Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Poor location, a bit dirty, showers don't always work.
sarahtherunner
saw things this way
Maintenance
(1)
Cleanliness
(3)
Facilities
(1)
Atmosphere
(1)
I stayed here in May 2007. The location is very out of the way, so I had to get a taxi from the airport at Simferopol at a cost of about $30. Balaklava itself is nice in places with a beautiful harbour, but this hostel is a fair way out of the centre and not walking distance.
The building is a bit of a crumbling wreck, and needs a good lick of paint and some maintenance inside and out.
On arrival, I asked a member of staff in Russian (none spoke any English) where I could make an international call (my phone got stolen so I needed to block it), and she shrugged her shoulders. This was most unhelpful.
Some guests helped me out and took me into the centre and I managed to get it sorted.
I couldn't sleep that night because a) the bed was too hard; and b) the sound of dogs barking all night.
In the morning, I asked where the showers were and got shown a few before finding one that had hot water. They seem to be unisex and only have a curtain so no chance of any privacy.
After my shower, I had had enough and packed my things and left.
This is a very, very basic, crumbling hostel. I didn't feel safe in the area where it was and it's not the place to go to on your own. Get a cheap hotel in the centre instead.
