Roger's House Tel Aviv Hostel

The common spaces felt cozy, and there was a great vibe throughout the hostel. We also loved the rooms, especially the privacy curtains in the dorms. The staff were friendly and helpful the whole time, whether we had trouble checking in or couldn't get the stove going. It's well placed too, a short walk from the beach and a couple of blocks from bars, cafes, and restaurants, with the Elifelet light rail down the street. My friends and I had an amazing stay.

There wasn't much of a view in the area, though it's a short walk to the bar street and central Florentine. The shared spaces were full of books, instruments, and games, and the big kitchen had loads of places to relax or work. My friends and I had a private room. It was basic but workable, with clean sheets and privacy, though the air conditioning kept switching off. The bathrooms looked fairly clean, but after hearing people having sex in the shower, I chose not to use it. Good value for the price and quality. I'd stay again, but book ahead since it fills up fast.

The showers had warm water, and there was a good-sized kitchen to use. The hostel was well placed near Jaffa and the beaches, with downtown easy to reach on foot. My stay was pretty decent. There wasn't really a social atmosphere while I was there, though that might just have been the timing.

The owner had agreed to my volunteer dates almost two months ahead. In exchange for working there, I was meant to get a bed for four weeks. I booked flights and was excited about the trip, since the hostel had good reviews and the owner had seemed friendly. But less than 24 hours before I was due to arrive, they canceled without a reasonable explanation, leaving me with nowhere to stay in Tel Aviv. I ended up canceling the trip I'd been looking forward to for so long. I can't comment on the hostel itself, but people should know about this. It felt like a total scam, and I wouldn't recommend the place.