Neill Wycik Backpackers Hotel

The management wasn’t much help when I tried to report what was happening. I answered a Facebook ad from Bernard, who said he had a room in a two-bedroom apartment, or B unit. At first he came across as a friendly, harmless older man. That changed once I moved in. Even though we had separate lease agreements, Bernard acted like I was only a guest in his apartment. He ignored my boundaries, kept moving my things in the kitchen and bathroom, and pushed for us to spend time together. He also texted me several times a day. I tried to keep my distance, but his constant leering made me really uncomfortable.

I stayed here for a conference and was glad I chose it. It’s quiet, the rooms were clean, and the price felt fair for what you get. A good option for a work trip.

The rooms and shared areas were nice, especially the kitchen, and the free breakfast was organized well. The staff were competent, though not always cheerful. It’s a university residence, so the older facilities were pretty much what I expected, and they were clean. The heat and humidity were hard to deal with because the rooms weren’t ventilated well. There were no bathroom fans, or at least no obvious way to turn them on, and the residence area had an unpleasant smell. I don’t expect air conditioning at this price, but they should add a dehumidifier and improve bathroom ventilation. The bathrooms also had no hand soap or hand towels, which seemed like too much of a cutback, even for a budget place. My family was concerned about the location’s safety, but I felt safe and thought the security measures were more than adequate. I might return in May, but not in August unless they improve the ventilation in the rooms.

The place has a creepy feel, even though the staff were generally friendly. The location is good and the price is okay, but I wouldn’t really call it a hotel. It felt somewhere between a hostel and a student house. It wasn’t dirty, but it didn’t feel clean either, and the bathroom and shower were shared. There’s no AC in the room. Breakfast was okay but limited to five items, with coffee and juice counting as one. The breakfast room looks out onto literal trash bins.