Nomaps Hostel

The room felt tiny and cramped as soon as I walked in, and there was no privacy curtain. I could hear people talking, walking and moving things around because the rooms aren't soundproof. There should be a rule asking people to keep their voices down. Breakfast was little to nothing. The interiors looked great, the price was affordable, the location was perfect, and the rain shower was nice. Free laundry includes both washer and dryer, which was handy. I stayed four days and three nights and wasn't impressed. If I had another chance to stay here, I wouldn't risk it.

The location was perfect and the staff smiled, but the stay was quite bad despite the good reviews that had led us to expect a great place. Our room was much smaller than the nice website photo with a window and more space suggested. For a family of four, we couldn't stand between the bunk beds with our luggage or use the sink. Worst of all, an awful, stressful alarm rang every time someone opened the door. Going to the toilet at night meant risking waking everyone else. The advertised breakfast snacks were disappointing too: just toast, with no Milo, milk, cereal, fruit or juice. It doesn't deserve 2 stars.

I booked a four-person dorm but ended up as the only guest in it. The room was so small that I don't understand how four people could fit. The little fold-out side table by my bed was broken. The kitchen or outdoor area could be nice for sitting or working, but there's no power strip and accessible outlets are hard to find. I came because of Kenji Chai's artwork on the walls, and was pleasantly surprised by the place. It has a modern industrial feel, with grey, rough concrete that still doesn't feel dirty. The bathroom is especially nice, with a wooden floor instead of tiles. Some areas are open to the air, which gives the place a nice atmosphere but also lets mosquitoes into the showers. The staff were all friendly and hospitable, and happy to go out of their way with help or advice. Some people say it's deserted and hard to meet others here. That's true, but I'd prefer that to losing sleep because dorm mates won't stop talking. The toilet and shower rooms are basically unisex, with one room split into "M" and "F" sides, though men use the female side too. Some showers had no soap, or an empty dispenser. They need shelves for your things, since the doors only have hooks.

I booked the standard queen room on agoda and got a good deal. The bed was super comfy, and the place was clean, with very friendly staff and easy access to attractions. The 24-hour pantry has hot, cold and room-temperature water, a fridge, microwave, plates, cups, cutlery and other eating utensils. There's always enough snacks, plus guest use of a washer and dryer. A great setup for backpacking. The door was my one problem. It makes a lot of noise when opening or closing, and with the thin walls the sound echoes down the whole hallway.