Hostels from hell!

cactuspaw

I've just been to Belfast for a few days and stayed in whet I would considered one of the worst, if not the worst, hostels I've ever stayed in.

I've been to a good few hostels, all over europe and in galway, dublin, and cork. I'm not a very fussy person and hostels arent supposed to be the lap of luxuary, but my god, this hostel broke more health and safety laws and possibly human rights then you could mention. While the staff in the office were friendly and the sheets and bunks were decent,that was about where it ended.

Firstly, our room was cold and we had to rely on a small plug in heater to keep us warm, the radiators didn't work. The shared bathroom consisted of a toilet that didn't flush, a shower which was fitly (muck everywhere and the plug hole clogged with hair), empty shampoo bottles and toilet rolls everywhere coz the bin wasnt emptied. Usually this wouldn't bother me so much, but we stayed there 3 days and it was never tidied.

The building itself was old and while this ok, paint, wall paper and tiles were peeling off or chipped everywhere. wires were exposed or hanging off the walls and its amazing somebody didn't trip over them. There was a hell of a lot of plugboards in use. One of the girls in our group used the kitchen which was old but ok, but mid use the ceiling started to leak on all the utensils and near the cables for the kettle, microwave etc. When we alerted the staff they kind of himmed and hawed and said a man was calling in a few days to have it fixed. How dangerous is that? who runs a business with a leaking roof?

We had a power cut new years eve, electricity was off for ages and there was no attempt to provide any lighting for people coming back after a night out.
My friend got up to avail of the "complementary breakfast" at 8am to find the landing and lounge compleetly trashed from the night before (pizza boxes, cans, chip bags everywhere). At round 9, we all woke up to a guy screaming at a dorm to tell whoever was in it that they were being kicked out.

As I said, I'm not fussy about things, but it was just bad business and braking health and safety. I only stayed 2 nights and it was ok for that, but I wont be in a rush back.

should I write a letter of complaint? or am I over reacting?

redcortina

You can wright as many letters as you want but id say you will be none the better, My advice would just be to give it a terrible review on hostelworld etc and make sure than no other unfortunate soul as to stay there again.

ihsb

Sounds awful! It gets really bad when you share your room with someone that may be homeless and off her meds... and you are travelling alone. This was even a HI hostel!

crushproof

I've an inkling of which hostel you're on about, stayed there one night and swiftly moved on the next night, absolute horror show. Let a god dam awful review on hostelworld but I'm sure whoever stays and has a blast trashing the place and leaving rubbish everywhere gives it a great review as party hostel and all that.

TonyW72

It is frustrating, as these places don't seem to care. I actually posted several reviews of a nightmare hostel in Tel Aviv which suspiciously were never published but there were about 30 positive reviews. Do they pay these review sites for good reviews?

waizegoose

Was the bad hostel Momos by any chance on Allenby Rd Tel Aviv.? I stayed there and twas bad. Two blocks away was a good one on Gordans Rd. Better rooms, proper breakfasts and hot showers for same money.