Food District Hostel Cebu Central

I chose this hostel because of its good rating, but didn't enjoy it. The room and bathroom were very dirty, and it didn't have much of a hostel feel. My window faced the backyard, where staff were talking loudly and making noise until 2 am. I wasn't keen on the location either. I couldn't find good restaurants nearby. I'd read other reviews mentioning them, but when I asked, the staff didn't recommend any.

It's affordable, with rooms for two, four, or six people, including mixed dorms. The toilet and bath are shared. They don't serve food or drinks, but there are quite a few restaurants within 500 meters. Parking is along the street, and the strict city traffic officers may tow your car at night.

The staff were friendly and the service was good, and the rooms are spacious. But it costs more than what you get, and the actual place looks very different from the photos. I did love the internet connection.

The colorful setup lifted my mood as soon as I arrived. The hostel is tucked into the Lahug-JY area, so that bright look was a nice surprise. I stayed in a shared room, and it smelled good, though I was the first one in it. I guess your random roommates have a lot to do with whether it stays that way. There were only two charging ports, so my three-meter cable came in handy. The shared restrooms had been mentioned before booking, and they were clean and well-maintained. Since everyone uses them, I didn't expect them to be spotless all the time, but they were clean most of the time. The staff were nice. I apologized for speaking English when I realized they all spoke Tagalog. One staff member smiled and said it was fine, then chatted with me about how Cebuanos don't seem to be fond of that dialect. I still don't know why that local dialect makes me freeze up. There are two spots to relax apart from the reception area. One is open, maybe for smokers, and the other is more sheltered, with a hanging single couch and a small sofa with pillows. For the comfort, I felt I paid less than it was worth. Five stars from me.