Hostel Cosmos Amsterdam

I left my AirPods in the bed here over the weekend, white against white sheets, so I wasn't sure anyone would spot them. When I realised, I messaged on WhatsApp, which was refreshingly easy. It was late and there apparently wasn't meant to be staff on site, but the team started searching straight away and found them quickly. I was especially impressed by how helpful and friendly everyone was at that hour. They even sent the AirPods to me the next day, which I hadn't expected. Really dedicated service, thank you!

The staff are friendly and very accommodating. Hostel Cosmos is close to public transport and the museums, and you can also walk to Amsterdam Central in a short time. If you're coming to Amsterdam, I'd recommend giving it a try.

For a budget hostel, this was pretty decent, and the central location was good. I stayed four nights and had an okay time. It's a small place with lots of people, but maybe I was lucky because the others in my 12-bed room were quiet and respectful. At first it felt overwhelming to walk into a room full of men, but everyone kept to themselves. I liked sitting in the “kitchen” to charge my phone, though it's really only a microwave, toaster, kettle, and mini fridge. There was no charger beside my top bunk by the window. The kitchen seating doesn't have much of a view, so it can feel awkward if you don't have something to do. Everyone I met was nice enough and the staff were excellent. The toilets were mostly clean, though whether they're clean or dirty can depend on luck.

It's a very budget hostel, so keep that in mind before booking. Check-in was easy and the people were nice, but basic things like towels cost extra. The sink in the room was clogged, there were only two bathrooms for the whole place, and just one of them had a shower. Cleaning was average.