Chengdu Flipflop Hostel

As soon as I arrived, they invited me to a hot pot night, and the staff were friendly. My private room was nice and well soundproofed. The bathrooms are small but clean, and there weren't many other people staying at the hostel when I was there, which wasn't the staff's fault. They made my drink just how I like it, and the host shared lots of useful recommendations.

The staff are lovely and kind, and they put on a free dinner where you can make dumplings. The beds were okay, but facilities were lacking and often wet or dirty. It could get pretty loud at night because some guests weren't considerate. It's very cheap, for a reason.

The location is a real plus, right near the metro, and the room was fine. The beds were on the hard side but okay. The windows kept sound out well, though the door did not, so I could hear people talking in the lounge. The bathroom seemed a bit primitive, and I couldn't tell whether the grout was black, dirty, mouldy, or all three. I wouldn't use the washing machines here. Machine 1 left brown, squishy bits and a live maggot on our clothes. When we asked staff what had happened and for help, they didn't seem concerned about the cleanliness and offered a free wash in the other machine, whose filter was dirty too. Washing costs ¥6, detergent is another ¥1 for a small packet, and the dryer costs ¥13, even though most places in China offer free laundry.

We had a really nice stay and I'd love to return. The room was comfy, with an old style interior I liked, and the building has an elevator, so we didn't have to haul our luggage up to the third floor. Reception staff spoke good English, which made things easier for foreign guests. The location is excellent, within walking distance of Chunxi Road subway station, exit E1.