Cocoon at The International Inn

The kitchen was the weak spot. It had no window, felt hot and stuffy, and smelled damp. On the plus side, it was fully equipped for cooking, and they checked and cleaned the fridge every day. The hostel is well managed, and they clearly put effort into keeping it clean. My room was nice, with a comfortable bunk bed, curtain, bed light, and charging socket. The indoor temperature was comfortable, and the shower facilities were good. At check-in, they ask for your card details. I understand why, but it didn't feel like the safest method. They say the system deletes the details automatically after checkout, but since the information was entered manually, I don't feel safety is fully guaranteed. I hope they find another approach that works for both sides. Even so, the price was very affordable, maybe because it was low season, and it felt worth it. I'd consider staying again.

We only managed 3-4 hours of sleep a night. The neighbourhood stayed extremely noisy until early morning, and lots of guests seemed to be there to party and get drunk. Our room looked out onto a beer garden, so we heard that noise as well. It isn't the best place if you're after peace and quiet. There weren't enough power outlets in the room, so we had to charge our phones at a pub. The shared spaces were great, though. We spent more time in the communal living room than in our room to get away from the noise.

⚠️ I had a deeply disturbing and unsafe check-in at International Inn on May 26, 2026. The employee on duty took my passport and carried it into another room, out of my sight. I had to pressure him and demand that he give it back. Immediately afterwards, he asked to write down all my bank card details, including the card number and the three-digit CVV/CVC security code. Recording a guest's CVV is, in my view, a blatant violation of PCI data security standards and a direct financial threat. I recorded a video asking him to confirm exactly what he wanted to write down, and he clearly confirmed on camera that it was my card number and three-digit security code. The staff member's behavior felt predatory and suspicious, and I believe it was illegal. I felt so unsafe that I froze my bank account straight away and left to find another place to stay. I've reported the behavior to Booking.com and the relevant authorities. If you value your personal data, identity safety, and money, avoid this place at all costs!

The facilities in general were good, and the rooms and bathrooms were clean. The atmosphere was the letdown. It felt more like a cheap hotel than a hostel, without that backpacker vibe. It wasn't social, and there were no events, tours, or anything like that. Everything else was amazing. I'd suggest bringing in some volunteers to help create a more social hostel feel :)