Max-Brauer-Allee 277, 22769 Hamburg U-Bahn/S-Bahn Sternschanze Tel (040) 43182310 Websitewww.instantsleep.de
BUG review
Instant Sleep was one of the original ‘real’ backpackers’ hostels in Hamburg and it still offers a great accommodation option for the independent traveller who wants to avoid the institutional mega hostels that are often packed with large groups. Instant Sleep is a small 54-bed hostel near the lively Sternschanze neighbourhood. Facilities at this hostel include a nice big common area with table football, a small fully-equipped kitchen, internet access (use of hostel’s computer by donation, free Wi-Fi), laundry and a balcony area for smokers. Accommodation is in spacious rooms (the dormitories don’t have bunk beds – just single beds). Not everyone gets a key to their room, but there is a locker for each bed (which isn’t perfect, but it is preferable to lockable rooms without lockers). This backpackers’ hostel has a great mix of facilities, atmosphere and location and would be a fun place to stay.
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Price Dorm bed €12-23.50 Single room €37 Double room €52-74 Prices are in euro and are inclusive of all taxes.
Reception open Mon-Tue 8am-11pm, Wed-Sat 8am-2am, Sun 8am-11pm
great for Party-Girls and middle aged businessmen 13 March 2006
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 7715)
Pros: Relatively cheap. Bathrooms were relatively clean, as were the rooms. Good key card system to get in and out.Cons: Over-populated by Party-Girls and middle-aged businessmen who came in drunk in the middle of the night (there is even a notice saying that if you vomit anywhere other than the toilet, you have to clean it up yourself!). Strange overlying odor. Did not really feel secure within the hostel itself (I actually had some books and food stolen from my pack). Rude staff. Others staying there refused to talk with me because I am not German, although I am fluent in the language. Beds were uncomfortable. Technically not in the Schanzenviertel.I mean, if you need a place to stay, this will do the trick. Unfortunately the other option in the area is Schanzenstern, which is pretty bad too. But this is probably the worst hostel I have ever stayed in.
3 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Schuyler Campbell
San Francisco, California
absolutely awful! 10 August 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Schuyler Campbell
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 7716)
These people have a ridiculous and borderline gestapo way of making bookings which forces a backpacker to call them 24 hours in advance, even if the booking is only made 48 hours in advance to begin with. They are old, ridiculous people with a grade school teacher mentality who do not know how to run a proper business.
10 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
Roggel, The Netherlands
Good hostel! 17 March 2005
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7717)
I stayed here last summer. It was pretty clean (the showers also) and the woman at the receprion was friendly to me (maybe because I talked to her in german). The common room was great to meat people. I met some great persons here with whom I went to the Reeperbahn (very much fun!). I also went to the U??? submarine boat wich is a MUST SEE. Hamburg was a very nice city with good doner kebab. In the hostel it was sometimes not that quiet during the night, but who cares (nothing wrong with a good party!). I really recommend this hostel!
4 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Colza
Brisbane, Australia
Instant Sleep - Maybe not 22 September 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Colza
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 7718)
I find it incredibly ironic this hostel is called 'Instant Sleep' because this is the last thing you will encounter here. Granted my stay was a Saturday night but from my lone experience the music stopped literally BLASTING about 4am. Especially not cool if you want to catch Hamburg's legendary fischmarkt early on a Sunday morning *yawn*.HOWEVER, the beds were clean and comfy and the showers were also good. Cheap eats not too far away either.
12 of
13 people found this review helpful
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michael 28
freemantle, australia
a cultured dream 31 May 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
michael 28
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7719)
there are many places in the world to see...and hamburg is the one unknown , like a secret... there-1/4s are filled with music and arts ,there streets are real and for me, thats the beauty of europe.i stayed at the instant sleep, and found it very welcomingwith its angel on the wall ,looking over the travelsthere rooms are spacey, with no stupid bunk beds, and fat guys jerking off ontop.berlin is crazy, and hamburg is nice...
2 of
12 people found this review helpful
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Devon
Canada
Great Place for Low Maintenance Genuine Travellers 30 May 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Devon
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7720)
If you want to be catered to on hand and foot, or stay in some pseudo-hotel style hostel it might be better to limit your stays to the international youth hostel association hostels or some of these hugely impersonal (and expensive) chain hostels popping up all around Europe. This place is for travellers who are looking for genuine character in the places they stay. The people who work here are by far the most real I've come across in travelling Europe for a year. And believe me you get to really appreciate that when you've heard the: Where you from? Where you been? Where you going? Questionaire that tends to start so many forgetable conversations. I may sound cynical here but I just want to emphasize that there are no fake faces at instant sleep, which is refreshing. Now down to the particulars. By far the best showers of any hostel I've stayed at, clean rooms, comfortable beds, NO BUNK BEDS!!! (I love that), and a good location and THE most affordable hostel you'll find in Hamburg. The only drawback is the noise from the bar downstairs which could be a plus for those who like to party and pass out or it could be very comforting if you just imagine your back in the womb and let the bass be you mother's heart beat lulling you to sleep.
12 of
12 people found this review helpful
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dclay
Eugene OR USA
great place 29 May 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
dclay
saw things this way
Maintenance
(4)
Cleanliness
(4)
Facilities
(4)
Atmosphere
(4)
(Review ID: 7721)
I had a great time so much so that I stayed here three times. The staff was freindly and engaging(we played foosball) and the services were more than adequate. The bar down stairs is a slight annoyance but you can just ask for a bed in one of the rooms away from it if available. This hostel is way better that than the other two "jugendherberges" which tend to be rather militant with strict curfews and wake up policies.As far as the neighborhood being dirty like some of these other reviews have been saying I am not of the same opinion. Strenshcanze happens to be one of the most happening parts of town, with all sorts of cool things going on during the day like flea markets and street fairs as well as at night. The staff of the hostel even helped me plan my days and gave me insider tips on where to find the off the beaten path cultural events that you wont hear about from the guide booksThis place is definitly cool
10 of
11 people found this review helpful
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smileanddie@hotmail.com
Watford, England
Not good, not bad 5 February 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
smileanddie@hotmail.com
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 7722)
I stayed here at the end of 2000. What can I say about Instant Sleep? Well, there are no frills at this hostel, so don't expect too much. The room I stayed in had approximately 16 single (non-bunk) beds, and they were mixed sex (no problem for me, but maybe a problem for some). When there are so many in 1 room, it is not so easy to relax and sleep. The staff were pretty friendly, I have to give them this. The location: about 15-20 minutes by foot to the sleazy Reeperbahn, located on a street corner. There is a bar underneath the hostel, so it can be noisy at night. There is a metro station about 2/3 minutes from the hostel, and a nice little breakfast cafe on the road that runs down the side of the hostel. I have returned to Hamburg since, and would probably recommend one of the other hostels because they're considerably better (though more expensive).
5 of
15 people found this review helpful
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Stefanie
Switzerland
Couldn`t help it, but I didn`t feel welcome 8 December 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Stefanie
saw things this way
Maintenance
(3)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(3)
Atmosphere
(3)
(Review ID: 7723)
The hostel is easy to find if you follow the instructions in your guide book or the ones on their flyer. Go off "Sternschanze" from there it`s a 5mins walk. The entrance is hard to find indeed, it`s a dark stairway and there`s a lot of other people from the bar or the Kebab-Joint outside. As a single female traveller I didn`t really feel comfortable and I didn`t go out on my own in the dark. The hostel is dark, the only lights are blue, so it`s a weird atmosphere in there. The kitchen is tiny and there is a ugly dog who smells really bad! I stayed there on a weekend, they were almost booked, so the only option for me was to sleep in what they call "the hall of dreams". Yes, it`s a hall!! There are 26 beds in one huge room. But it was surprisingly quiet. (Exept for the noise coming from the bar downstairs...) There are two toilets and the showers are downstairs (yes, the walls between the showers are transparent, at least in the ladies-showers!)The staff are not actually rude, but they always seem to have a big party and as a guest, you are usually not invited... not too welcoming!
4 of
13 people found this review helpful
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Paolo
Vancouver, Canada
I wouldn't return here again 28 September 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Paolo
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(2)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 7724)
Talk about a ghetto neighbourhood! When I came, i couldn't find the door to the hostel, and it was soo dark going up, i thought it wasn't gonna be safe for many...pros:- common room wasn't bad, you can get to meet lots there...- there's also a kitchen and internet - also a restaurant/cafe area nearby- lockers (but really small)- no bunk beds...cons- far walk from the metro. if you don't have a map, then you're screwed.- i've encountered freaks begging me some money while walking towards the hostel... its not the safest to walk at night...- refrigerator is gonna blow up -- too filled with food from everyone. get a bigger ref!
