Goldy Hostel

The WiFi in the dorm was absolutely pathetic. I’d booked for one night at first, but my plans changed and I didn’t show up. I then booked for the following day. When I arrived early the next morning, at 8am, the owner shouted at me and was very rude. That’s a pretty awful welcome to a hostel, and it made me want to leave. Later, he asked me for more money, saying I’d wasted his bed the night before, even though the hostel was empty and beds were available despite my reservation. Travel plans can change, and owners should remember that travelers are people too. I wouldn’t have minded paying extra if he’d asked politely and treated me decently. His behavior was a total turn-off, so I left right then.

We stayed one night while passing through to Greece. The host arranged private transport across the border for €40 at the time we wanted, which was a big help. The location is great, and the kitchen is well equipped. The bathroom was large and clean. Dorm beds had privacy curtains, including the top bunks, along with lights and chargers, and there were lockers. It was off-season, so the hostel was very quiet and didn’t have much of a social feel. The host was helpful and the place covered what we needed. I can imagine the 4-bed dorm feeling very cramped when it’s full, since the beds are close together.

I meant to stay one night and ended up spending 4. Bitola is beautiful, and I didn’t want to leave, but the hostel had a great vibe too. Zlatko kept coming up with great suggestions for food, bars, beaches, and hikes. The hostel was clean and I felt welcome. Everyone ended up hanging out and going to dinner and on hikes together.

The 4-bed dorm was just the two of us, but it would feel very cramped if full. We were there off-season, when it was quiet and had no social atmosphere, though that might be different when it’s busy. The host was very helpful with questions and arranged transport across the border to Florina. The kitchen is well equipped, though markings for each stove hot plate would help since they’ve faded. Beds are comfortable, with curtains on all sides, power outlets, and lockers.