BUG review
This big hostel features a brilliant bar with a pool table and cheap drinks, an Internet lounge and a kitchen with a big dining room. Accommodation is in big bright -- but basic -- dorms. It’s a bit rough around the edges but improvements are being made to the place.
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This hostel was visited by one of BUG's team of hostel inspectors who write independent reviews and assess a star rating based on an objective assessment criteria.
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Price Dorm bed £8-22 Double room £38-56 Twin room £36-50 Prices are in British pounds and are inclusive of all taxes.
out of the one hundred hostels i have stayed in over the last 20 years this has to be the worst ever 27 May 2009
Pros:
the location is pretty good
Cons:
the staff are rude, think that guests are an inconvenience and i suspect one of them stole from us
redbullman
saw things this way
Maintenance
(2)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(2)
Atmosphere
(2)
(Review ID: 12738)
I have been hosteling for over twenty years, stayed at over one hundred hostels in fifteen different countries and I can honestly say that this is the worst hostel I have ever come across. The staff were mostly unable to communicate effectively in the local language which lead to many misunderstandings. Expensive items such as cameras and mobile phones went missing after one staff member had been routing through belongings in our room at 4 a.m. When confronted about this they became aggressive and threatened to have us removed from the hotel. My advice to anyone is to read these reviews before staying here as our party now wish we had.
9 of
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Greg Martin
Baltimore, Maryland
Many other places, don't stay here if given a choice! 15 April 2004
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Greg Martin
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 4752)
Although this location was not the worst, you would be better off staying somewhere closer to the old town (south side of the castle). Staff was friendly, but that was pretty much the highlight of the hostel. The dorms were a little overcrowded. The linens were dirty (various stains I don't want to know about) and the room was a mess. It was never cleaned while I was there. Bathrooms were sub par, with messy floors and dirty showers. Almost every hallway had the lingering odor of smoke. People were constantly lighting up blunts in the bar...don't stay here if you are in the military! Beer in the bar was moderately priced but no great value. No breakfast was provided, no internet available.Windows were leaky, so the room was cold. Lots of annoying lights from the street with no curtains, so the room was annoyingly bright. I originally went to this hostel because of its advertisement of a good time and fun bar, but when I got to the bar, it ended up being some sort of free-for-all band ensemble with everything from a didjeridu to a electronic keyboard. Pretty much only entertaining if you are stoned. I headed downtown. With so many other places to stay in Edinburgh, don't stay here if you have the choice -- you can do better!
10 of
11 people found this review helpful
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Anonymous
After 15 hostel stays this was the worst 28 July 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 4753)
I have stayed in over 15 hostels, this was by far the worst one. I would highly recommend staying somewhere else. Here are just a few of the 20 or so points I have listed on a much longer review I gave.1. Showers have no pressure and see through doors2. Blood stains on sheets.3. No vending machines, payphones, internet, or breakfast.4. Dark and smelly halls5. Horrible low lit, smokey, loud uncomfortable bar6. No shades on windows7. Rude reception
15 of
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Anonymous
CALEDONIAN BACKPACKERS 29 April 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Anonymous
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 4754)
Well, first of all the name of the hostel has changed (probably to try and mask the bad reviews of the past). It's now called the CALEDONIAN BACKPACKERS. Still it's pretty crap.One thing I will say is that the staff at reception were all really really friendly and helpful (esp. Ulrika), but unfortunately that's where my praise stops.Our room was not cleaned in the 4 nights we slept there. The bathrooms were foul - i mean seriously disgusting. The day we checked in there was crap (old toothbrushes, old soap- pretty much lots of old goo) all over the bathroom - was still there when we left. The mens toilets had one of the two toilets blocked from the day we checked in...and was still this stinky way when we checked out. In the 4 days we were there we managed to brave one shower each due to the extremely dirty condition of the showers - plus they were all see through.The facilities were pretty dirty too - they threaten you with closing the kitchen if the dishes are not done (and fair enough too), but then provide ONE sponge about as big as a london tube ticket and a nice empty bottle of dish washing liquid. There is nothing to dry anything on (nothing I'd trust anyway)... and the list just goes on.It's not that we are new to hostelling... we've been living in hostels for the past 2 years, but this was pretty bad. Why did we stay 4 nights? Because it was cheap and the location was good.Thumbs up to the reception staff though.
11 of
13 people found this review helpful
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Megan
Alberta, Canada
No Stars 24 April 2003
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Megan
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 4755)
One of the worst hostels I have stayed in. The floor in the dorm room was filthy & we had to ask for clean sheets. As there are no curtains, the streetlights lit up the room all night. The bathrooms were smelly & grungy and the showers had no privacy.
9 of
10 people found this review helpful
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Graham
Liverpool
Bottom of my list - summer 2002 21 October 2002
Pros:
n/a
Cons:
n/a
Graham
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(1)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
(Review ID: 4756)
I was forced to use this hostel when I was unexpectedly left without a bed in Edinburgh during the festival. I was kept awake by the street lights shining through the window onto my bed due to an absence of curtains. The (male) toilets and showers along from my room were small and not particularly nice to use. The place was busy (well it was during the festival) but I decided not to stay the extra night I had originally considered because I was so unimpressed by this hostel. Of all the hostels I visited during the summer of 2002 backpacking around the UK and Ireland this sadly comes bottom of my list.
