The Hostelz.com Review
The main selling point of Hostel & Guest House SA lies neither in its location (which is in itself quite good) nor in its facilities (which aren't bad either -- especially by Eastern European hostel standards), but in its exceptionally warm family welcome.
The Location
The hostel is found just across the river from Sarajevo's old town in a residential area on a hill. Most of the sights and culture you are likely to want to experience are within very easy walking distance. There is also a tram stop just across the river that has a straight connection to the bus and train stations for departure (the hostel offers a free pick-up service on arrival).
Rooms and Bathrooms
Most of the hostel's rooms are located in the main building (or rather, family home) although one (a four-bed dorm) is an outbuilding. The outbuilding is perhaps preferable to those seeking a little peace and quiet but is chillier in winter. The beds are fairly new bunk beds and very comfortable. There are no locker facilities but there are door locks. Toilets and showers are small and basic but functional. Above all, every room is scrupulously clean.
Common Spaces
The main common space is the cosy family living room which guests share with their hosts. It is small but an excellent way of meeting and getting to know people, and fellow guests tend to be friendly and outgoing, eager to make acquaintances. It is not the best place, however, for the guest who likes to keep to himself and not interact, as it is almost insisted upon by hosts and fellow guests alike. The hostel lacks the obvious facilities of a standard hostel -- the communal kitchen, computing area -- but it more than makes up for this in the atmosphere that is generated and the experience gained from sharing someone's Bosnian home.
Summary
Hostel & Guest House SA is a comfortable place to stay and adds great depth to any Sarajevo experience. The undeniable charm in its homey atmosphere will encourage many guests to make a return visit to the hostel on their next trip through Sarajevo.
The Location
The hostel is found just across the river from Sarajevo's old town in a residential area on a hill. Most of the sights and culture you are likely to want to experience are within very easy walking distance. There is also a tram stop just across the river that has a straight connection to the bus and train stations for departure (the hostel offers a free pick-up service on arrival).
Rooms and Bathrooms
Most of the hostel's rooms are located in the main building (or rather, family home) although one (a four-bed dorm) is an outbuilding. The outbuilding is perhaps preferable to those seeking a little peace and quiet but is chillier in winter. The beds are fairly new bunk beds and very comfortable. There are no locker facilities but there are door locks. Toilets and showers are small and basic but functional. Above all, every room is scrupulously clean.
Common Spaces
The main common space is the cosy family living room which guests share with their hosts. It is small but an excellent way of meeting and getting to know people, and fellow guests tend to be friendly and outgoing, eager to make acquaintances. It is not the best place, however, for the guest who likes to keep to himself and not interact, as it is almost insisted upon by hosts and fellow guests alike. The hostel lacks the obvious facilities of a standard hostel -- the communal kitchen, computing area -- but it more than makes up for this in the atmosphere that is generated and the experience gained from sharing someone's Bosnian home.
Summary
Hostel & Guest House SA is a comfortable place to stay and adds great depth to any Sarajevo experience. The undeniable charm in its homey atmosphere will encourage many guests to make a return visit to the hostel on their next trip through Sarajevo.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
November 2009
Their Description
Hostel & Guest House SA Details
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Good atmosphere, friendly hosts, and great location This was a great place to stay -- excellent for meeting fellow travelers, as everyone congregates in the common area. The owner was very friendly and helpful -- always offering drinks, making fantastic coffee in the morning. His son is a bit of a character though. The view from the common area is rather wonderful too. — KC , UK (2010-08-05) Very bad Not as hyped as some say. Quite small (the 4 bed room is way worse than the bigger ones), only 2 toilets and 2 showers for everyone, no luggage storage (although with some humiliating pleading they did let us leave bags under the bed for the day). Hostel owners initially come off as very helpful but then not around much (they actually disappeared to avoid giving basic service). No kitchen or eating facilities. — Christine , Canada (2010-07-04) Hostel? not really. When we first came to this lets call it a house for now, we saw no signs of any hostel or any sign at the doors. Just house!? Hill and steps leading there were steep and definitely not usable at night. Imagine our anguish at entering some unidentified house in a foreign city in some shabby neighbourhood. As soon as we were seen by the owners, we were pushed inside before we could decide if we really want to enter along with some other guests. Owners were nice at first (although their smiling seemed like forced or acted), but obviously nervous and trying to conceal their business activity. As we were dead tired, we have decided to stay for the night, since we have seen some other guests wandering around inside the house, and they gave us sense of security. Without them, we would not dare to stay in the house. Rooms were packed with beds with no cupboard nor real space for things. Family owning the house is some sort of patchwork family, with father, mother and son named Ayran. Father looks like person with troubled past, and we did not like the way he looked at us, as he is older gentleman, and we are young girls that could be his daughters. Son of the family has freaked us out since he behaves strangely, like he suffers from autism or something. He can look at one point for an hour and all of sudden he starts talking. We left in the morning along with most of other guests, since we did not want to risk another night there. At central tourist point they told us that they have no hostel on that address or part of the city on record and that they have never heard of them! Later we found another (this time real) hostel and were satisfied with it. — Cathy , Ireland (2010-04-16) Overcrowded dump Rooms are overcrowded by beds, leaving you and other 5 people like 2 square meters to walk and move around. Impossible! Space where like 2 beds should be has 3 or 4 bunk beds. Only one bathroom is used by 20 or so people, and you can never arrive right on time to do what you have to do, and while being in there, other people knock all the time. Cleanliness is poor as a result of that. Owners are pushy beyond belief, do not allow opening of windows due to "preservation of energy" which means that like 6 people in small room choke on lack of oxygen, but have to be on watch from owners when they open windows.
Owners look like and behave "exotic" at best. Wouldn't go there again! — Tim , Australia (2010-01-11) A warm touch of the Olympic city The accommodation itself at the SA hostel was fine -- warm (at -15 Celsius), clean, great beds (new and hard, not too much, just as much as I needed to regain my strength at nights), plenty of hot water, warm coffee and tea in the morning, nice overview of the city from the hill, close to Bascarsija; but that's not what gave it 5 stars. It was the conversation with the pater familias that had made all the difference! Hospitality of this family, members of which transformed their home into tourist accommodation, and adjusted their lifestyle to the ones of their guests, extends beyond politeness and warm morning refreshments. If you want to find out something about famous and unique sublime heart-beat of Sarajevo, through life (and war, sadly) tales from a true "Sarajlija," stay here. And, enjoy a newly discovered smile. — Ivan Kleković , Croatia (2009-12-26)