Cowgate Tourist Hostel

The staff are all fantastic, and the accommodation is really nice. I've stayed in both dorms and single rooms, and this place is the bomb. I'm here for a few more weeks, maybe longer, and wanted to give the team a big shout-out. They're all lovely, though apologies to the male staff who might prefer to be called “dead set legend.” I've been moved between rooms, and some have bunk beds. Being tall, I've cracked my head on the top bunk more times than I can count. You learn how to get out of bed without getting concussion, though, and I'm now a bunk bed ninja.

Breakfast bags were great value, and I could have used one for lunch too. The staff were nice, and the rooms and facilities were clean. The mattress sagged a bit, but it was still really comfortable. The hostel is right in the centre, across from a pretty big open-air party bar, so it may not suit you if you want a quiet weekend. I liked the music and atmosphere, though, and would stay again.

The beds were comfortable and the location fairly central, but I wouldn't want to spend time here beyond sleeping. The whole building felt very humid and smelled bad. I don't think the bathroom was cleaned daily: someone had thrown up, and it was still all over the place the following evening. There were no lockers either, which I think is a poor feature for a hostel.

We had a very nice stay as a group and would come back. The staff were lovely and helpful, and our accommodation was right next door to the hostel. The rooms were clean, with the bedding neatly folded and a duvet and pillow provided. The kitchen had pans, plates, glasses and cutlery, and was clean. The toilets were kept tidy too. Showers were hot, though the water pressure was a little low. There was some old food and drink in the fridge.