Hotell Centralstation

The bathrooms and showers were spacious and spotless, and the beds were fairly comfortable despite the small rooms. The kitchen, though, was very dirty and badly equipped. There are no windows in the rooms, and the ladders for the top bunks feel badly designed, almost as if a rung is missing. The staff seemed reasonably polite in my limited dealings with them. Breakfast was average and cost extra.

The hostel itself was fine, but the way they handled my lost ring was awful. I contacted them by email after forgetting it there, and they assured me they had found it. Later, an employee said it had been thrown away. It's a real silver ring and means a lot to me. They apparently thought nobody was coming to collect it because too much time had passed, even though I'd already claimed it and contacted them. I'm not local, and they had a way to reach me. Completely unacceptable.

The communal bathrooms were spacious and clean, and the big breakfast lounge is a useful place to work or study. It has large windows facing the street and the old central station; you can also borrow a chair for your room. The hotel is right by the central station and very good value. I'd happily return. My room had four bunk beds and no windows, like a cabin on a ship. That meant no street noise, and with one or two people it felt quite nice, though full occupancy could get cramped. The spring mattresses were good, the pillows okay, and every bed had a reading light and power socket. There was some noise from other rooms during the night, but nothing too bad, and that can happen. Breakfast costs 95 SEK, which is a bargain. It runs until 11 on weekdays and 13 on weekends. The buffet is about what you'd expect from an average hotel, with especially good gluten-free choices: several breads, three types of müsli, cornflakes, and waffles you can make yourself, all gluten-free. I tried the waffle makers without any reaction. Oat milk is available, but there isn't a gluten-free plant milk option, so they should add soy milk. The kitchen is large and very clean, with plenty of fridge room and one freezer, but it needs better equipment. They only provide paper cups, no proper glasses or mugs, which isn't sustainable. Laundry is 75 SEK for two hours.

The location is excellent, the staff are helpful, and it's the cheapest place around here. But the rooms made the stay depressing for me. They're only about 6-7 m², have no windows, and feel like prison cells. Even the larger option just adds a private bathroom. If you're at all claustrophobic, this place could give you nightmares. I work in tourism and have stayed in plenty of hotels, but I'd never imagined a place like this. You can also end up with a shared bathroom if you don't check carefully. Even at the lowest price, it costs too much for what you get. I'd spend a little more on decent accommodation.