Brodies 2 Backpackers Hostel

Failing to meet the promised standards
brodies 2 calls itself one of the best city centre hostels. me and my friend had a double room, which was equipped with a double bed covered in various kinds of someone else's hair and nothing more. no sink, no mirror, nothing. they promise twenty-four hours hot showers. in fact, they demand that you dont't take any showers after midnight and they're mixed showers, so when i had to get into another one of the not very clean shower boxes, because the first one wasn't working, i could tell by their remarks that the two guys standing there were delighted to see me in my towel. they promise free internet access, but charge 1pound for twenty minutes. when i went down to the fully equipped but dirty kitchen next morning to make tea, a member of the not very friendly staff was frying her breakfast with vast amounts of garlic. the stomach turning smell of her undoubtedly healthy meal could still be enjoyed in the girl's toilet upstairs. this forced us to have our breakfast in our room despite the rules which forbid eating and drinking there. i don't know whether the bad performance was caused by exhaustion during the festival season, but if you promise high standards, you should at least try your best.

I was there last august and I must say it probably is the worst hostel I've stayed in! It was really dirty, there was some weird smell in the room, the carpet had stains, and I am pretty sure no one had cleaned up the place in months! Also, the bathroom is really small, one of the four showers was broken, it had no ventilation and there was a strong smell of chemical products. But if I gave it a two and not a one, it's because of the wonderful kitchen, the perfect location, and the staff. If they find someone to clean up, this might end up being a nice hostel.

The rooms were overcrowded, stains on the carpets, and barely cleaned properly. The beds were almost painfully uncomfortable, and the pillows were a joke. there wasn't enough showers and the bathrooms were pretty gross too. nice staff and met some lovely people there, but this place should really look after itself better.

I stayed at Brodies 2 on the main floor with the reception and I honestly don't think I have stayed at a worse hostel for cleanliness and size. the rooms were decent is size but the carpet was so badly stained that it looked third world. the bathrooms had no ventilation and were so small that I felt I was being punished. Maybe the other floors are better but the floor with the reception in Brodies 2 is very low class, even for a hostel. The only thing redeeming is the free internet Mac which is a good thing. Otherwise, request a room that doesnt require the bathrooms on the reception floor. The location is great, but don't expect a great hostel.

The facilities are all very new, which is great and makes the stay comfortable. There are way too many permanent residents staying at the hostel, which makes the atmosphere very dull at times. You cannot beat the location.

Brodies 2 is located right on the Royal Mile and only a short walk from the train station. From the train station head towards the Royal Mile. You will walk over a large bridge and up a hill. Once you come to the light hang a left and stay on the left side of the roads. Its about half way down the block on the left. Keep an eye out for the orange side on the building because I walked right by it and ended up at Brodies 1 further down the road on the right hand side. Brodies 2 is right by the red telephone booth on the left hand side. The hostel is really clean and has a good vibe to it. There are some long-termers there that really band together and therefore the travelers don't hang out in the common room much. There is one computer with free internet so you might face a little wait. The kitchen is very clean and really good sized. There is a fridge or two to keep all your groceries that you can buy from one of the many near-by supermarkets. The staff was really helpful and had a good map they provided. The rooms are really clean and comfy. There were 8 beds in my room but at $12US a night who cares. There are no lockers or anything for bags though. The bathrooms are communal and very big and clean. The toilets are small and there might be only one per floor. No breakfast provided at the hostel so you have to get you own, beware of the milk thieves. Security involves a key code to the front door but the rooms are not locked (as I remember). There are a few cameras that display images for the person at the front desk. The desk/common area closes at around 1 or 2. Brodies 2 let you leave your bag the day you checkout but its just placed right in the hallway so it's a not very safe at all. Very good hostel with excellent prices and a great location.

Brodies 2 is great! It's the best hostel I stayed at during my whole trip. It is super clean and in a great location. I met some really great people here. I was in a six-bed girls' room, and paid thirteen pounds a night. The staff were helpful and pointed us to great local places to eat. The free Internet is great, and the lounge area is clean and comfy for hanging out.

A really nice hostel, but you definitely pay for it at seventeen pounds for a six-bed dorm. It has a friendly staff, it's clean, there's free Internet(!), a nice kitchen, and it's right on the Royal Mile, so it's close to most attractions!