The Hostelz.com Review
Backpackers Montarina offers great value accommodation for budget travelers in Lugano. The hostel is set in beautiful surroundings, and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The Location
The hostel is located in a reasonably safe area close to the main train station, and can be easily reached within five minutes by foot. As you leave the main entrance of the station (and have the city and lake in front of you), walk right about one hundred-fifty metres to the railway crossing. Cross over, and follow Via Montarina for about thirty metres. Be aware that the hostel and train station are located above the city centre, and a funicular railway runs between them (approximately every six minutes).
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms are available with four to sixteen beds. The three large dorms at the front of the hostel have a shared unisex bathroom, with just two toilets and two showers. The dorm rooms and bathrooms are clean. Large lockers are available for a refundable deposit. Beds are comfy and have reading lights. Sleeping bags and towels are available for a small charge. The noise from the railway station and other guests socialising outside can get loud in the evenings, so don’t forget your earplugs if that -- or snoring, as it's bound to happen in the dorm -- bothers you.
Common Spaces
The large common/dining area is a nice place to meet other travelers, and the balcony has a great view of Lugano. There is also a seated area outside of the hostel dorms, which provides a good place for travelers to relax in the evening, although can be a bit noisy. The area has a TV and free Wi-Fi (although be aware that internet access on the hostel computer is very expensive). The kitchen area is modern although very small. The hostel has a large fridge/freezer for guest use, a coffee machine, and vending machine. There is also a large outdoor pool. The hostel attracts a broad range of ages and nationalities -- it's mostly young backpackers but includes a few older travelers and also families with kids.
Summary
Montarina is a great place to meet other travelers, and is in a decent and safe location. If you need a clean place to sleep on a tight budget, this does the job.
The Location
The hostel is located in a reasonably safe area close to the main train station, and can be easily reached within five minutes by foot. As you leave the main entrance of the station (and have the city and lake in front of you), walk right about one hundred-fifty metres to the railway crossing. Cross over, and follow Via Montarina for about thirty metres. Be aware that the hostel and train station are located above the city centre, and a funicular railway runs between them (approximately every six minutes).
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dorm rooms are available with four to sixteen beds. The three large dorms at the front of the hostel have a shared unisex bathroom, with just two toilets and two showers. The dorm rooms and bathrooms are clean. Large lockers are available for a refundable deposit. Beds are comfy and have reading lights. Sleeping bags and towels are available for a small charge. The noise from the railway station and other guests socialising outside can get loud in the evenings, so don’t forget your earplugs if that -- or snoring, as it's bound to happen in the dorm -- bothers you.
Common Spaces
The large common/dining area is a nice place to meet other travelers, and the balcony has a great view of Lugano. There is also a seated area outside of the hostel dorms, which provides a good place for travelers to relax in the evening, although can be a bit noisy. The area has a TV and free Wi-Fi (although be aware that internet access on the hostel computer is very expensive). The kitchen area is modern although very small. The hostel has a large fridge/freezer for guest use, a coffee machine, and vending machine. There is also a large outdoor pool. The hostel attracts a broad range of ages and nationalities -- it's mostly young backpackers but includes a few older travelers and also families with kids.
Summary
Montarina is a great place to meet other travelers, and is in a decent and safe location. If you need a clean place to sleep on a tight budget, this does the job.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
December 2009
Their Description
Backpackers Montarina Details
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Backpackers Montarina Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Great hostel This hostel is clean and quiet. The park in which it is situated is kind of a tropical garden and you can eat outside. It is about five minutes' walk from the train station and fifteen to twenty minutes' walk from the centre of Lugano. — Backpacker (2007-08-13) Excellent Choice! This place is typically Swiss -- efficiently run and very clean. The hostel shares a beautiful mansion building with hotel less than five minutes' walk from Lugano train station. There's even a swimming pool in the grounds. On the downside, the dorms are large (about sixteen beds) and it seems there are only two showers, two toilets, and one trough-style wash basin to share among three large unisex dorms. But for 25 Swiss Francs a night this really is an excellent choice. Don't be put off by the fact that you have to sign a good behaviour contract on arrival agreeing to no smoking in the dorms, no marijuana, and no rowdy drunkenness! The staff are ok! Lugano is a pleasant little city to spend a night or two. — Martin , UK (2007-06-23) Free wifi! Quite nice, like everyone says, but bring earplugs -- the dorm is big so someone will snore. Not very social, but they try. — Jeff (2006-09-04) One of the best backpackers we stayed at. Very clean and it is an old 19th century villa, with the paintings on the roof. Very good facilities, though the kitchen is small, (read one person only) and you have to go through it to get to one of the showers. Beautiful views looking over the water. Above the train station, but not noisy. Walk into town is good but get the funicular back up. — Chook (2005-11-29) It's close to the train station but a bit of a walk into town. The facilities are clean. The kitchen is tiny — only one person can really cook in there at a time. The outlook from the hostel is great, as is the swimming pool. — Danielle (2005-09-13) Seriously wonderful hostel — one of the extremely few and even farther between hostels in Europe that is really more comparable to a hotel. The grounds are BEAUTIFUL (palm trees in Switzerland!), Lugano is amazing, and the hostel is very, very nice and more importantly very clean. The staff were great, even tracking down our mailing address in Germany to mail my husband's passport which he'd accidentally left at the front desk. Before we'd even had a chance to call them, they'd already sent it off with a nice note. Great service, great location, great rooms....GREAT HOSTEL! — Amber (2005-08-17) Superb. Mind-boggling. This is Lake Como, but for 15 euros a night. Just don't go there. It's my paradise, not yours. — Andrea (2005-08-10) I stayed here in November. It was brilliant. It's the cleanest hostel I have ever stayed at. The staff were friendly and the town lovely, so plan to spend more than a couple of days. — Tina (2005-02-26) What a great place. It's quiet, friendly, and in the middle of a truly beautiful town. It has a good swimming pool and table tennis, if that's your thing. Check out the lake as well; it's a stunning place. If I ever come back to this neck of the woods I'll be staying here. — Ironman (2004-12-19) This place is really clean and right by the train station. The staff were really helpful, too. — Jimmy (2004-11-30) Couldn't believe this was a hostel. The garden and pool are great! — Mack (2004-02-05) This is one of the best hostels I've never seen. I'm from Milano and I usually come here during the hot Milano summers to rest and enjoy the sun, the swimming pool, and the fresh breeze in the night! — Tom (2004-01-23) I stayed last November and was really impressed. The view from the private rooms with balcony would lead one to think they were staying at a premium hotel. — Jack (2003-09-12)