Low Costel Hostel

With its attractive central location and warm, welcoming atmosphere, the Low Costel Hostel is a first-class place to stay.

After arriving (hot and tired) at the Veliko Turnovo train station and navigating the large hill up to the center of town, there was no better sight than the friendly face of the hostel’s owner, Gray (or Graham, if you will) coming to pick us up from the tourist information office. This kind of service is typical at the hostel. Whether it's providing a friendly face to help lost travelers or divulging insider’s knowledge of the best things to see and do locally, the Low Costel excels at providing the traveler with a great experience for a very low price.

The new renovations at the Low Costel make the building very comfortable and cosy. With fifteen beds in total, the hostel is compact without being cramped. The linen is spotless and the bathrooms and the kitchen and lounge areas are equally shining. The beds are comfortable and incorporate a handy locker underneath for storing belongings. Other services that are offered include free luggage storage, free breakfast, and laundry facilities.

Gray has traveled extensively and he has put this knowledge to good use in creating an environment that's fun but not kitschy, safe but not prison-like and social but not a nightclub ("Twister" came out when I was there, which I'm told is quite popular). Mercifully, it's also a place where you can imbibe a beer and chat to fellow travelers in the very chilled-out lounge upstairs. If you do feel the urge to explore the centre of town (where all of the good eating and drinking goes down) it’s a stone’s-throw away from the building, and guests are welcome to come and go as they please twenty-four hours a day.

Overall, the Low Costel Hostel comes very highly recommended -- it’s a fine, exceptionally well-priced place run by someone who knows exactly what satisfies travelers.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review