Stf Hostel Umea

The kitchen was fine, and if all you need is a warm bed and a shower, this place works. Just don't expect the usual Northern European hostel setup. There are no large lockers unless you ask for a key and leave a cash deposit, and reception isn't always open. That means your things may have to sit on the bed or chair. The bed itself is very basic, with nowhere for your phone or glasses except the mattress.

Everything else was clean and fair for the price, but check-in was a problem. It’s meant to run from 4 to 6 pm, yet when I arrived at 5:15 the reception was already shut. They sorted me out by phone, though I got a different room from the one I wanted and couldn't rent a towel for the shower. Having reception closed during check-in hours felt very unprofessional. I'd book ahead, since staying here without a reservation may be difficult.

Being right in the city center made it affordable to stay close to lots of places, and the staff were friendly. Breakfast in the morning was quite good too. One nuisance: the kitchen doors shut with a heavy bang, which can get annoying in the middle of the night.

Check the room arrangement when you book, because the rooms are separated for men and women. If you don't think about that ahead of time, you might end up in a room with the other gender 😂😂. Then you have to ask reception whether they can move you. If the guesthouse is fully booked, that's when the real show starts.