1 River Central Hostel

I arrived at 4 am after telling them when to expect me, but my bed wasn't ready. I had to carry my heavy luggage up and down while looking for an open bed. The bed itself was okay, though the very thin blanket and sheets smelled old and unwashed. Watch your head on the top bunk, I hit mine on the ceiling. I couldn't see a convenience store nearby. The place feels more like a boarding house than a hostel, and they charge a full day's rate even if you ask to extend your stay by just three hours. For a cheap place, I guess you get what you pay for.

The housekeeper was the best part for me. She was really kind and caring, and the place was clean. It is a hostel, so you share space with other people. It's close to a busy road, which means traffic noise all day and night. That location also makes it easy to get public transport and travel around the city. The price felt a little high for what the hostel offers.

The main reason I've come back several times is the 300 peso nightly rate. They're planning to raise it to 450, which is too much for what you get, and I won't return at that price. At 300, this place is worth it, but there are plenty of hostels in better locations for 450 or 500. It's right beside one of the busiest highways, with jeepneys and big trucks passing. The windows stay open, so it's extremely loud and polluted at all hours, even with earplugs. The beds are very small, and the bathrooms aren't the cleanest and have no toilet seats. Most guests in the lower bunks are long-term local residents who don't seem to understand how to share a room. They're very loud, play music or videos without headphones, and don't care about other guests. Be ready to take a top bunk, which shakes a lot, or a floor cot that costs the same as a bed. The hostel is about 1.5 kilometres from anywhere meaningful, so walking means taking the busy highway. If management raises prices without changing anything, I don't think that strategy will work.

The hostel sits right in front of a major highway, across from a gas station. The room was cool and peaceful both times I stayed in Manila, and I had no complaints about the shared toilet and bathroom. I didn't expect much from hostel facilities, but they were clean, and I could adjust the shower temperature. I booked through Agoda. On the first day I was given an upper bunk downstairs, and climbing up took a lot of effort because the steps were high. When I checked in again the next day, on my last day in Manila, I got another upper bunk on the second floor even though I'd asked for a lower one. Still, the room and atmosphere were calm. There was no lift, so I had to use the stairs with my suitcase. The short-haired ate helped me carry it, thank you! The plugs weren't international, so I had to buy a new charger. The upper bunk curtains didn't close all the way, which meant other people could see in. To the two ate, the one with long hair and the one with short hair, you're good people. Maraming salamat po. And to the short-haired ate who helped in the kitchen and explained the noodle price, I'm sorry I forgot to pay 56/65 pesos because the JoyRide driver was rushing to leave. I'll order one room for about 240 pesos to make up for it, though I won't be staying. Tip: don't bring a suitcase, and don't expect more than a hostel, not a hotel. If you want new experiences and friends, this place could be an option for about 240 pesos a night.