Sea Point Youth Hostel

Sea Point Youth Hostel is great if you want to be cramped together like a can of sardines.

The Location

This hostel is located near the beach in an area called the Barceloneta -- the area is similar to South Beach in Florida. There are a lot of eateries and restaurants nearby. Within walking distance is the boardwalk where there is a mall, an aquarium, and more places to have a snack or a light meal. The subway is about ten minutes' walk from the hostel. The bus station is within a walking distance, but you can hop on a bus or the subway to get to and from the hostel. The bus stop is located nearby.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The room consists of four bunk beds for eight people, one loft (or overhead in a corner). The room is a two-room combined, even though there are two doors clearly labeled 101 and 103. There is no partition inside the room to make it two rooms, so it is actually one room with about twenty-two beds. The lockers are big to fit large suitcases. The room is located on a side street where there a lot of party animals who go out at night and make a lot of noises -- your sleep is almost certain to be interrupted.

The one bathroom, which consists of two showers without doors or shower curtains and only one toilet, gets dirty really fast. There is one hook behind the bathroom door for hanging clothes.

Common Spaces

This hostel is very convenient for the late night drinkers and party animals but doesn't seem like it's a social hostel. The hostel has a side business of a restaurant and you can have a free breakfast of coffee, tea, milk, juices, cereals, fruit, and toasts. There are three computers located near the front desk.

Summary

We did not like this hostel -- this was our first experience of staying at any hostel (our first stop in our three-week trip) and it made us weary and skeptical of the next several hostels to come. The bathroom and rooms were never once cleaned during our three-day stay and it was no wonder we caught a cold of some sort when we left. The staff are not friendly and helpful. This place is for those who want to rest before or after a hangover. They also tend to overbook. If you're looking for space and comfort, this is not the hostel for you.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
August 2007