Gafa Garden Hostel

Our room reeked of cigarettes and mold. The bathroom was covered in black mold, and the other bathroom had broken blinds that let people see right in. There was no mention that it was being remodeled. The sheets were badly stained, the floors were torn up, the walls visibly dirty, and the chairs ripped and filthy. I have asthma and am immunocompromised, and the owner laughed when I explained why the mold worried me. The amount of mold is unhealthy for anyone, and rooms shouldn't be rented until it's fixed. We checked in late after more than 15 hours of travel and had no option to switch accommodation. They charged my card a 10% fee. Tourist tax and VAT were already stated and included in my Booking.com reservation, so we were too tired and new to the country to realize this felt like a scam. Service fees are illegal in Turkey, and I believe the extra 10% is illegal tax avoidance or tax fraud. I also believe it violates Booking.com terms. They took my receipt when I showed it for the refund and threw it away, then refused to return it. The charge on my bank statement used the name of a restaurant that's no longer in business. Right after check-in, we raised the problems and were told we'd get a refund for two of the three nights we couldn't stay. In the morning they refused. We approached them calmly and politely, explaining that we wanted to be respectful of other guests and not make a scene. The man said he didn't care and gave me a list of what I felt were lies and excuses. I said it was unacceptable and asked for a refund for those two nights. He started yelling with aggressive body language. I repeatedly asked him to calm down and said I was trying to be respectful. He told me to shut up and get out. Eventually they gave us some money back, but a $26 room came to $47, and the experience was traumatizing. We left because I started to fear for my safety. The other staff were friendly, but I found the owner dangerous and would warn women and others considering staying here. We should have called the police. Booking.com has since changed my original reservation so I can’t review the place there, and they’re ignoring attempts by Booking.com customer service to contact them. Look at the most recent reviews and you'll find a handful like ours.

The place was easily the worst cheap accommodation we've stayed in, and the owner was pathetic. Photos on Booking.com gave a completely false impression. The building stank of cigarettes and mold. Our sheets were disgusting and too small for the mattress; water damage made the floor and ceiling bubble, and the unfinished floors had broken trim everywhere. One shared bathroom had black mold across the ceiling. The other had been tiled over, apparently covering mold, and its destroyed blinds left it open to neighbors across the street. Common room and dining room seating was worn out, and the room next to ours had sliding closet doors with gaps around them. We arrived late after a 15-hour travel day and were told there'd be a 10% fee for paying by card, though it wasn't in the listing. We pushed back without success and ended up paying. My girlfriend's respiratory issues got worse in the room and she felt ill. We told the staff we couldn't stay the whole booking, offered to pay for one night, and asked for a refund for the rest so we could find somewhere safer. The staff member was understanding and said it would be handled the next morning. The next morning, that employee wasn't there. Another staff member understood too and agreed to refund the rest, then called the owner. The owner refused to refund the surprise 10% fee or Booking.com reference fee. He claimed they'd messaged us about the 10% at booking, which wasn't true. We said the listing misrepresented the condition and that keeping those fees was unreasonable. My partner tried several times to avoid a scene, but the owner yelled at us and wouldn't take responsibility. He then blamed us for causing a disturbance. Amid the argument, we got some, but not all, of our money back. When he yelled at my partner to shut up, I thought things might get worse. We threatened to call the tourist police, and staff, though not the owner, pleaded with us not to. We left because it didn't feel safe. Avoid this place and give your money to businesses that deserve it. At the current condition and price, it shouldn't cost even half as much. We've stayed in plenty of cheap places, but this was by far the worst. We found a nearby hotel for only a little more, and it was incredible. The owner will probably reply with lies, as he already did on my girlfriend's review. People like this don't own up to wrongdoing, and this doesn't seem like the first time it's happened. There's a reason it has a 5/10 rating on Hostelworld. I wish we'd checked that before booking.

The other people staying there live at the property and aren't on vacation, and they were hostile about daytime noise. The property said they'd refund my stay, but when I asked the booking platform to waive the cancellation fee, they eventually refused.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and everything felt clean and comfortable. I also met lots of wonderful friends during my stay. The warm, positive atmosphere made it feel like a second home. I had an amazing time and would definitely recommend it!