Maxim Hostel is located just off a busy pedestrianised street, about a five-minute walk from the metro and tram lines that quickly take you to the hearts of both Buda and Pest. Upon ringing the bell or entering the code that they give you at reception, visitors can use the lift to get up to the second floor and enter the hostel via a small balcony.
The hostel itself is very small (maximum of fourteen people staying here at any one time), with only two dorms and one private room, and this works to the hostel's advantage by giving a very home-like feeling. There is no formal reception desk -- instead the staff just hang out around the lobby. The staff tends to be quite casual so it's slightly confusing who is the staff and who are the guests, but this is not such a bad thing in such a friendly environment!
The lobby contains a computer with instant messaging software including Skype, with a webcam and a headset attached to the computer. There is a rack of useful travel books and leaflets about the area. This hostel has a single shower and a single toilet (which are separate), so there are sometimes short queues of two or three people waiting for a morning shower. There was no shower curtain so the floor was rather wet despite the bath-mats. There's also a well-equipped kitchen where free tea is available. All the rooms are clean and nicely decorated in a kind of bohemian-hippie style.
The general area around this hostel is vibrant and the main street just next to the hostel is packed with restaurants, with plenty of outdoor seating on the pedestrianised street. And despite this, the rooms are very quiet because the hostel itself is on a side road. There is also a supermarket about fifty meters away, and a mini-market just across the road.
We didn't go out at night, but the staff can give advice as to where to go and what to do. Indeed, the staff here is excellent. Because there is no barrier of a reception desk, the staff is very friendly and involved. One of the owners came to talk to us just as we were settling in and even looked up guesthouses -- and tried to call them! -- for the places we were planning to go next. All in all, it's a very friendly, small, quiet place finely balancing a central location with practically silent nights!
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2006
Location/Contact
5 Average from 2 Ratings
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