Hostel Raduga

The administrator is rude and even raises her voice at children. The locks on the rooms don’t work, the showers get locked whenever they decide, and washing is a problem. Toilets are broken and dirty; the mattresses are worn out and filthy, the pillows are disgusting, and the beds stink. It’s dirty and unsanitary everywhere. I DO NOT RECOMMEND.

The low price is a real plus, and the beds and mattresses were good. Darnytsia metro is about a 10-minute walk away, with shops, shopping centers, Victory Park, McDonald's, and Puzata Zata nearby. The area is well lit. You get your own key and can come and go at any hour without staff pestering you about arrival or departure. Hot water seemed practically unlimited. Towels cost 15 UAH from reception, and washing your face costs 30 UAH. The shared bathroom is rough, and there were cockroaches in both the kitchen and shower. Before the heating came on in October, the room was very cold. They provide a sheet and pillowcase, but no duvet covers. Many guests were Asians and highlanders from the former Soviet Union, and after dark I felt scared going to the bathroom or kitchen.

This felt like a scam. I booked five days ahead for a trip to Kyiv with my child, but when we arrived the receptionist said they had none of the rooms or prices listed on Booking.com, and the listed phone number wasn't theirs either. A middleman was answering it, trying to sell us various dubious deals and lying to us. The strange part was that Booking.com still showed the same room available for the same price at that very time. It completely threw off our plans and ruined our mood. Nobody apologized.

The mattresses were clean, which was a surprise. But the toilet and shower were awful, and the kitchen had no dishes. You have to ask them for a blanket. I wouldn't choose this for a big, noisy group.