The Hostelz.com Review
Carpe Diem - Ostello della Gioventu is a relaxed, well-run hostel. It is among the cheapest room and board you can get in Brindisi, Italy, where many are looking to grab the ferry to Greece or rest for a night before traveling to Lecce or other southern cities. The staff are all female and all speak English. Please note that it gets incredibly warm during the summer here -- 45 degrees Celsius and up -- so plan accordingly!
The Location
Brindisi has relatively few things to do, and there is not much food nearby the hostel unless you get the owner to drive you into town. You can walk to an amazing and cheap pizzeria, with XXL pizzas for a very reasonable price. There is also a tiny mini mart within a few kilometers. Other than these things, expect not to see many people except the odd old woman or mother with a stroller on the streets. If you take a twenty-five-minute bus ride, you can go to a nice nearby beach, but the buses don't run terribly frequently (nobody seems to know a schedule). You get to the hostel by walking slightly over thirty minutes from the train station, which is ok, but signs are sparse so if you don't want to second guess yourself, take a taxi. Most in town know of the hostel, but they usually don't speak English if you try to ask for directions.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Ostello offers private rooms for couples and separate male and female dorms. The rooms are cleaned daily and checkout is 11 a.m. They are reasonably tidy, but the bunk beds are a bit short for taller individuals. The bathrooms are clean, but water pressure is low and you are asked to take short showers. Unfortunately, if you are a light sleeper, the partying in the common room might keep you up. Try to make sure to close the windows and wear bug spray if you have it, because we got bitten up in the hot summer month of August.
Common Spaces
There is ample room to hang out here. There is a spacious backyard with a pool, a large pool room with some chairs and couches, and the reception/bar/hangout area in the front. This is where most people gather to chat about their home countries and travels, and there were some very interesting travelers there during our stay. Because it is off the beaten path, most will have an interesting story -- this is not like a hostel in Rome or London in that everyone is willing to relax and has probably come a long way to get here.
Many of the staff are girls from England and Canada who are doing an exchange to learn about Italy, and the hostel owner is a large, happy, hilarious Italian guy who is overheard giving the girls relationship advice. You will meet all kinds of people here, and if you want to stay up late drinking with them, it will probably be an option. There isn't much else to do in Brindisi, from what we saw! So if you're happy to hang out in the pool with a beer listening to music and swapping stories, this is the hostel for you.
Summary
The guestbook from Carpe Diem Youth Hostel is filled with unending praise about the friendliness and fun had in its common areas. The staff make it a very good time, and sometimes you just have to relax when it gets so warm outside that you can't move. This place definitely has a similar chill, beachy feeling to San Diego, CA (where we come from), but is a tiny port city on the coast of Italy.
The Location
Brindisi has relatively few things to do, and there is not much food nearby the hostel unless you get the owner to drive you into town. You can walk to an amazing and cheap pizzeria, with XXL pizzas for a very reasonable price. There is also a tiny mini mart within a few kilometers. Other than these things, expect not to see many people except the odd old woman or mother with a stroller on the streets. If you take a twenty-five-minute bus ride, you can go to a nice nearby beach, but the buses don't run terribly frequently (nobody seems to know a schedule). You get to the hostel by walking slightly over thirty minutes from the train station, which is ok, but signs are sparse so if you don't want to second guess yourself, take a taxi. Most in town know of the hostel, but they usually don't speak English if you try to ask for directions.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Ostello offers private rooms for couples and separate male and female dorms. The rooms are cleaned daily and checkout is 11 a.m. They are reasonably tidy, but the bunk beds are a bit short for taller individuals. The bathrooms are clean, but water pressure is low and you are asked to take short showers. Unfortunately, if you are a light sleeper, the partying in the common room might keep you up. Try to make sure to close the windows and wear bug spray if you have it, because we got bitten up in the hot summer month of August.
Common Spaces
There is ample room to hang out here. There is a spacious backyard with a pool, a large pool room with some chairs and couches, and the reception/bar/hangout area in the front. This is where most people gather to chat about their home countries and travels, and there were some very interesting travelers there during our stay. Because it is off the beaten path, most will have an interesting story -- this is not like a hostel in Rome or London in that everyone is willing to relax and has probably come a long way to get here.
Many of the staff are girls from England and Canada who are doing an exchange to learn about Italy, and the hostel owner is a large, happy, hilarious Italian guy who is overheard giving the girls relationship advice. You will meet all kinds of people here, and if you want to stay up late drinking with them, it will probably be an option. There isn't much else to do in Brindisi, from what we saw! So if you're happy to hang out in the pool with a beer listening to music and swapping stories, this is the hostel for you.
Summary
The guestbook from Carpe Diem Youth Hostel is filled with unending praise about the friendliness and fun had in its common areas. The staff make it a very good time, and sometimes you just have to relax when it gets so warm outside that you can't move. This place definitely has a similar chill, beachy feeling to San Diego, CA (where we come from), but is a tiny port city on the coast of Italy.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2011
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Carpe Diem - Ostello della Gioventu Details
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Carpe Diem - Ostello della Gioventu Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Good for the price Awesome atmosphere with young, helpful staff, a Pool table, bar, Pool, patio and free wi-fi. The beds were super comfortable and came with bedding. The owner was very helpful, giving me advice on my travels and help setting it up. They also serve 3 meals a day, available for purchase. Negatives: rooms were sparsely furnished with peeling paint and only 2 plugs for a dorm of 8 people. Walls were thin so you could hear alot of noise. No curtains on the windows for privacy or screens to let fresh air in without worrying about the bugs. Bit far from the train station. — Anonymous , United States (2011-06-28) I had a fantastic stay last month — my friend and I had a private room and it was basic (as you would expect) but clean and suited our needs. Maurizio and the rest of the staff were great — the family atmosphere was friendly and relaxed and we felt really at home. In fact we didn't want to leave. Yeah the bathrooms could have been better but with an atmosphere like this — who cares! — Allie (2005-10-11) The most surprising thing about Carpe Diem is the hospitality that you receive not only from the staff, but also from the owner Maurizio. If you choose to dine at the hostel, do not fear! Maurizio personally cooks almost all of the meals, and he could be in competition with your mother as the best chef in the world. The prices for the meals are also reasonable, at 5-6 euro for meal only (although some of the time there is complimentary wine and water).
As for the atmosphere of the hostel, it is a lively and fun time. The ground floor of the hostel contains the bar, reception and the dining room with a pool table and internet access. Drinks are cheap (a large carafe of wine is 4.70 euro and an espresso is .70 euro).
The rooms are basic, but comfortable and quiet. The linens and mattresses are clean, as are the floors. The showers are clean enough (although you should always wear flip flops in public showers) with hot water and excellent water pressure.
You can expect to be picked up from the airport, train station or seaport by the owner (Maurizio) in an old VW van for free at any time of the day, so there really is no need to worry about locating the hostel if you have his phone number on you (which is listed below).
The hostel Carpe Diem is more than you could ever expect from a hostel. Fair prices and hospitality, great food and free transport! — Brittany , United States, currently live in United Kingdom (2005-05-28) Really dirty washrooms, plus mold everywhere. Obviously the place is not really safe, even though I was lucky. They only stole my towel. You cannot get sleep as there is constant coming and going, mostly of people who work there. They switched on the lights every time. Never again would I go there. One positive thing: the manager really picks you up at the station. — Anonymous (2005-03-14) Well I stayed at this hostel last year and frankly there was nothing wrong with it any more than there is in your home. So it was not perfect but the host sure was. If there was a problem he took care of it straight away and anyone needing help he immediately took care of that, too. Plus he picks you up from the airport and he will take you back there again. — Anonymous (2005-02-06) I did notice that Maurizzio (the manager) and his friends love to peek from the window and see the girls undressed. Me and my friend Carol were having a smoke outside one night when we noticed it. Oh, please do not accept massages from Maurizzio, he will do anything to go to bed with any girl. — Anonymous (2005-01-09) I really enjoyed my stay here. If you are looking for a place to drink and chat with people this hostel is for you. But you shouldn't expect comfortable beds or nice showers. — Lily (2004-09-01) It still gets my vote. It's spacious, has 2 sweet dogs, and I never went to bed hungry. There's free parking, it's right on the bus-line to town (or to Ostuni!!!), and I was picked up promptly from the airport. They are like my second family!! — Linda (2004-08-31) This is your standard low-end backpacker's hostel. If you want somewhere cheap and convenient and like to drink and party, you might like this place. But if you're expecting something vaguely comfortable you should know that the bathrooms are pretty nasty (missing toilet seats in the ladies & 1/2 inch of water on the floor after a rain storm), the beds are foam slabs rather than mattresses, and this place is NOT near the beach. You could do worse than this place, but I would not stay here again.
It is full of stale, smoky air and alcohol, along with constant loud disco music. It's a bit like staying in a bar. But the staff are very helpful, especially with transportation, and speak good English. I didn't see any "villas and green gardens" and the pay telephone was not working. — Anonymous (2004-08-25) I had a good time. It's cheap and cheerful. Staff are helpful, and the manager could not do enough to make sure people had transport to and from the ferry, station and airport. All good people when we were there; I had not heard of any stealing. It could do with a good cleaning, though. — Anonymous (2004-06-04) I loved this hostel. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and the home cooked meals were delicious. The best part was sitting around afterwards and chatting with everyone. I didn't want to ever leave!! — Christine (2004-03-14) I would have liked the hostal had it not been for the complete uncleanliness of the bathroom, the dorm room and the fact that there are no windows open at any time, which means you must breathe stale smokey air mixed with alcohol. As well, the worst part of this hostal is that you cannot trust anyone who works there, who stays there. It is not a safe place for any of you belongings. I had a $150 Euro pair of Oakley glasses stolen, two t-shirts and cash stolen out of my suitcases which were zipped up and under my bunk. You need lockers with locks. It's rediculous! Stealing is unnacceptable. — Anonymous (2003-04-29) I was one of those who didnt want to leave, I was taken care of in every way!!!!!!! :) — linda (2003-04-13)