If you're not too choosy, you'll find it charming., September 17, 2001
Reviewer:
Terje M.W. Martinsen
( mobylife@hotmail.com)
from Halden, Norway
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
This place has charm. I've been there three times over the last five years, and strangely enough always ended up in the same bed. It has something you might call a shower, beds that could be better (but with a lot of stuff written on then, so you'll always have something to read), a receptionist who refuses to be even remotely gentile, but this all just adds up to the charm. It's not a place that you'll want to stay for weeks, but on your way to the Adriatic, or to stay for a couple of days in Zagreb, and you don't mind staying with five other people in the same room (you might meet some interesting people), it's fine. At least, it's a place you'll remember. About the price, Croatia is NOT a cheap place to visit. At the coast, expect prices at 120 + kuna pr. night at private accomodations.
14 of
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(Review ID: 1312)
convenient, July 31, 2001
Reviewer:
Lee Kulig
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
i arrived in zagreb at around 2200, and was very tired. the hostel was a convenient 10 minute walk from the train station. not the cleanest or quietest place, but who cares.
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(Review ID: 1313)
The worst hostel I have ever stayed in!, July 27, 2001
Reviewer:
Mark
( westmeadboy@yahoo.co.uk)
from London, England
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Imported Review
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
I had already been warned about this hostel (though whether you can call it that is debatable since it more closely resembles a refugee camp as far as I could make out) so I went there expecting the worst. Unfortunately, I was being too optimistic!On arrival at 7am (after a sleepless overnight bus journey from Rjeka) I was "welcomed" by a very depressing, rundown reception area which had clearly never been decorated and had indeed not been touched for a good many years. The man behind the desk was very unfriendly - the sort of person who can make you feel about 2 inches tall (for no reason whatsoever) just by looking at you. I couldnt take my bag to the room because the rules stated 12am so (and only after some debate!) he allowed me to put my rucksack in a lockable room adjacent to the reception. He kept the key so I would just have to trust him. Sure enough, when I came back, it was still there so thats something I suppose.From what I could gather this 200+ bed hostel only had two rooms for tourists - one for each sex. The others were occupied by refugees which gave the place an unsafe atmosphere because a lot of them would spend the whole day hanging around on the stairs eyeing up your gear as you walked by - probably making a mental note of how many people were left in your dorm too. It also made the place pretty noisy.The dorm itself was 3 bunk beds - no lockers. Very basic with one small surface shared by all. The bathroom was very basic, dirty and run-down. I cant remember if there was hot water - I think so - but I do remember the shower wasnt at all hot in other respects.Oh, and forget about things like breakfast, washing facilities, internet, reasonable check-in check-out times etc. No chance! But there is no curfew which is a bonus!To summarise, this hostel is awful but since it is the only one (at time of writing) in Zagreb you have little choice. I'd still rather stay in this hell-hole than any hotel or b&b (Sobe) since hostels are great for meeting people. Indeed, I met a great bunch of people in the two dorms and we had a superb night out at Saloon. Oh, and none of us had anything stolen from us so it wasn't all bad!
