Crystal V Tsentre Minska Living quarters

We were given a dirty towel, and there was a burn hole in the curtain. The bigger problem came when we tried to check in: after calling ahead, we were told someone would wait until 1 AM because we couldn't arrive before 11 PM. Yet at midnight the doors were locked, and nobody picked up the phone. On our fifth call, the security guard said he knew nothing about us, and that the man who had promised to wait didn't either. The manager heard our complaint but did nothing, and we weren't refunded for that night.

The location is the one clear plus. There's a building at the address, but you won't find the hostel itself listed on 2GIS. This is really an ordinary shared apartment, not a standard hostel. We had a three-room place on the ground floor, with each room shared. There was just one toilet for everyone, and after people showered we had to wait for the floor to dry because there were no rags or mops. There's no reception either, so if you get to Minsk before 2:00 PM, you can't leave your bags before check-in. Payment is cash and they don't issue receipts. After checkout, they marked us as a no-show at Ostrovok, which meant we couldn't leave a review there. The receptionist was the worst part, incredibly rude and acting like a doorman, saying, "I'll check you in, I'll kick you out." There was no customer care at all, and meeting this incompetent administrator on day one could ruin your trip. If there's a problem with the administrator at Ostrovok, record the conversation and ask for a receipt so you have some proof.

I wouldn't spend this much for a room that's dirty and has poor soundproofing. There's mold in the bathroom, and the dryer is kept in a cold room. The kitchen isn't properly equipped either, just a mini-fridge and microwave, with no stove. Not worth the money, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Everything worked well for me during my three-day stay. The hostel is right downtown, so I could walk everywhere. Both the room and bathroom were clean, and the neighbors didn't make noise I could hear. I loved it.