HI - Skopje - Ferijalen Dom Hostel

Comment by TexasDoug, USA

July 2008

Close to train and bus stations and city center
This is a really clean hostel, and has some nice features, like twenty-four-hour reception desk, free linens, soap, and shampoo, acceptable air conditioning, an ensuite private bathroom, cable TV with a hundred channels including CNN, ESPN, even Playboy. The bathroom is cramped, like many in Europe, and water from the shower splashes all over the floor and toilet, but this would be true even in an expensive hotel in this region. A small breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the adjacent restaurant is included, but has lots of rules. If you order the omelet, you cannot also have jam for your bread. If you order the soup, you cannot also have tea or coffee. Very Stalinist. (The tchorba soup, of beef and tender tripe, is greasy but hearty and has a nice flavor.) The food at the restaurant is generally ok, but not special. They have a separate pizza menu which the locals favored. Service is attentive. A private room was about $40 USD (1500 dinar per night) and has two twin beds. The main drawback is that this small hotel lacks a commons area other than the hotel reception where folks can meet, hang out, and trade information. There are a couple of bulletin boards, and stacks of hostel brochures from around the world, but no local tourist information, no local advice on clubs or cafes or old churches or museums or taxi fares. I could not find a tourist office with maps of the city anywhere. The former office at the bus station is completely vacant. You can easily walk to this hostel from the train and bus stations.