The Hostelz.com Review
The Palm Lakefront is a converted motel with good facilities, and a good atmosphere. The hostel is very social orientated, with a large swimming pool, dining area, and regular foosball competitions, as well as outings to local bars.
It's located in Kissimmee, which is pretty far away from the local sights unless you have a car (highly recommended). Public transport is provided, but it takes a long time to get to attractions such as Universal Studios (over 2 hours and 3 bus changes). Shuttle services are available, but are also pricey. To get to the hostel from Orlando you need to take a couple of buses, it takes over 2 hours from the Greyhound Orlando bus station.
There is a supermarket right across the road, as well as a lot of diners and takeaway restaurants within walking distance.
There are good facilities provided, internet is cheap, there's a big kitchen with plenty of storage space, two washers and driers and two payphones (there's usually a line for them). Of course as the name implies, the hostel is on a lake, which is located directly behind the hostel. Also behind the hostel is a swimming pool, which is great for cooling off in the summer.
The rooms are fairly large and have good bathrooms and air conditioning. The double rooms are well worth the extra money if you can afford it, as they come with cable TV and a nice bathroom, including towels provided for you. The always busy staff are very willing to help, although they are away from the desk a lot, the hostel could use some extra workers.
Overall the Palm Lakefront is a friendly, fun place to stay, and is excellent value for money, although a rental car is highly recommended because everything is so spread out in the area.
It's located in Kissimmee, which is pretty far away from the local sights unless you have a car (highly recommended). Public transport is provided, but it takes a long time to get to attractions such as Universal Studios (over 2 hours and 3 bus changes). Shuttle services are available, but are also pricey. To get to the hostel from Orlando you need to take a couple of buses, it takes over 2 hours from the Greyhound Orlando bus station.
There is a supermarket right across the road, as well as a lot of diners and takeaway restaurants within walking distance.
There are good facilities provided, internet is cheap, there's a big kitchen with plenty of storage space, two washers and driers and two payphones (there's usually a line for them). Of course as the name implies, the hostel is on a lake, which is located directly behind the hostel. Also behind the hostel is a swimming pool, which is great for cooling off in the summer.
The rooms are fairly large and have good bathrooms and air conditioning. The double rooms are well worth the extra money if you can afford it, as they come with cable TV and a nice bathroom, including towels provided for you. The always busy staff are very willing to help, although they are away from the desk a lot, the hostel could use some extra workers.
Overall the Palm Lakefront is a friendly, fun place to stay, and is excellent value for money, although a rental car is highly recommended because everything is so spread out in the area.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2005
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Palm Lakefront Resort & Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Very nice Hostel, poor bus service in Kis./ Orlando I really liked staying here and stayed longer than I planned. There are only two bad things about the hostel. The shuttle services to theme parks are rather pricey (might be worth staying somewhere with free shuttles since the bus really takes forever to go to some parks when I finally arrives [not on time or even close most of the time]). The second one is the old mattresses. Ok, and the kitchen opens at 8am, before that time you cant get in ... sucks if you just want to take some food out of the fridge to catch an early shuttle. Other than that, the hostel is great. Its clean, nice people, good facilities, close to supermarkets (be careful when crossing Hw. 192), nice rooms, friendly stuff, helpful with information and bookings ... and really cheap. — Anonymous , Germany (2011-11-30) Poor service. Rude staff. Never stay here I booked this hostel over the phone with a credit card. One of the girls I was traveling with called later to confirm the booking. The staff then for some reason made two bookings under two different names and charged my credit card twice. When we got there I explained what had happened and was basically told that it was my fault and that they would not be refunding the money because we did not give them enough notice? After several arguments and phone calls WEEKS after we left (the booking was for several people so not a small amount of money when you are traveling). They finally refunded 80% of the charge. I could not believe that because of a mistake that their staff made I lost money. The hostel itself is nowhere near the parks and getting around was not easy. I have stayed in hundreds of packpackers in my time and this was by far one of the worst. Dont stay here, there are better options. — Samantha , Australia (2011-10-26) There is a reason why this place is so cheap, and it's not good. This hostel was very deceptive. Their cheap prices is a clear reflection of their poor reputation. Run by a rude, cocky, and deluded individual who shows anything but professionalism in his work. I'd rather pay a little bit more to have a more pleasant experience in Orlando. — Anonymous , american (2010-10-19) Ok for a short stint I arrived here alone after doing the Camp America thing in the South and traveling up. The location is what really lets this place down, Kissimmee is a really difficult place for backpackers or anyone without a car to get to. The Target store is a dangerous walk across a main highway, there are sidewalk signs telling you where stores are and there are numbered markings, little did I realise they are marking MILES -- so the Walmart I tried to walk to one day was 3 miles away! Nearby is target, dennys, and a thrift store, charming.
2 LYNX buses from Orlando take almost 3 hours but it is 12 miles away. As for the place, the rooms are ok but you would not stay there more than a few days. The rooms are plain and lockers unsecure, someone stole clothing from my suitcase after i locked away all valuables! The open kitchen/living area is ok, but the layout makes you feel total strangers are watching your every move. Unfortunately only hostel in Orlando it seems. By the way the Manager was pretty sincere and friendly to me, but they could do more to get backpackers integrating, like movie nights or quiz nights. — Becky , English (2010-07-21) Great place. Ive stayed here many times over the years when it was an AYH hostel through to it now being independent. The pics shown here are totally accurate. As hostels go, its very clean. Its not a hilton but its totally acceptable. The pool is great. The managers are laid back and not rude -- never have been to me or anyone Ive seen. With 6 bunks to a bathroom in a motel like room, its better than most hostel setups -- and ive been to many in the us and Canada. I dont like dumps and this certainly isnt one! I'll continue to stay here again and again. — Brett , USA (2010-01-01) Rude, deceptive, dirty The owner does not go by the price you book on line, ask for additional $15 per night for a bed as tax. It is illegal, unethical. You make a confirmed reservation on line, it was two and half an hours from airport. The owner asked you to leave, disrespecting the on-line confirmation. Rooms are open, garbage are not taken out, bedsheets are not changed. One tourist said that it was almost a week that they do not take the bathroom garbage out in a room of eight persons. Lights are poor at night, one light on one side of the room for eight person that I saw. — kwilson , US (2009-11-19) Misery loves company By far, not only the worst hostel, but the rudest people, and horrible service. When I first arrived, i waited three hours outside before someone came to open the lobby and office to check me in. Because they close the office and lobby all day, and thats the only place with TV, and kitchen. Then they gave me an attitude when I asked them for service, told me I could leave if I did not like it. If I knew how bad this place really is, I would have never came. The most unclean rooms in my life, as well as the cooking area. I still have a bad foot rash from the shower. Also the owners live there, and they're not friendly, so its like living in someone's house. Only they make you feel really unwelcome. I found cheap private motel down the street. With clean shower, TV, and comfort. If you like nightmares then this hostel's for you. — Ayman Abdul , nunya (2009-10-21) Low Price for Good Rooms, Nice Variety of People, Good Manner Staff I am a student from Taiwan. I wasn't expect anything great from this hotel before I moved in since it only cost 17 dollars per day. But, however, It was great. I found this place quite nice and I met numerous of people from different nationalities. They don't have fancy rooms but they were fairly clean and nice. The air-condition worked very well. I am a basketball player and we could play basketball at the parking lot with different people who also live in there. It wasn't a really fancy basketball court but it reminded me a lot of my streetball childhood so I loved it. The staffs were really nice and they always try tell you the best way saving money on the trip. They have nice van for transportation and it only cost 48 dollars for six people (round trip). The pool wasn't big but it was nice and clean for us at least. The lake wasn't the best part cause it was sort of dirty. Overall, we had a f***ing good time. And it cost me only 17 dollars per day. — Kuo-Husan , Taiwan (2009-03-22) Excellent Great people, clean rooms, nice shuttle service, and the best price. — Tim Lin , Taiwan (2009-03-22) Wonderful Great Place, Great people. The most important was the opportunity of making friends from every continent and play basketball with them in their "court"(parking). great time. — Dante Silva , Brasil (2008-12-01) I wish there were no "starz" rating Cause i am giving it a "zero." this is got to be one of the worst hostels i've ever stayed at. owners, which are the staff, are rude. I had to listen to some preaching on some guy that he talks a lot. also the younger "staff" was chasing girls like he owned them. it was disgusting. Stay away -- do yourself a favor. — Hantz and Teresa , Germany (2008-07-16) Stay away if possible please. this place is run by a family. set aside all the bickering and gossip, this place is a dive. this is the worst hostel i even been to. Stay away, do yourself a favor. — Elena , Russia (2008-07-15) Dump Stayed here one night. Staff were rude. Local drunks live here. Room was filthy -- mold and hair in the bathroom, scary stained carpet was also filthy. Lighting was provided by a bare bulb on a chain in the middle of the room. Afraid of getting bedbugs in this place. Trust me, I've backpacked all over Europe, and this place is by far the worst. Scary times, my friend. — Julie , US (2008-07-11) Look elsewhere The most disappointing part of my stay was the almost comdemning attitude of the manager, Aaron. Why does he treat most people like he's doing them a favor, instead of the paying customer doing him a favor by staying at this hostel? Other than Aaron, the hostel itself is prime. Location is the best, grounds are well kept, and Aaron's brother Jerry is a welcome personality. Most of the locals who stay at the hostel are harmless, even if they do over indulge with habits. Gives the place a local flair. I'd stay again. Maybe Aaron will lighten-up or move on. — Bill , Canada (2008-02-17) Bad This is a hellhole. It was the most disgusting hostel I've ever stayed at. The dorms were dirty, the kitchen smelled like something died in there, the staff was very rude, and it was a bad experience all over. — Helena , Sweden (2007-12-26)