Aleje28 Hostel

I stayed four days, split between two rooms, back in July 2013. It was the best available hostel deal I could find in Krakow then, and all in all the stay went well. The place is small, so it felt friendlier than a big hostel, though little problems are more noticeable. Breakfast was free and simple at 09:00, with tea and coffee available all day. Wi-Fi was free, downtown wasn’t a long walk, and the room locked. They also looked after bags if you had to leave, and were accommodating, as long as you washed your dishes. There were only two bathrooms plus one en-suite room, and no luggage lockers. It got very hot, though they said fans would be added soon, and it could be noisy with people coming and going during the day and partygoers at night. The owner didn’t speak English, but could call someone to translate when needed.

The room and bathrooms were clean, and the kitchen was there to use. It’s a great spot, just a short walk from the main square and around two minutes from the riverside. The woman at reception was very kind and happy to share city tips.

I booked a twin room a month ahead and got confirmation by email, text, and phone. I paid the requested deposit too. But when my guest from Germany and I arrived, they said they had overbooked and our room had been given away, then sent us to a cheap student residence. I found that rude and unacceptable. If you want to feel secure about your holiday booking, I wouldn’t use this hostel.

I met some nice people during the few nights I stayed here in May, but the owner made the experience a nightmare. When my guests and I extended our stay, he charged us a higher rate. He also threw food out of the fridge when he didn’t like certain guests. The key deposit had a hidden $20 charge, and the Wi-Fi was expensive and weak in the rooms, especially if you wanted to use a laptop. The best signal was in the kitchen and reception. We’ve stayed in lots of places around the world and would put this among the worst. We’d advise choosing somewhere else.