Geneva Hostel

There are plenty of other places to stay, and you should choose one of them. The only upside is that it’s fairly close to the shops. The toilets and showers are disgusting, and some doors don’t even lock. A lot of the rooms have stains on the mattresses or beds, and some beds are missing bolts. Breakfast is very barebones, and Wi-Fi barely connects in some rooms. Even whispering can get staff at your door shouting “SHUT UP.”

Worst stay of my two-week trip to Europe, absolutely awful. The beds and rooms were terrible, loud, and uncomfortable. Kids were running down the hall past midnight, and loud music was still playing after 2 am. I asked the person at the front for a restaurant recommendation, and it turned out to be easily the worst meal I had in Europe. 0/10 stars.

The room setup was already disappointing for the price. You have to collect your bedding at reception, make the bed yourself, then strip it and return everything when you leave. I haven't encountered that in other hostels I've stayed in, and it feels like a cost cut. The bathrooms weren't clean either: sinks had hair in them and the toilets were stained. At dinner the food was fine, but there were no napkins in the restaurant. Sleep was difficult for several reasons. The floors creak loudly, outside construction could be heard all night through the poor windows, and light came in under the door. The door doesn't close by itself, so someone could leave it open. There was no little shelf by the bed, so I kept my phone and earphones under my pillow. Guests checking in after 23:00 woke people up with lights, locker banging, and noise as they made their beds. My check-in was frustrating too. I arrived at 14:45 for the 15:00 check-in, after paying for a city taxi. They registered me and said the key would be ready in about 15 minutes. I waited with my luggage, tired from traveling, but staff were talking in a room behind reception and forgot about me. I had to go remind them at 15:30. They also hadn't mentioned breakfast, and when I asked, they rudely told me it was written on the receipt. Reception seemed understaffed, and the staff's attitude made the whole moment unpleasant. This was probably the worst hostel stay I've had. I really wouldn't recommend it. With so many issues, you'd expect better, especially in Switzerland.

I could see the lake from my dorm window, and the hostel was quiet. It's also an easy walk to the train station. The bathroom was roomy and clean, and breakfast was included, with lots of choices and plenty of places to sit. Reception were friendly and professional. They were flexible and understanding when I asked to switch rooms. Thanks for a great stay.