Smart Sea View Brighton Hostel

Parking for visitors is a real headache around here, so check the options before you book. The accommodation itself is clean and well managed, and breakfast is simple but does the job. It's a good low-cost place to sleep if that's what you need. If you're after luxury and lots of extras, this won't be the right fit.

The common room was a good place to chat, eat, study or watch TV, and people from all over were generally friendly. Some guests were there just a few days, while others had stayed for over a year. Staff were mostly helpful and nice. The free breakfast was basic, corn flakes, toast, jam, butter, coffee and tea, but filling enough. Private rooms have a better option, or you can pay extra. In the kitchen there's a huge shared fridge, though I heard some people's food occasionally went missing if it wasn't bagged. You can borrow cutlery and cooking gear for free with a refundable £10 deposit. There's a hob, microwave and toaster too. I stayed for a month in the 16-bed room and enjoyed it. We never had all 16 beds occupied, sometimes there were only three or four of us. A few nights the room smelled strongly of marijuana, so I slept by the window and left it open. A team cleaned daily and kept things reasonably tidy. One person I knew thought it wasn't clean, but I didn't have an issue. I was wary of theft and did lose a few bananas, but cameras cover the building except the bedrooms. I felt fine leaving my laptop for short stretches. There were lockers in the room, but the built-in lock was broken, so I bought a padlock and used that. The washing machine costs £3 and the dryer £2, although both were out of order on a few occasions when I needed them. The kitchen and common room, along with the laundry, are locked roughly from 1am to 7am. This isn't a five-star place, but it covers the basics and saves money. I had no problems in the room and would expect people looking for the essentials to enjoy their stay.

A quiet hotel in a handy spot, near the seafront and not too far from Brighton town. I booked late and got a very good price on a single ensuite room. The receptionist was really helpful, and wifi, a TV and a light breakfast were included. I slept without any trouble and was quite happy with my stay.

We got a peaceful night's sleep in our twin room, and towels were supplied. Breakfast was simple but decent, with cereal or toast and butter and jam if you wanted them. For a reasonable price, it was a very good hostel. Parking is around the corner, and you need to look for a space on the next street.