Black Sand hostel Amed

The staff were very kind and helpful, which was the best part of my stay. The rooms were clean and well maintained, and the hostel is on the main strip, within walking distance of most places.

We settled on a price for snorkeling, but it doubled after someone dropped out. We also agreed on a transport price to Nusa Penida, then it went up by a third because of some driver issue. I suspect last-minute price increases aren't uncommon at Black Sand.

I stayed three nights. It's a very basic hostel, but has what you need, including a banana pancake breakfast in the price. It was quiet while I was there, though I still found a few people to connect with. The location works well if you're mainly here for scuba or snorkeling and just need a simple bed. There are some safety issues: you could fall out of the top bunks if you move around in your sleep, and there's nowhere to keep small things on the bed without risking them falling off. Getting out of the shower is also risky. There's a step down onto very slippery tiles when your feet are wet, and I nearly fell twice. It would be nice if they found some solutions.

The location near the beach is great for snorkeling and diving. The rooms are okay, but the upper bunks wobble a lot, so they're not suitable if you move around in your sleep. I also wouldn't book tours or scooters through them. They seem to overcharge, and the agreed transport price had gone up by the time we arrived.