The Hostelz.com Review
Hostel Antonio is surrounded by the wonderful atmosphere of Split, Croatia. It is right in the heart of the UNESCO heritage zone -- you will be walking amongst the living history of the area, on the centuries polished and sometimes treacherous stone streets and within walking distance or a short bus ride from all the major beaches and tourist points. Hostel Antonio tries very hard to be quality accommodation, though sometimes falls short.
The Location
Hostel Antonio is located adjacent to Split's "Old Town," the city built within Diocletian's Palace. It is within easy walking distance to the ferry and bus terminals, and is very close to the "Riva," Split's harborside cafe and bar strip. Split's main swimming beach is walkable from Hostel Antonio, though on a hot day the bus is definitely recommended! Close to Hostel Antonio are many bars and cafes, restaurants, and importantly for travelers, a cheap laundromat and many internet cafes.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Hostel Antonio consists of two five-bed dorms and one single room. In one dorm room there is a double bed for couples. None of the rooms are lockable and lockers are not available. The hostel is secured by way of the main door to which guests are given a key. The rooms are quite small and can feel very cramped, particularly once five people have moved in with their suitcases/backpacks. Two of the rooms are not air-conditioned and become exceptionally hot in the summer. The top floor dorm room is fitted with an air conditioner; however, being the top floor, in the heat of summer it does little to cool the room until the sun goes down. Linen is provided for guests and all rooms are cleaned daily.
Hostel Antonio has two bathrooms, both of which have a toilet and a shower, and hot water is plentiful. Both showers require the guest to hold the shower head rather than being affixed to the wall. Bathrooms are clean and well looked after. Whilst the first floor bathroom has a lot of room for changing, the top floor bathroom is very small and is better suited to rinsing after swimming or for when you do not mind changing in the dorm room.
Common Spaces
The only common space in Hostel Antonio is the terrace, accessed through the top floor dorm room. The terrace is the location of the top floor bathroom, and also has a sink and fridge. While some plates, cups, and pots are supplied, the hot plates are not usable. The terrace provides a pleasant place for a drink or snack, however being accessible only through a room makes it somewhat uninviting -- both because it feels like a private space for the inhabitants of the dorm room, and because you must walk through their room to get there.
Hostel Antonio is a pleasant place to stay but certainly not for a party. The owner of the hostel lives downstairs and is often on location with their family (including a young child). Additionally, the small size of the hostel can make socialising with other guests difficult if they are booked in as a group of five. However, the atmosphere of the hostel is certainly welcoming and friendly, relaxed, and casual.
Summary
Perhaps the strongest criticism of Hostel Antonio is its location at the top of a lot of stairs. The hostel itself is three flights up and depending on which room you are staying in, it is another one or two to your room. The stairs to the top floor room are particularly precarious and do not welcome the traveler with heavy or oddly shaped luggage. At the height of summer the hostel is exceedingly hot during the day and can be very warm at night in a full dorm -- whilst a bottom sheet and blanket are provided, the heat is not taken into consideration in providing a thin sleeping sheet.
While the hostel has done much to provide a welcoming atmosphere (brightly coloured rooms, the terrace area) there are some areas in need of improvement -- many lights do not work and were not replaced, the hotplates provided on the terrace have no power supply, the bedding is not appropriate for the season. On the plus side though, Hostel Antonio is in a fantastic location and is reasonably priced. It is clean and run by a very friendly and helpful owner-operator.
The Location
Hostel Antonio is located adjacent to Split's "Old Town," the city built within Diocletian's Palace. It is within easy walking distance to the ferry and bus terminals, and is very close to the "Riva," Split's harborside cafe and bar strip. Split's main swimming beach is walkable from Hostel Antonio, though on a hot day the bus is definitely recommended! Close to Hostel Antonio are many bars and cafes, restaurants, and importantly for travelers, a cheap laundromat and many internet cafes.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Hostel Antonio consists of two five-bed dorms and one single room. In one dorm room there is a double bed for couples. None of the rooms are lockable and lockers are not available. The hostel is secured by way of the main door to which guests are given a key. The rooms are quite small and can feel very cramped, particularly once five people have moved in with their suitcases/backpacks. Two of the rooms are not air-conditioned and become exceptionally hot in the summer. The top floor dorm room is fitted with an air conditioner; however, being the top floor, in the heat of summer it does little to cool the room until the sun goes down. Linen is provided for guests and all rooms are cleaned daily.
Hostel Antonio has two bathrooms, both of which have a toilet and a shower, and hot water is plentiful. Both showers require the guest to hold the shower head rather than being affixed to the wall. Bathrooms are clean and well looked after. Whilst the first floor bathroom has a lot of room for changing, the top floor bathroom is very small and is better suited to rinsing after swimming or for when you do not mind changing in the dorm room.
Common Spaces
The only common space in Hostel Antonio is the terrace, accessed through the top floor dorm room. The terrace is the location of the top floor bathroom, and also has a sink and fridge. While some plates, cups, and pots are supplied, the hot plates are not usable. The terrace provides a pleasant place for a drink or snack, however being accessible only through a room makes it somewhat uninviting -- both because it feels like a private space for the inhabitants of the dorm room, and because you must walk through their room to get there.
Hostel Antonio is a pleasant place to stay but certainly not for a party. The owner of the hostel lives downstairs and is often on location with their family (including a young child). Additionally, the small size of the hostel can make socialising with other guests difficult if they are booked in as a group of five. However, the atmosphere of the hostel is certainly welcoming and friendly, relaxed, and casual.
Summary
Perhaps the strongest criticism of Hostel Antonio is its location at the top of a lot of stairs. The hostel itself is three flights up and depending on which room you are staying in, it is another one or two to your room. The stairs to the top floor room are particularly precarious and do not welcome the traveler with heavy or oddly shaped luggage. At the height of summer the hostel is exceedingly hot during the day and can be very warm at night in a full dorm -- whilst a bottom sheet and blanket are provided, the heat is not taken into consideration in providing a thin sleeping sheet.
While the hostel has done much to provide a welcoming atmosphere (brightly coloured rooms, the terrace area) there are some areas in need of improvement -- many lights do not work and were not replaced, the hotplates provided on the terrace have no power supply, the bedding is not appropriate for the season. On the plus side though, Hostel Antonio is in a fantastic location and is reasonably priced. It is clean and run by a very friendly and helpful owner-operator.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2009
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