Really do not recommend anyone stay here. I had an e-mail chain with a staffer promising me that it was OK I was arriving 1 hour after the usual closing time and leaving early in the morning…they would make arrangements to wait for me. Thinking that because it was Labor Day weekend it might be busy, I went ahead and sent in a money order for $29–$24 to reserve a private room and $5 for a refundable key deposit. Now that they have a better website they take online reservations and claim the first night’s deposit is nonrefundable–not so last year!!
Lo and behold, no one was there. I would have been sleeping in my rental car if a dorm guest hadn’t heard me pounding and let me in. The dorms cost only $18 and are supposed to come with linens…of course I got none. I obviously did not get that key deposit, no one was there when I left early in the morning, just as I said I would. On return home I fired off an angry email, got an immediate apology and the excuse that the person answering emails had failed to communicate with the receptionist, and the offer to return my money ASAP. No big surprise, it never came and my subsequent emails all went ignored. Really not worth the trouble!
Also, while the guidebooks & website don’t mention it, they have signs up saying they require chores, just like the hostel in Santa Fe. Not sure if this is really enforced or not.
Sounds like you showed up after they were closed, and left before they opened. I have stayed there more then once and had no problems. It’s hard to expect someone to handle your requests if you are there when the staff isn’t.
Even if they are not standing over you, you should do the chores. That is part of hosteling, both trying to keep the cost down, but also the experience. A five minute chore doesn’t hurt anyone, but adding the guests together, that can save the hostel money and allow cheaper rates. Besides then you don’t have the people who did their chore talking behind your back.
I really liked the hostel. I enjoy meeting other travelers, and also having the kitchen available for cooking. The place was clean and the staff were friendly. I liked the location close to downtown and old town (walking distance). I may actually take a train in next time, and it is only about 10 blocks from the train and bus stations.
I see that some people leaving reviews wanted the Hyatt for twenty bucks a night, but let’s face it, that isn’t going to happen. This is a good value, and it is clean. If you don’t require room service this is worth the money.
April 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Really do not recommend anyone stay here. I had an e-mail chain with a staffer promising me that it was OK I was arriving 1 hour after the usual closing time and leaving early in the morning…they would make arrangements to wait for me. Thinking that because it was Labor Day weekend it might be busy, I went ahead and sent in a money order for $29–$24 to reserve a private room and $5 for a refundable key deposit. Now that they have a better website they take online reservations and claim the first night’s deposit is nonrefundable–not so last year!!
Lo and behold, no one was there. I would have been sleeping in my rental car if a dorm guest hadn’t heard me pounding and let me in. The dorms cost only $18 and are supposed to come with linens…of course I got none. I obviously did not get that key deposit, no one was there when I left early in the morning, just as I said I would. On return home I fired off an angry email, got an immediate apology and the excuse that the person answering emails had failed to communicate with the receptionist, and the offer to return my money ASAP. No big surprise, it never came and my subsequent emails all went ignored. Really not worth the trouble!
Also, while the guidebooks & website don’t mention it, they have signs up saying they require chores, just like the hostel in Santa Fe. Not sure if this is really enforced or not.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Sounds like you showed up after they were closed, and left before they opened. I have stayed there more then once and had no problems. It’s hard to expect someone to handle your requests if you are there when the staff isn’t.
Even if they are not standing over you, you should do the chores. That is part of hosteling, both trying to keep the cost down, but also the experience. A five minute chore doesn’t hurt anyone, but adding the guests together, that can save the hostel money and allow cheaper rates. Besides then you don’t have the people who did their chore talking behind your back.
I really liked the hostel. I enjoy meeting other travelers, and also having the kitchen available for cooking. The place was clean and the staff were friendly. I liked the location close to downtown and old town (walking distance). I may actually take a train in next time, and it is only about 10 blocks from the train and bus stations.
I see that some people leaving reviews wanted the Hyatt for twenty bucks a night, but let’s face it, that isn’t going to happen. This is a good value, and it is clean. If you don’t require room service this is worth the money.