and spoke excellent English. There were musicians, but they weren’t bad, the earplugs were comfortable, and it was quiet at night. A few things could be better. The bathroom sink smelled musty and stale, so the plumbing needs checking. The neighbors were what woke me, not the music, but it’s a hostel and you can hear everything. Sensitive sleepers may struggle. Bathroom shelves would be handy, and the mirror in room 1 could be hung lower and in a more convenient spot. The Wi-Fi was intermittent, and our own mobile internet didn’t work well in the basement either. One more thing for budget travelers: the security deposit is common in Europe, but it would be good to mention it in advance, since money matters when you’re traveling on a budget. Still, it’s a good place. Keep developing it, listen to reasonable guests, and improve the hostel.

The two things in its favor are the central location and affordable price. The room itself was cold and damp in the basement, and people walking past could see their feet in the window. You wouldn’t guess that from the Booking.com photos. There’s very little light in the halls and rooms. I missed the free earplugs on the shared table at first, which was unfortunate: there’s a music studio upstairs, and on Sunday I got four hours of drum kit overhead. With bad weather, I couldn’t just relax in my room. Washing or ironing clothes means going to another building. They also require deposits for keys and towels, and laundry costs $2.50. That’s why I can only give it two stars.

There’s only one bathroom, and the hostel has insects. It’s very dark, the doors don’t shut properly, and the music studio upstairs means there’s constant pounding. There isn’t even a mirror in the room, or shelves or a basic rail for your things. At least it’s cheap and in the city center.