The Z Nite Hostel

The beds are big and comfortable, so I slept well. Z Nite Hostel in Phuket was clean and pleasant, and I felt comfortable there right away. The staff were friendly, attentive and always ready to help. I had a really great stay.

I booked a bed in a four-bed dorm, but when I arrived the hostel said a system error had caused an overbooking and there was no bed for me. They offered to “upgrade” me to a private room at a nearby place called The Dorm Hostel. I was annoyed, but thought a private room might make up for it. I should have asked for my money back. The man said he’d take me there by scooter. I had a 15kg backpack and a small one at the front, and I was terrified the whole ride. The new hostel looked OK, but the room didn’t feel like an upgrade at all. It was just a bed, a table and a chair. The sheets were supposedly clean but covered in stains, and the room didn’t look very clean. There was no bathroom in it. The only good thing was the A/C, thank goodness. I was told to use the shared bathroom upstairs, and nobody mentioned the other bathroom right across from my room. I only noticed it when I left. The shared bathroom and showers were decent and clean. I couldn’t sleep at all. Google Maps reviews mentioned bedbugs, and the water heater next to my room made a clicking sound every 40 seconds or so. The next morning, the woman serving breakfast was rude and didn’t seem to care that I had to catch my ferry. Breakfast was very underwhelming, and she took all the time in the world. This review is about both hostels. Neither is worth considering. Unprofessional and dirty.

The hostel is within walking distance of Phuket Old Town, 7/11 and K-bank. My room was clean and surprisingly reasonable, and the hallway was cleaned often. The staff speak perfect English. The A/C is switched off from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, but the fan stays on and it still feels refreshing. Lockers are free, though you need your own lock or can buy one at the hotel for 60 baht. Laundry costs 30-40 baht and the dryer is 10 baht. Breakfast is included and served from 7 to 10. It’s the same every day, but handy for a quick meal before heading out in Phuket.

I left the hostel on my first night and lost the money I’d already paid. The receptionist was miserable from the moment I arrived, speaking to me as though he was about to start a fight. He was inconsiderate and didn’t help with anything. I asked for a coffee and got a blunt “no.” He kept saying no to everything, like it was chewing gum. I was tired and stressed, and the way he treated customers made me think he has a serious problem with his job.