Southend Hostel Bremen

I had a really enjoyable stay in this clean, cheerful, well-maintained hostel. The bed was lovely and soft, and there were nice extras like a water kettle and free WiFi. The service and facilities were good for a very reasonable price. I didn't notice any mold, and the air felt clear. The one drawback was that the lockable closets in my room didn't really work. They would have been handy.

The price and location were the only good things. I didn't feel very safe: there was chewing gum in the sink and empty beer bottles in the shower and beside the toilet. The room was full of them too, and nobody cleared them for my entire stay. Some people live there full time.

This was the worst hostel I've ever stayed in, and I can't recommend it. The beds had no individual lights or plugs, towels weren't provided, and they charged extra for bed sheets and for arriving after 9pm. The rooms were wet, and there were no women's bathrooms unless you were staying in a women's room. They didn't offer tourist guides or suggestions either. I booked three nights but had to cut it to two because of the sheet and late-arrival charges. They also wouldn't take my credit card at first, so close to midnight I had to walk around an unfamiliar city looking for an ATM. When I came back without cash because I was having problems with my card, they said they'd accept the card after all. I was assigned a bed in a men's room, and moving me to a women's room cost another €6. A horrible experience.

The location was really perfect, close to almost everything, and the place was good without being very expensive. I liked my stay and would recommend it. What bothered me was the extra 3 euros for bed sheets, since who brings their own? They also don't provide a private towel.