Riki Hostel

I had a really positive stay and felt completely safe. I booked through Hostel World's website, but after landing I called once to secure a bed. Payment is in cash, either euros or US dollars. There's a 50 USD key deposit, which was returned in full the next morning without any hassle. The host was staying in his private room while his family was away for the summer, and said the flat felt a bit too quiet. I booked a bed in a shared room and met a lovely Dutchman on his last night in Split. The room had a window AC unit, and there was a washer and clothesline, a hair dryer, hot shower, clean linens and towels, good wifi, a small terrace full of plants, and a power strip by every bed. There are two toilets, one with a shower. The host asks men not to shut the bathroom door all the way because it slams and a private room is right next to it. My bedroom locked, as did the bathroom with the shower. It's a modest setup for the price, and that was just right for my one night. This is a large, comfortable flat in a very central spot, with a friendly, enthusiastic Croatian host who has lots of recommendations. Don't be put off by reviews calling it a scam. If you're after something more upscale, a locally owned hostel may not suit you, and that's okay.

They canceled my stay during high season just 10 minutes before I was due to arrive at 10 pm. That was rude and unprofessional. They didn't seem to care, and I wouldn't recommend staying there. Even arranging the arrival time was a disaster. They weren't willing to wait for guests. How is someone arriving at 10 pm supposed to find another room to sleep in? It made me wonder how they could feel okay treating another person that way.

The good points were the location and the chance of finding free parking around the house. The host seemed willing to answer questions and invited us to visit again, but canceled our reservation while we were still there, which meant we couldn't leave a review on Booking, where there are only a few comments and all are positive. We booked through Booking, where the property is called Riđi, which may make information harder to find. It's a guesthouse in a large flat in a house from the 50s or 70s. The host had lots of rules, like not touching or using certain things. Old, dusty furniture and family photos made it feel like a museum. There is a kitchen, but you can't cook, and although you can make coffee, you're told not to use the cups. You're also not allowed to close the WC cabin door because it makes too much noise, let alone lock it. The bathroom mostly needs renovating. The AC setup means you can't close the window, so street noise comes in during the morning. We had to pay a 100eur cash deposit and felt nervous about every move in case we didn't get it back.

After we made the reservation, the owner called in a very strange way and told us to cancel. Doing that would have cost us extra fees. He also changed the room type, then sent a message saying he wasn't expecting us. After that, he didn't answer the phone. Fortunately, Booking.com customer service helped us. The owner is a scammer. Stay away from this accommodation.