Let me make this very clear. This hostel is not all sparkle and sunshine.
- The bunks are awkward and creaky and there are not enough cages for everybody to store their luggage securely.
- There are only two power outlets per room so you have to negotiate over who gets to use them first.
- On weekends the music from the bar is so loud it reverberates through the floorboards and only gets turned off at 2am.
- The cleaning staff are quite rude and will tell you to get out of the bathrooms or showers so they can clean them, even if you're still in them!!!
- The location of this hostel is at times inconvenient, particularly as it takes up to 40mins to travel via DLR to the heart of London and if you want to get back after midnight when the DLR shuts down you have to catch a bus which takes even longer.
- There is a common room but it doesn't have vending machines or even a microwave or sink for you to make your own meals.
- When the bar is busy at night it can take a while to get someone's attention to help you because they're all busy tending to customers.
That said, I love the staff there!!! They are the most helpful and friendly hostel staff I've ever encountered. They go out of their way to make you feel at home and to get a laugh out of you even if you've just spent 19 hours in the air with severe jetlag. Shoutouts to Dan and Olly! At one stage when a friend's keycard failed to open his door, Dan climbed up two storeys and through a window to open the door for him from the inside. Now THAT'S service!!!
So even though the hostel itself could definitely use some improvement, the company was excellent and no doubt I'll be staying there again at some point. :)
