BUG Backpackers Hostel Reviews: Reviews of Old Town Hostel

Hostels > Europe > Lithuania > Vilnius

Old Town Hostel

Ausros Vartu 20-10, Vilnius
Tel 262 53 57

Price
Dorm bed 35.90 Lt
Double room 107.60 Lt
Prices are in local currency and are inclusive of all taxes.

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Last Update: November 30, 2008

Travellers' reviews for Old Town Hostel

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Average Rating based on 10 Reviews

Maintenance (3.50)

Cleanliness (3.50)

Facilities (3.50)

Atmosphere (3.50)

Compared to other hostels in this destination

Maintenance (3.50)

Cleanliness (3.50)

Facilities (3.50)

Atmosphere (3.50)

Displaying Reviews: 1 - 10

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(Review ID: 6887)

Crowded and dirty, but cosy, April 24, 2006

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(3)
Cleanliness		(3)
Facilities		(3)
Atmosphere		(3)

We went to Vilnius in april. Over easter. It's easy to find the hostel from the train/busstation. It's signs telling you were to go. The hostel is pretty small. And it was very crowded. But very cheap. The beds are comfy enough. But you wake up a lot during the night, cause you share it with 9 others. And people come and go. The common room in small. And always crowded. Not easy to get a seat. But it's very social. The showers were ok, but I found it a bit hard that it was unisex. And everything was in one room. It's near the train and busstation. But it takes a while to walk in to the central town.

We had a nice stay, but 3 nights was more than enough!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6888)

Not recommended, December 5, 2005

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(1)
Cleanliness		(1)
Facilities		(1)
Atmosphere		(1)

Cons - everything already mentioned, plus unorganised management who asked me to pay again for the night and refused to believe I already did. (ask for receipt for your own protection). They lost my laundry for 2 days and made no apologies. In summer months the common room is a sauna. Fridge was filthy and mouldy. You must take your shoes off inside and leave smelly stuff at the door so the first impression of this hostel is the stench.

Pros - still the best option in Vilnius, but rumour has it - NOT FOR LONG cos someone else with better management skills and understanding of travellers' needs will start one and get this messy lot out of business.

You judge for yourself.

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(Review ID: 6889)

So cozy!, May 30, 2005

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(5)
Cleanliness		(5)
Facilities		(5)
Atmosphere		(5)

I've planed to stay in Vilnius three nights, and then head to Klaipeda. But I totally get in love with this city and with the cozy atmosphere in this little, well loccated hostel. I've met wonderfull people from all over the world there. And the locals (especially all these amazingliy pretty girls) were very gentle and open minded. So instead of heading to Klaipeda, I've spent seven nights in Vilnius. Ok, the showers aren't the best, and the beds arent the biggest and the cleanest, but who cares? For me these little unperfect things are the reason why I love living in hostels.

Of course it depens on the person, but this is my favourite hostel. I can't wait to go back again.

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(Review ID: 6890)

I loved it, but that doesn't mean you will, May 12, 2005

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Imported Review saw things this way

Maintenance		(4)
Cleanliness		(4)
Facilities		(4)
Atmosphere		(4)

Vilnius Old Town Hostel is owned by the same people as the Old Town Hostels in Riga and Tallinn. Having just stayed in Riga when I arrived here I expected pretty much the same, but I was wrong, this place is distinctly older and has some issues. The downstairs showers are probably what most people complain about; they are not actually 'communal' by my definition as there are cubicles with curtains, but they do adjoin the kitchen and are visible from the stairs. They could also be hotter/stronger and one has one of those annoying push-button taps.

However, it's not as if you ever have to stand around naked without the curtain, so IMO if you're that hung up on privacy then you should be staying in a hotel. In fairness to the owners as well, although the dorms are mixed they generally put females in the room around the back which has it's own, more private shower room. Ask for this if you're really that bothered.

Aside from that, yes, this is a very sociable hostel. If you want a quiet (and early) night's sleep and to be left to mind your own busienss then you'll probably find it claustrophobic. However if you want to stay up all hours, drink the cheapest beer in the EU, make some new friends and enjoy this amazing city then there's nowhere better. There's no check-out time and it's just a short walk to the bus/train station and all the main attractions.

In my experience, the quality of your global travelling experience will depend on how much you're prepared to socialise and join in with other travellers or the locals wherever you go. I've stayed in some pretty scary hostels and this wasn't one of them; a few minor issues maybe but it's the atmosphere that really counts, not having a spacious dorm room, free internet that works all the time or a locked door on a perfect shower.

Vilnius, hostel and all, was my favourite city from this trip. Don't miss the KGB museum.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6891)

Umm... not quite what the others are saying, January 1, 2005

Reviewer: wideLoad

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Imported Review saw things this way

Maintenance		(2)
Cleanliness		(2)
Facilities		(2)
Atmosphere		(2)

I gotta say i'm really surprised by most of these reviews.

This is a hard core old school no frills hostel. And even by those standards, its nothing special. I just finished travelling 4 months through central europe and russia, and this is hardly a place "to come back to", or "the best hostel i've stayed at". I mean, i actually find those comments kind of shocking!

1) The rooms are all very very small, and packed with bunk beds.

2) The ceilings are very very low, like 5 foot in some hallways, so you're cracking your head occasionally.

3) They have hot water issues in showers

4) The downstairs communal room is more remincisnet of a moldy shower -- it has a funk to it and is "moist"

5) The showers are extremely communal style - this is OK for some people ( i didn't care really).

6) The free internet is seriously dodgy. When it is working, it only "kinda" works. Sometimes, it simply doesn't work.

1) Its fairly central.

2) The common room is "ok" (minus the dank and the stench) so u will meet international travellers.

I think u can easily do better in Vilnius. I tried to, but the other places were full. Bummer dude

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6892)

Private room was fantastic., July 28, 2003

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(5)
Cleanliness		(5)
Facilities		(5)
Atmosphere		(5)

We stayed in a pivate room for 2 people. It was spotless, huge with its own shower and kitchen (no cooker). Great value and the staff are excellent. Communal areas are a little cromped, with one cooker and 2 tables for up to 60 guests. Free internet and in a top location though. One of the best i stayed in.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6893)

One big happy family..., July 24, 2003

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(5)
Cleanliness		(5)
Facilities		(5)
Atmosphere		(5)

Arguably the best hostel I've ever stayed in and I've been right through Europe (west and east) as well as hostels in NZ, South Africa and Swaziland.

Friendly, if not slightly mad, staff never hassle you yet are more than helpful when seeking advice. Indeed, you have to wrestle them to the ground in order to pay them for your stay.

Rooms are clean, bright and beds comfortable if not a little short and I am only 1.83m (6ft). Sometimes noisy, but it's communal living so what do you expect?

The showers are good, although some people may find them not so private. But then there's no shame in what god gave you!

Free Internet albeit a little laboured.

Well equipped kitchen and excellent communal area, with no TV. That's a good thing though as everyone mixes together and talks about their adventures, where their from etc etc.

It costs little, conveniently close to train and bus stations, supermarket and the old town makes this the place to come if you are a budget traveller and want to meet lots of friends.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6894)

May not suit all but the double room is great!!, July 23, 2003

Reviewer: Jennifer

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Imported Review saw things this way

Maintenance		(4)
Cleanliness		(4)
Facilities		(4)
Atmosphere		(4)

Travelling with my boyfriend we decided to get a double room here. We tried to book by email but were told we had to fax. We faxed from Warsaw but on arriving in Vilnius were told they never recieved the fax....strange.... Luckily we were booking for a week later as we were on the way to Helsinki so we paid in advance and it was all OK.

We arrived at 6am and went down to the communal area (kitchen, toilets, showers, sofas) not wanting to wake the staff so early, but there are usually loads of early morning arrivals so they are used to it. We made use of the free internet and coffee and waited for our room. It was across the courtyard from the main hostel and was like a mini apartment with bathroom and kitchen area (no cooker). Well worth waiting for.

The guests in the hostel are typical travellers so if you want a quiet dorm with people who won't disturb you when they come in from late nights drinking or you don't feel like listening to people talking all the time about their adventures, then this might not be for you. On the other hand, if there's more than one of you, get the double/family room.

Would recommend this hostel highly, the staff were amazingly friendly and helpful, the location really can't be beaten, you are almost IN the old town.

PS. The amber in the old town market is the cheapest I've found

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6895)

hardcore-guesthouse with virtually no privacy, March 5, 2003

Reviewer: Klaus Richter

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Imported Review saw things this way

Maintenance		(2)
Cleanliness		(2)
Facilities		(2)
Atmosphere		(2)

If you think that privacy, people who don't immediately tell you the story of their lives and hostels who don't invoke the feeling that you are at your whacky uncle's home are uncool, this is the place for you to be. The location of this simple hostel is excellent; one minute per foot and you are in the old town.

But if you have a slight aversion against people who seem to know no other topic than what shit happened to them in Vietnam or how long it took them from Siberia to Vilnius, avoid this place. Also avoid this place if your holiday is to be relaxation and no school-trip-like boozing tour.

Another minus: there is virtually no place to lock your belongings, so you need big pockets to keep your important stuff (passport, purse, camera etc.) to yourself (just in case you shouldn't trust some of the slacker-prototypes who reside there from time to time).

But two stars for the friendly owner + staff.

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

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(Review ID: 6896)

Definitely the place to stay, December 31, 2002

Pros: n/a
Cons: n/a

Anonymous saw things this way

Maintenance		(4)
Cleanliness		(4)
Facilities		(4)
Atmosphere		(4)

Not knowing what to expect, but reading some good reviews about this hostel, I gave it a shot and was quite pleased. During the summer months, it is quite busy, and the staff is super friendly and accommodating. Free tea and a warm common area downstairs make it easy to meet others venturing through Vilnuis. Dorms are co-ed and remind me of a big ski lodge, but overall the bunks are comfortable and showers clean (get up early for the hot water!). Great location as well, right adjacent to the Old Town.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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