ZEN Hostel The Bed Station

The location was convenient, near the bus station, metro, and night market, but the stay fell short of what I expected from the good booking.com reviews. My room was small, smelly, and noisy. I think that floor was for long-term tenants. People talked loudly at night, and I could hear footsteps in the corridor. It’s meant to be a barefoot floor, but people didn’t seem to care. The bathroom was poor too. The water pressure was weak, and towels and shampoo ran out by the end of the day. Staff didn’t seem to look after it properly. I can’t say how the other floors are.

I checked out and lost the money I’d paid for my second night. They wouldn’t return the tourist tax either, and had charged me the 6% they pay to booking.com. I was very dissatisfied. The first room was like a cupboard, so I asked to check out. They offered a bigger one, which was better, but it was next to reception. People talked until 2am, making it impossible to sleep, and someone checked out at 4am, so I barely slept. I don’t have much hostel experience, but the ones I’ve stayed in before were very good. This one didn’t match them.

The photos look nice, but they don’t reflect the place I found. I wouldn’t spend another night there, even though it’s cheap and some people may use it as a full-time place to live while working for lower salaries. I read afterward that they have bed bugs, and wouldn’t risk staying again. I also read that the good reviews come from a push to give five stars in exchange for one free drink. There’s no air conditioning, and the place smells bad. On the first floor, the shower is in the same spot as the toilet, with a shower head installed above it. The mixed dorms felt like people lived there rather than came for a short stay, and the room had no entrance lock, so anyone could come in. The beds were uncomfortable, the sheets stained with what looked like mold that couldn’t be washed out, and the pillow felt like a piece of wood under my head, however I lay. Some showers worked and others didn’t, so it was a gamble. They looked poorly kept, smelled strange, and had hair and water everywhere. Without slippers, I’d worry about getting athlete’s foot.

I paid a little less for a single room elsewhere the day before, but trusted this place instead. Big mistake. It’s a trap, and there’s no refund. If you leave early, even two hours after arriving, you lose more money. Save yourself the trouble and choose another dorm with at most six people, or get a private room. The cheap dorm is one huge hall with up to 24 beds. Most people seemed to be permanent residents, some for over a month. It’s a no-go for backpackers. Sharing with smelly people felt like a horror experience, and I was worried whether I’d still be alive the next day. The lobby might look clean, and the price can seem attractive if you’re trying to save money, but the reality was awful.