Tag Hostel

The last-day interaction with a staff member is what left me with such a bad impression. At check-in, we were told we could leave our luggage until 5 PM after checkout and shower before leaving. I took that to mean the €5 charge was only for using one of the hostel towels, so I brought my own and showered. The fee applied either way. That was my misunderstanding, and I paid right away without arguing. But an older woman with glasses spoke to me aggressively and dismissively, as if I’d tried to cheat the system. A few minutes later, I saw her greet other guests warmly. She said the rule was on a small sign at reception. I think relying on tiny print instead of explaining it clearly at check-in is poor practice, and it doesn’t excuse treating a guest rudely. Before that, I’d thought the hostel deserved four or even five stars: it was clean, well kept and nicely decorated, bathrooms were available, the facilities looked good, and nearly all the staff we met were friendly and helpful. My four-bed room had a sea view, but was extremely noisy at night. Without air conditioning, we had to leave the door open, letting in all the street noise, and even headphones couldn’t block the traffic. My bed wobbled, and the polyester blanket and pillow made the summer heat worse. Between that, the noise, and the way I was treated, I left with a lasting negative impression.