River Hostel

I really wanted to give it 5 stars, but that isn’t accurate. This is a pretty big building with a lot of rooms however, and they do well to make it all function. ▫️ Bathrooms - they don’t suck, because they’re cleaned so well. The showers are pretty good and they have hairdryers but you won’t love the toilets, sinks or taps. Rooms - good beds, warm enough in winter, curtain, power socket, lamp. On the top bunk, things can’t fall down which is nice. Kitchen - really good and well-stocked. Also the only place where socialising tends to happen. Common area - dull social atmosphere because none of the common spaces are homely at all, everyone is spooked, and there don’t seem to be volunteers. But the hostel ran a free dinner one night and that got people talking. Breakfast - cheap so probably worth it. Weird how they section it off, and give oranges and apples but no knives. Staff - some are really super great, one or two are pretty rude. They are seemingly not travellers themselves, so may not care for your needs. Price - good but don’t book direct. It was 20% cheaper on hostelworld so I felt ripped off when I extended a night. Towels are only €1 to rent, which is refreshing for this part of the world. Location - pretty great. You certainly won’t need any public transport. Cleanliness - the cleaning staff are heroes. If it wasn’t for them, the place would quickly become a nightmare. There is a lift! ▫️ Extra notes: The place generally attracts your average vacationer who might come back drunk at 3am. Seems to be a common experience. The lovely cafe area downstairs is absolutely unusable for working (or existing at all) because the music they always play there is so horrendous. Top 40 and worse. Nobody goes there and you would think the hostel would ask themselves why. The floor on each level makes a hilariously loud squeaky sound wherever people walk.