The Hostelz.com Review
Anker Hostel is a modern, lively place that appears to be very popular with backpackers in a city where accommodation is very expensive. The whole block is owned by “Anker” and there’s a more luxurious Hotel Anker next door (we had read one review of the hostel in which the writer got an upgrade to the hotel -- sadly we weren’t so lucky) as well as an internet café a couple of doors down and an Italian restaurant that serves low cost breakfasts, although not so cheap as the hostel, which offers a very basic breakfast.
The Location
Anker Hostel is situated about ten minutes' walk from Oslo’s bus and train stations and central shopping area. It’s in an area called Grunerlokka, which is quite mixed ethnically and therefore has a few cheaper places to eat. There’s a tram and bus stop almost directly opposite the hostel. The hostel is just ten minutes' walk from the beautiful botanic gardens and the Edvard Munch Museum.
Rooms and Bathrooms
We had booked a private double and were given the key to a room on the seventh floor. A small ensuite was on the left just inside the door. We stepped into the main sleeping area and found out why there were separate clothes hanging areas -– we were in an eight-bed dormitory. Although there was no sign of sharing the room, we popped down to reception to check and were assured that the entire room was ours for the duration of our stay. There were four sets of bunk beds and we chose the lower bunks closest to the windows, as it was quite warm in the room. There is one overhead light fitting near the window but it doesn’t generate much light; there are also two wall lights, one on each side next to two of the upper bunks. The lower bunks are practically in darkness and don’t have a reading light. There are also individual clothes hanging and shelving areas. There’s a fair-sized locker for each bunk, you’ll need your own padlock.
Each corridor has a heavy metal door at the lift end and you can’t access that corridor unless you are staying on that floor. You can wait ages for the lift in the morning; take the stairs or be prepared for a long wait.
At the other end of the room there is a kitchen area with a sink, a two-burner electric hob, and a fridge. There is no cooking equipment, cutlery, or crockery -- not even a glass. We did use the fridge for chilling water and beer, but that was it. We did investigate the kitchen next door, but found that this was also totally devoid of equipment. On our second day we noticed a sign in reception saying that cooking equipment could be borrowed for a deposit.
The bathroom is tiny and dimly lit but very clean and perfectly adequate; however there are issues with the bathroom. There is no lip to the shower and the water just runs down a drain in the corner. With only a flimsy shower curtain to separate the room, it is inevitable that water covers the whole bathroom floor and there is no bathmat and no extractor fan which means that once wet, the floor remains wet for ages. Once steamed up, the mirror is also useless and there is no other in the room.
Common Spaces
We arrived around 10:45 p.m. and the place was buzzing. It was a warm evening and there were people sitting outside drinking beers, as well as a good number queuing at the reception desk to check in. Reception is the hub of the hostel and there are always people there watching television on a big screen, playing table football, or taking advantage of the Wi-Fi. You can buy soft drinks, beers, and coffee from reception but we didn’t see any prices, so we can’t say whether it’s any cheaper than buying them from the nearby convenience store.
Perhaps due to the high prices in Norway, people appear to stay around the hostel in the evenings. The atmosphere seems friendly, and with plenty of seating areas, it looks to be the kind of place where you can easily get to know other travelers. Personally we think the hostel is a little impersonal due to its size; when large groups are in public areas, it is a bit overwhelming.
Summary
When we went to find our room, we went the wrong way twice because it’s not clear where exactly to go and instead of having helpful signs giving directions, they prefer to plaster the place with notices reminding you that checkout is by 11 a.m. at the latest.
All staff speak perfect English, so you’ll have no problem being understood and asking for information. Reception was very busy when we arrived, but there were three members of staff checking people in so it wasn't that bad. We paid by credit card, so we didn’t have to pay an additional deposit for our key, which applies if you pay in cash. We did, however, have to pay extra for the bedding and would have had to pay for towels too if we hadn’t managed each to squeeze one in our hand luggage.
Anker isn’t perfect, but it really isn’t anywhere near as bad as you might read about. In fact, for location and price, it’s perhaps the best value in central Oslo. Hostel Anker is cheap only in Norwegian terms; in fact we saw lots of family groups and older couples as well as young backpackers. The hostel may not be plush but if you can do without the frills, it’s a decent option if you are looking to save costs to spend on other things (and in Norway you have to save wherever you can).
The Location
Anker Hostel is situated about ten minutes' walk from Oslo’s bus and train stations and central shopping area. It’s in an area called Grunerlokka, which is quite mixed ethnically and therefore has a few cheaper places to eat. There’s a tram and bus stop almost directly opposite the hostel. The hostel is just ten minutes' walk from the beautiful botanic gardens and the Edvard Munch Museum.
Rooms and Bathrooms
We had booked a private double and were given the key to a room on the seventh floor. A small ensuite was on the left just inside the door. We stepped into the main sleeping area and found out why there were separate clothes hanging areas -– we were in an eight-bed dormitory. Although there was no sign of sharing the room, we popped down to reception to check and were assured that the entire room was ours for the duration of our stay. There were four sets of bunk beds and we chose the lower bunks closest to the windows, as it was quite warm in the room. There is one overhead light fitting near the window but it doesn’t generate much light; there are also two wall lights, one on each side next to two of the upper bunks. The lower bunks are practically in darkness and don’t have a reading light. There are also individual clothes hanging and shelving areas. There’s a fair-sized locker for each bunk, you’ll need your own padlock.
Each corridor has a heavy metal door at the lift end and you can’t access that corridor unless you are staying on that floor. You can wait ages for the lift in the morning; take the stairs or be prepared for a long wait.
At the other end of the room there is a kitchen area with a sink, a two-burner electric hob, and a fridge. There is no cooking equipment, cutlery, or crockery -- not even a glass. We did use the fridge for chilling water and beer, but that was it. We did investigate the kitchen next door, but found that this was also totally devoid of equipment. On our second day we noticed a sign in reception saying that cooking equipment could be borrowed for a deposit.
The bathroom is tiny and dimly lit but very clean and perfectly adequate; however there are issues with the bathroom. There is no lip to the shower and the water just runs down a drain in the corner. With only a flimsy shower curtain to separate the room, it is inevitable that water covers the whole bathroom floor and there is no bathmat and no extractor fan which means that once wet, the floor remains wet for ages. Once steamed up, the mirror is also useless and there is no other in the room.
Common Spaces
We arrived around 10:45 p.m. and the place was buzzing. It was a warm evening and there were people sitting outside drinking beers, as well as a good number queuing at the reception desk to check in. Reception is the hub of the hostel and there are always people there watching television on a big screen, playing table football, or taking advantage of the Wi-Fi. You can buy soft drinks, beers, and coffee from reception but we didn’t see any prices, so we can’t say whether it’s any cheaper than buying them from the nearby convenience store.
Perhaps due to the high prices in Norway, people appear to stay around the hostel in the evenings. The atmosphere seems friendly, and with plenty of seating areas, it looks to be the kind of place where you can easily get to know other travelers. Personally we think the hostel is a little impersonal due to its size; when large groups are in public areas, it is a bit overwhelming.
Summary
When we went to find our room, we went the wrong way twice because it’s not clear where exactly to go and instead of having helpful signs giving directions, they prefer to plaster the place with notices reminding you that checkout is by 11 a.m. at the latest.
All staff speak perfect English, so you’ll have no problem being understood and asking for information. Reception was very busy when we arrived, but there were three members of staff checking people in so it wasn't that bad. We paid by credit card, so we didn’t have to pay an additional deposit for our key, which applies if you pay in cash. We did, however, have to pay extra for the bedding and would have had to pay for towels too if we hadn’t managed each to squeeze one in our hand luggage.
Anker isn’t perfect, but it really isn’t anywhere near as bad as you might read about. In fact, for location and price, it’s perhaps the best value in central Oslo. Hostel Anker is cheap only in Norwegian terms; in fact we saw lots of family groups and older couples as well as young backpackers. The hostel may not be plush but if you can do without the frills, it’s a decent option if you are looking to save costs to spend on other things (and in Norway you have to save wherever you can).
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
January 2012
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Anker Hostel Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Unfriendly, too expensive for what you get!! 1st night in a 8 dorm -- all ok ... all nice people! 2nd night in 4 dorm -- all ok -- got my Netbook STOLEN!! location (central). free Wifi. staff (stupid, rude, unable, uninterested). NO Lockers, NO self closing doors, Luggage room NOT locked. too expensive for what you get. better than nothing -- but BRING YOUR private Padlock!! check if your bill is correct (they kicked us out after 1st night -- a battle to get the 2nd night even if all was black on white resverd by mail!!!). — Steve , Austria (2011-09-15) Not at all professional! When I visited this hostel I had booked a 4 bedded dorm and they had already charged my credit card. However, when I arrived there I was informed that I had been moved to a 6 bedded dorm. I asked them why they had not send me an e-mail or phoned me since the reservation was made months ago and they said that it was the owner's decision. When I asked to see the owner they told me that he was not there. After an hour's discussion they refused to give me back any money since the price for the 6 bedded room was different and they offered me free linen and a towel. I realized later on that all the people who were traveling alone no matter what room they had paid for it was a policy if the room was not full to put them all in another room. In general, it was not clean and there are no lockers in the room so if someone does not lock the door anyone can enter. — Anonymous (2010-01-25) Good Small fridge provided in room, along with hot plate. No dishes or pots, but they could be borrowed. Comfortable beds, spacious room with tables and shelves, but squeaky bunk beds. Shower curtain unfortunately did not stop the entire bathroom from getting wet. Good hostel, about ten- to fifteen-minute walk from the train station through a decent neighbourhood. — Jen & Karen , Canadian (2007-08-25) Dated and dirty Really not thrilled with this place. From the outside the building looks very modern. Yet I echo other comments that this place feels like a prison. The rooms are getting shabby quickly -- cupboard doors missing. A little grubby too, with things like shelves and windowsills not dusted in too long. I stayed here as nothing else had space, and even then considered checking out. — Bazz , Australia (2007-08-09) Boring and rude This is part of a larger hotel converted into a hostel. The whole thing is boring and soulless. The doors don't lock automatically, and there's no lockers in each room. Also, the staff were incredibly rude. This was because everyone was trying to check in at once at 3 p.m. because they don't let you check in earlier. On the plus side, there is a shower and toilet in each room, as well as a cooker, but you have to hire cooking equipment from reception, of which there is a limited supply. — Roger , Australia (2007-08-09) The least cosy and least friendly hostel I ever stayed in Like everything in Oslo, the Anker hostel is quiet expensive, but I would have expected more service for this kind of money. The rooms were too small, the common room was too noisy and boring, the staff was unfriendly. Wouldn't stay here again. — A , The Netherlands (2007-07-26) Stayed here for two nights, really no complaints. They seemed to keep it quite clean and the rooms were fairly well equipped. The staff were polite and some quite friendly. The location is pretty decent as well. My only wish is that they had had more computers for internet use and a bigger common room. I would recommend staying here. — Tina (2006-12-05) Overall this was a nice hostel, close to the attractions and easy to reach. Our room was cleaned daily and was nice and bright. It's a big building, but the lift worked fine so there was no dragging bags up ten flights of stairs. A few downsides -- everything needed a deposit, the key, the kitchen equipment. The area was a bit of a rough area, but we still always felt safe. The shower curtain was inadequate so the bathroom was always wet. I would still stay here again. I have come across a lot worse. Also, check out the Streetwise Torsdags (Thursday) Happenings when in Oslo. Usually a few hours of fun and free entertainment! — Vanessa (2006-09-05) Stayed there for three nights. Very nice hostel very near to the center of Oslo. I stayed in a six-bed dormitory room, which was nice, clean, and extremely large. Big windows for sufficient ventilation, and nice wooden beds. Every room has bathroom and kitchen, so it is well equipped. The only con is that the lockers are small (you can put only a handbag) and many of them cannot accept pad. Security is good, with locks to every room and also you need a lock for every corridor. Community room nice and cozy, you meet people and you can buy the cheapest coffee in Oslo, a very expensive city! Staff very nice and helpful by any means. Hostel situated very near to the center, five to ten minutes from the main street. Around there are markets and food stores twenty-four/seven. This hostel is the cheapest accommodation in the center of Oslo, at least when I was there! — Andreas (2006-09-02) This is by far the worst hostel I've stayed in. The area surrounding the hostel is definitely not the safest and my friend and I were bothered more than once on our way from the train station to the hostel. We reserved beds in a dorm room. Because the hostel is so large, it was noisy all night long. My friend fared much worse than I did -- she had small cockroaches and other insects crawling all over her all night long. It was utterly disgusting! Needless to say we checked out immediately the next morning but were refused a refund for the night because the hostel manager "expects that that is something that can happen" at their hostel and so their policy is to not refund the money. I would definitely recommend staying elsewhere. We ended up with a private room in a nice home, referred through the TI, for basically the same price as the dorm room in the dirty hostel. — Anonymous (2006-08-28) it was ok we were in a dorm and had a kitchen all we had to do was rent the dishes which was a bit lame but its so they will be ther for the people after. i liked it it was clean so no complaints, and it was in an ok location you can walk for the train station — jenna (2006-01-13) I think this is a nice hostel. For me it's clean enough. I stayed in an en suite dorm; it was nice and quite spacious. The staff are ok. But most of all, for that low price (in Norway) I would recommend this one. — Arief (2005-06-22) Anker Hostel looked modern on their Web site, but on our arrival we were disappointed. The hostel looked like a prison. It had an old kitchen, and old beds with terrible mattresses and filthy-looking duvets and pillows. Each night a horrible cooking smell filled the room, and we saw lots of cockroaches (one on the bed!). We were not happy!! — Anonymous (2005-03-22) This hostel was a nightmare! The reception staff were friendly enough, but the dorm we were allocated was filthy. There was a sticky substance on the sink in the bathroom (possibly blood), the room stank of smoke despite declarations that smoking was not allowed, there were beer cans and cigarette butts scattered all over the place, and the sink was cluttered with junk. Also, there were signs that people cannot use sleeping bags and people had to either rent linen or use their own. I seriously doubt that any practical backpacker travels around with his own pillowcases and bed sheets. I would highly recommend that people spend a little more money and go to a proper bed and breakfast. — Anonymous (2004-12-05) I quite liked the Anker; it was reasonably priced and the rooms were okay. Having said that, the shower was weird! It was right next to the toilet. The reception and common room were cool. You could buy a beer and sit outside all night. The toilet in the reception area got really dirty and no one seemed too bothered about it. The hostel is right next to the bus and train station, which is handy, and it's a ten-minute walk to the city center. — Cathal Ireland (2004-10-12)