Hostel Nearto Main Square

The location is perfect, but the showers have no body wash or shampoo, and towels aren't provided either. Breakfast was the same every day during my week there: bread, salami, tomatoes, and cereal with milk, with no variation at all. I didn't feel safe because a homeless person was outside the hotel, lying on the floor or riding the elevator up and down. I also got bitten in several places by bed bugs. They change the sheets, but not the mattress layer. I washed all my clothes, luggage, and bag after leaving, hoping I didn't bring any home. My slippers were stolen, and the administrator didn't suggest checking the cameras or seem to know what to do. She went quiet, then later said she'd contact the cleaner, but nobody followed up that day or the next. I had to explain it all again to another administrator, who also said she'd talk to the cleaner. I was nearby when the cleaner came, but neither she nor the administrator spoke to me. I had to go back to them again, and of course the slippers were never found. They have cameras but didn't seem willing to check them. I would never recommend this place to anyone.

The staff are really friendly. One lady gave me a clean towel so I could do my Islamic prayers, and I really appreciated her understanding and care. The location is great too, in front of Plaintains, near the old market, grocery stores, Lajkonik coffee, and Arabian restaurants. I'll stay there again.

I ended up booking elsewhere after seeing that they offer dorms with 10, 12, or even 14-plus people. Sharing space is part of hostel travel, but charging about what six-bed dorms cost elsewhere while packing that many guests into a room feels like treating people as cattle to squeeze out every cent. To me, it shows a disregard for guests' humanity. This seems like an unfortunate post-COVID trend in budget travel, and there needs to be a limit. On principle, I wouldn't book even a smaller room at a place like this. I hope hostels that have gone too far, including this one, reconsider whether cramming in more and more bunks is ethical.

I was glad to find vegetables at breakfast, since I hadn't expected breakfast to be included. The hostel is handy for the main station. I stayed one night and it was okay, though the bathrooms and showers were limited. It would be better if there were female-only facilities.