BUG Review
Panda is a weird place. It is a very small hostel with beds crammed into every possible space. Facilities are very limited and the kitchen is only a microwave and fridge. It is located near the red light district, between Westbahnhof and the city centre. People aged over 30 years are not allowed to stay at this hostel.
Price Dorm bed €13.50 Prices are in local currency and are inclusive of all taxes.
Hostel Lauria Hostel Panda and Hostel Alessa are runned by the same staff. I stayed at hostel alessa which is in a separated house quite near to the reception. At the whole stay we were very satisfied because all was very clean, we had the possibility to cook in a kitchen that is for all the guests in hostel alessa. There are less facilities for all of the people ( one shower for all and only two toilettes for all) but i think this is no problem.If You contact the reception by phone for booking a hostel the staff wants to know Your kredit card number - and now, i know why they do that!!!!!!!As I phoned with the reception the price was for two persons in a double room: about 46 Euro and as I liked to pay I get a discount - so we desided to stay a bit longer because it was a bit cheaper.So, we had pro longer night per night and payed the named price by the staff day by day. And all was ok.But, at the end the woman tells us that there is something wrong and we have to pay the difference.we thought that this is not right and than there came another woman and I think it is not that easy communicate with her.now, i'm conscious: they play a game and use tricks for getting more money.I think they say at first a higher price and than a lower and so the people will decide to stay longer and do not search for a cheaper hostel. But at the end, they say :" oh, there is something wrong" and get ,more money that the traveller ever expected to spend.!!!!!be aware. I talked to other guests and they told me that they pay also " a lower " price!!!!I'm sure that is always the same, and I suppose that they book the money in case You wont pay the difference form Your credit card!take care or spend more time by searching another hostel! I never ever had such an experience in a hostel!
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26 people found this review helpful
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(Review ID: 1355)
Small and cozy, May 30, 2003
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This hostel is pretty decent as long as you are in one of the dorm rooms. That is to say, there is the possibility of being put in a loft above the kitchen area which could be very loud. I felt bad for the people staying up there. The other down side of the place is 1 shower for up to 30 people. Definitely worth while to shower the night before here. The price is great though (no breakfast) and it isn't too far to walk to the site seeing areas.
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(Review ID: 1356)
Very nice, but. . ., April 16, 2003
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Dormain
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Panda was a very nice, clean, cheap, small (I see that as a good thing) hostel that was closer to Westbahnhoff than it was to the city center. While I would have liked to stay closer to the center, I'm not sure that's possible for such a low price. There are some less forgivable negatives: no breakfast or tea/coffee, extremely limited reception hours (although they do have an arrangement with a local cafe to pick up your key. Either way, its essential that you make a confirmed reservation), single shower. There were triple bunks in our room but they have individual reading lights so everyone else can go to bed. Cute little lofts squeezed in more bed space, but claustrophobics may not like that. In general, I liked it, it just lacks a few things that would make this good hostel a great hostel.
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(Review ID: 1357)
panda kicks ass, April 11, 2003
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Katy
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my friend and i stayed here in april 2003...a little funky: not enough bathroom facilities and a bit far from center, but it was worth it to stay with such friendly, totally helpful people:setting us up on museum info, directions everywhere, booking our next hostels....i´ve stayed in a lot of hostels, they all have their good and bad points, and here, the good far outweighs the bad: fun and lively, lots of people, while still being homey. and who the hell can say no to a private loft?!!!
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(Review ID: 1358)
Lauria apartments - very nice, December 26, 2002
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Booked through Panda Hostel, and yes checking in at odd hours was a bit of a problem. Once we got keys though, everything was fine. Paid in advance, then just dropped keys off in box night before we left.Had a double bed apartment, which we shared a bathroom & kitchen with. For 2 days we never saw the people in the other apartment so we had no problems!Decor was a bit old fashioned - a bit like staying at grandmas! But overall very comfortable - very happy with this place.
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(Review ID: 1359)
Lauria Apartments = Nice Accommodation, May 29, 2002
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Lauria and Panda appear to be run by the same people, but I made my reservation under Lauria Apartments. I enjoyed my stay in this building on Kaiserstrasse. The low point was the showers as after a few people took their shower in the morning there was no hot water left for the rest of us. The cooking facilities, however, were great. The kitchen is very small, but with only about 6 people (I was in an apartment of double rooms... I don't know what the set-up is in the other apartments) we had few problems taking shifts in the kitchen. The rooms have tables in them, so you have lots of room for eating your meals. The room I stayed in (a double) was great value. Nice size, linen included, nature wallpaper on one wall that made me feel like I was outside among autumn leaves... And the location was conveniently close to Vienna's Westbahnhof and a fabulous vegetarian restaurant (Vegetasia, 45 Kaiserstrasse). You have to stay for at least 2 nights at Lauria. Also, the reception hours would really bug someone who needs to leave on an early morning train (I think the office only opens at 8am, and you can't return your keys before then without paying a huge fee to have someone come in just for you). Finally, there is no luggage storage because of the short reception hours. Still, the good location and good facilities outweigh the negative features of Lauria apartments.
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(Review ID: 1360)
Small hostel in a great location, June 19, 2001
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Morgan Phillips
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This hostel is basically a converted 3 bedroom apartment. It is quite small with only a single bathroom/shower. There is a kitchen and refrigerator for guest use. Guests are given keys to the apartment and outside check in times there are no staff present. There are residential apartments in the building so you need to be quiet. The location is only a short walk from the centre of Vienna.
