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Jaffa Gate Hostel Details
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Jaffa Gate Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Awful -- a health hazard Jaffa Gate hostel is in a great location ... and that's it. The dorms and beds are filthy dirty. The bathroom was disgusting. There's next to zero security/no staff after 10pm, no locks on dorm doors, and no lockers so you have to keep your valuables on you. There's a ban on alcohol which is not publicised until you arrive at the reception desk. — Martin , UK (2011-09-11) Best budget place in Jeruslem I stayed at the Jaffa gate hostel this month, and I highly recommend it! The hostel has an excellent location, very helpful, friendly staff, and very clean room. The value for the money is excellent also. Asem and Nor were terrific! I was treated as if I were staying at a hotel in Europe! — Norisca , spain (2011-06-24) You can't beat the location! Great closeup view of Sepulchre Church! It trumped the fact we smoked 2 packs of the neighbors cigarettes at night back in 2006 due to open shared ceiling. And my wife having to bang on his door at midnight with TV blaring. But a clean friendly safe view of Sepulchre Church for under $40 is the ticket. The Old City is the place. Why not stay where you play. — Glen & Melissa Z. , USA (2011-06-15) Filthy -- Avoid I've slept in hostels around most of the world and this is one of the worst 3! The rooms, the bathroom and the beds are filthy. I was booked to stay 4 nights here but left after one -- with unwelcome souvenirs of my stay (bedbug bites i had gotten overnight). There's also a ban on alcohol at this place which is strictly enforced. They don't tell you about this on the website or any of the booking sites of course. So you can't even relax with a beer after a hard days sightseeing. — Sam , Holland (2011-05-24) Great Budget Place Ever The most 2 important things is that the employees of Jaffa gate Hostel is always very enthusiastic and helpful to the guests. Also no other hostel in the old city of Jerusalem can have a better location than the Jaffa gate hostel, its very close to main sites of interest in the old city, all within walking distance, even i was traveling alone i felt very safe in this hostel, i promise to come back, thanks for all. — Loriana , Italy (2010-02-04) Filthy and smelly -- some rooms have no window The hostel is at a great location, near the Jaffa Gate and the staff are friendly. But the room we had was in a terrible condition. It had no window, the whole room was filthy and smelly. Other rooms in the lower floors are not better. After all it was one of the worst accommodation I ever had. The price for the room is an impudence. — Chris , Germany (2009-09-10) Best and cleanest hostel i stayed there for a week without having any small problem. its location is great, the staff are the most helpful i ever met, and it's a very clean place, i don't need more, thanks for all. i will always stay at the jaffa gate hostel. — Mr. Donald , U.S.A (2009-08-30) Epidemic BedBugs, Deception, and Jewelry Theft I stayed at Jaffa Gate Hostel and saw other customers getting eaten alive, the other customers thought the bed bugs were mosquitos and so did I until the bedbugs moved into my room and ravaged me in the night. The management pretended as though they though I brought the bedbugs into my room and literally accused me of bringing them in (when they knew good and well that the problem existed long before my arrival). Even as I am writing this review customers are complaining about the bedbugs in their room at this very moment. The worst part about it is the Management know the building is infested with bedbugs, but pretend that there not, so you wind up getting your luggage infested and your body chewed apart ruining your trip and causing health problems (bedbugs can fly and they also carry and pass infectious diseases). To further the Jaffa gate Nightmare I am pretty sure a Gold ring disappeared out of my room and the manger didn't want to show me the security tape (it seems that the manager was the only around my room at the time of the disappearance and he was aware that I was not in my room at the time). I highly suspect that there was foul play and they know who stole my gold ring. This place is a definite no go. I would have paid more for a better place just to enjoy my trip. In the long run the theft wound up costing me the equivalent of a better hotel. Don't go to Jaffa Gate. I was treated poorly for reporting the bedbugs and my gold ring got stolen -- it is all highly suspect. Theft, Parasites, Diseases, and Deception. — Tristan True Giallani , USA (2009-08-28) Disgusting, nightmarish although the hostel is in the best location and cheap, i cannot recommend anyone going there. the room was dirty and the smell in there persisted in my clothes even after machine washing. beds must have been several decades old, and insecticides were used in rooms without ventilation. i am used to hostel standards, but this place is a serious health threat. my recommendation, do not go there! — backpacker , uk (2009-08-23) Where fun goes to die. I slept in this hostel for three nights, and on the first night I woke up with about twenty-five bedbug bites. The place is absolutely infested to the point where you can actually lift up your mattress and see them running around. I confronted one of the staff about this and he dismissed the bites as mosquito bites. Other than that, the place doesnt really attract a young backpacker crowd at all. Guests included religious folks like Mormons and pilgrims. Reception closes really early so if you arrive late you are screwed. It's also important to note that you cannot drink inside the hostel. Everything is pretty filthy, but the bathrooms are alright. Decent kitchen. The guy who works the desk in the afternoon is probably the most polite and helpful hostel worker I have ever met. Everything is overpriced. They want 12 shekels an hour for internet and local phone calls on their payphone cost a fortune. The dorms should only really cost about half of what they charge. — Alfred Cox , United States (2009-08-01) Awesome, just Awesome Place was pretty freaking awesome. Good atmosphere and friendly staff. Great location, cosy, clean. It has great views from the roof. — Gilliam , U.S.A (2009-07-31) Whatever you do, don't stay in the bedbug infested dorm! "Our Hostel is very clean" -- Only in biblical times would this statement be factual, today it would take centre billing on Hotel nightmares. The dorm is infested with bedbugs because the beds have not been cleaned for centuries. Everyone got bitten, back, arms, legs, face. By 2 a.m. I had had enough and wandered the old city until the reception opened up at 9 a.m., better to be stabbed than eaten alive! If you are immune to bugs then I would not pay more than $5 for what is basically a bed and a two-foot-by-two-foot space on the floor to put your rucksack. The dorm bathroom is comparable to others but only if you are paying $8 or less. I never asked for a refund, I had read all the online reviews while passing time in the morning and it was clear this never happens. Clearly there are enough people that don't read these comments (like me!) and cough up $20 for the night without actually sleeping in the bed because its filthy. Jaffa Gate and all the others around there are not in the guide book for a reason! Other points. Internet Access Limited, think 1990s dial up speed. Towels Cost Extra. Security Lockers A safe for valuables like passport but no lockers. Luggage Storage, The common room. Guest Kitchen because unlike other hostels they don't offer breakfast despite being overpriced. Telephone/Fax Facilities True. Travel Desk/Travel Info, Yes, very true and yes very helpful. The staff are very nice. Bureau de Change, Yep, might not be the best rate but good for small amounts. Common Room With a television, kept me entertained all night as there was no way I was going back in the room to give the swarm of bedbugs their second course. Don't believe me? Lift the mattress before you pay for the room, it has not been cleaned since the Romans. Taxes included in price, Well depends on what price you negotiate. Twenty-four-hours check in – but not a twenty-four-hour desk, don't be misled, if you have a problem between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. then you are on your own. — Tom , USA (2009-07-30) Average Hostel I wish I could give this place a better review because the people that work here are really nice and helpful. I came in late at night with a book reservation that I found out got canceled. The dorms were booked but the manager just gave me for the night a private single which was really sweet. However, sleep with your jacket on at night if you are there in December. It was freezing! The showers were always cold though and not very clean. The toilets were also pretty foul. The dorms were basic and crowded. Decent common area though. The location is great but is next too some sort of home where the people seemed a bit creepy. I probably would come back only if staying for a night so I could avoid the shower otherwise, I would just try to get the cheapest hotel room possible. — JG , USA (2009-01-05) Excellent value for money! Great place! Really close to the old city center (about one or two minutes on foot). The staff is genuinely friendly and helpful. The rooms are clean, You can come back to the hostel whenever you want, even very late, because your room key also opens the front door. I am really satisfied! — Michael , U.S.A (2008-12-15) Warning -- Avoid This Hostel! I made the mistake of staying here in April. The floors are filthy and the entire building smells of a sewer. There is no secure storage for luggage and the hygiene of this establishment in every room I was in was very bad. I understand and appreciate experiencing "the real Jerusalem" -- but Jaffa gate hostel is not real, it is a health hazard. They also do not offer refunds, even if asked politely (I was also not the only one asking for a refund). Please, there are many other great hostels in the Old city, and cheaper too! The only positive thing is its location. — Alfred J. , France (2008-12-03)