Combo Torino - Hostel

The hostel was great in almost every way. There was plenty of space around the bed, and the bed, pillows, and blankets were all comfortable. The kitchen was large and clean, though some things do get taken by other guests. The bathroom was clean and the shower pressure was good. The loud music over the weekend was the one downside. I was running the marathon, and hearing it the night before was rough even from two floors up. Otherwise, a great stay.

Thin walls and little control over the noise made this a stressful place to stay. It felt more like a loud school hostel than a hotel, so if you want somewhere to sleep after a day exploring the city, I wouldn't choose it. I'd check whether big groups are booked during your dates, or look for a more business-oriented hotel elsewhere.

The staff were so helpful and friendly, and the location is handy, with both the mercato and the duomo less than a five-minute walk away. This is a very modern hostel with both dorms and private rooms, plus huge shared areas. It also works as a coworking space during the day, and lots of people seem to come in to work or hold meetings. Nothing like the cramped, dirty hostels you might have seen before. I'd definitely recommend it!

I never stayed at the hostel, so this is about how they handled my concerns. I booked through Booking a long time ago and hadn't seen anything worrying in its reviews. Then, before my arrival, I checked Google Maps and found many reviews mentioning bedbugs. Reading them was horrifying. Guests had been reporting bedbug problems repeatedly over the previous 1.5 years. The hostel's responses to those reviews were what made me decide not to stay at Combo Torino. They seemed generic and didn't address the real issue. One reply said bed bugs are an international issue and there was nothing they could do. I've stayed in tens of hostels around Europe and never encountered bedbugs, so that didn't convince me. The lack of a proper apology or any real response to the problem settled it for me. I asked for a free cancellation after the regular free-cancellation deadline had passed, and the hostel refused. Fair enough. I paid for the reservation in full despite not staying, and I have the right to share my experience. I'd advise other guests to be aware of the issue and consider waiting to stay until at least a year has passed without reviews mentioning bedbugs.