SHIRE Gdynia

The location is very good, and the bed was clean, okay, and actually comfortable for a single. The bedding smelled a little, perhaps because of how it was dried. I had a room to myself, but it shared a door with another room, which was locked; sound carries, and you can see through, so earplugs are a good idea. I was uncomfortable with the setup. This is more like apartments on the third and fourth floors turned into a mix of student dorm and workers' hostel than a traditional hostel. There's no women-only apartment. The apartment entrance door from the stairwell is noisy and doesn't lock. On my first night I shared an apartment with a group of men over 40 who were loud and left clothes in the bathroom. I was scared to say anything. Even my locked room door could be opened by leaning on it harder. I contacted staff the next day and learned they were in one of the lower-floor apartments. The owners' response did make me feel I could count on them, though I still didn't feel safe there. I also don't know why it's called "shire", since that theme doesn't appear elsewhere.

A good price for what you get, with excellent location and free Wi-Fi. The rooms are adequate for the cost. My only downside was having just one toilet for the whole apartment. I'd recommend it if you're after a good balance of price and quality.

The owner was quick and thorough in answering every question, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a bigger room than I'd booked. The rooms and shared areas are well kept, the location is perfect, and the value for money is excellent. If you need gold doorknobs and bourgeois comforts to be happy, maybe this isn't for you. I'd give it 10 stars if I could.

The owner was very friendly, and we had a clean, cozy room for a reasonable price. It's near the sea and plenty of useful places, from a gallery and post office to cafes, restaurants, and little shops. The street is fairly noisy, so although the windows block the sound, sleeping with them open wasn't an option. There's no elevator either. Still, I highly recommend it.