The Hostelz.com Review
Archie's House is inexpensive, with a very nice staff who seem pleased to help you navigate Venice. But the facilities are very old and dingy, making the whole place feel very dirty and uncomfortable.
The Location
The location is easily the best part about this hostel. It's located almost directly between the train station and the main tourist sites of San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, so everything is within a twenty-minute walk (depending on how many tourists are in the way).
When you leave the train station, turn left and keep going straight for quite some time. You will pass through a couple of squares -- just be sure to take the path in the back to the left. Eventually you will reach a point where the road seems to split into three, where the street you are walking on (which, at this point, should be Rio Tera San Leonardo) meets Rio Tera Del Cristo. Archie's house will be to the left, under a sign that says "Rooms Archie's."
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are large and come with lockers (locks and keys provided). The dorms have five single beds, but there are also options of privates and doubles and such. Each bed has its own outlet and reading light, although the light is pretty dim. The rooms themselves could do with some serious renovation; it just feels like it's falling apart and the result is that it looks pretty filthy (although it's probably less about dirt and more about age). There is a small sink and mirror in the room as well, but you oddly have to stand on an unstable wooden platform to reach it.
The bathrooms are probably the worst thing about this place. First, you have to pay a fee per eight minutes of hot water, and you can only do it when reception is open. Everything that you use (sink, toilet) feels clean, but the floors and the walls feel old and dirty, which makes taking a shower here really unpleasant.
Common Spaces
The "kitchen" is a refrigerator and a microwave, and there are no utensils or plates or cups or anything, so even if you decide to microwave some water for tea or something, there's no place to put it. The common area stretches from the kitchen down a hall -- basically the common area is a tiny room and a hallway. There are two computers available for use, and they're usually open if you don't have a device for the free Wi-Fi. Downstairs, there is also a big, open space covered in dingy carpets, but it has a ping pong table if you care to play.
Since the hostel isn't exactly high quality, people pretty much just use it as a base for exploring the city. As a result, it isn't very social, and you'll rarely run into other backpackers.
Summary
The great location and low price make it a good choice if you literally don't care about anything else. But if you like things relatively clean, or the ability to take a hot shower for free, you should look elsewhere.
The Location
The location is easily the best part about this hostel. It's located almost directly between the train station and the main tourist sites of San Marco and the Rialto Bridge, so everything is within a twenty-minute walk (depending on how many tourists are in the way).
When you leave the train station, turn left and keep going straight for quite some time. You will pass through a couple of squares -- just be sure to take the path in the back to the left. Eventually you will reach a point where the road seems to split into three, where the street you are walking on (which, at this point, should be Rio Tera San Leonardo) meets Rio Tera Del Cristo. Archie's house will be to the left, under a sign that says "Rooms Archie's."
Rooms and Bathrooms
The rooms are large and come with lockers (locks and keys provided). The dorms have five single beds, but there are also options of privates and doubles and such. Each bed has its own outlet and reading light, although the light is pretty dim. The rooms themselves could do with some serious renovation; it just feels like it's falling apart and the result is that it looks pretty filthy (although it's probably less about dirt and more about age). There is a small sink and mirror in the room as well, but you oddly have to stand on an unstable wooden platform to reach it.
The bathrooms are probably the worst thing about this place. First, you have to pay a fee per eight minutes of hot water, and you can only do it when reception is open. Everything that you use (sink, toilet) feels clean, but the floors and the walls feel old and dirty, which makes taking a shower here really unpleasant.
Common Spaces
The "kitchen" is a refrigerator and a microwave, and there are no utensils or plates or cups or anything, so even if you decide to microwave some water for tea or something, there's no place to put it. The common area stretches from the kitchen down a hall -- basically the common area is a tiny room and a hallway. There are two computers available for use, and they're usually open if you don't have a device for the free Wi-Fi. Downstairs, there is also a big, open space covered in dingy carpets, but it has a ping pong table if you care to play.
Since the hostel isn't exactly high quality, people pretty much just use it as a base for exploring the city. As a result, it isn't very social, and you'll rarely run into other backpackers.
Summary
The great location and low price make it a good choice if you literally don't care about anything else. But if you like things relatively clean, or the ability to take a hot shower for free, you should look elsewhere.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2012
Their Description
Archie's House Details
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Archie's House Reviews from the WebHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Good I stayed in Archie's House in 1984 and back then it was really great accommodation, clean and very good value -- also spent some time with Archie himself discussing World politics and the situation back then in the 'struggle' in South Africa -- sad to read here that it seems to have deteriorated over the years. — Dion Futerman , South Africa (2012-02-09) Think twice This place it's too dirty for an hostel that is placed right in the center of Venice (cleanness: zero). You can stand this kind of conditions for like one night, two nights maximum but more than that? Good luck! — Susie Q. , Portugal (2011-06-14) BUGS I just woke up, I thought I felt my skin crawling, when I looked at the bed closer there are big bedbugs and little white lice (?) on the sheets. I looked at the other beds, and right in the open, big bedbugs. I had 2 nights booked but am booking another hostel as we speak for tomorrow night. — Anonymous , Canada (2010-05-29) It was pretty good thirteen years ago I was there thirteen years ago. It was very good for the price -- 50000 lira for a private room (about AUD 50 at the time) that had a double-bed and its own washbasin. Sheets were clean and so too was the room. How things have changed. — Jack , Australia (2008-05-28) Old and really rundown This place is really rundown and pretty dirty. When I was there Archie had a dog living there, which wasn't so good for me as I have allergies. Archie is actually a pretty interesting guy. I was hanging out with some Aussies and he walked in with a book of American folk songs he wanted me to sing. He didn't quite understand that I'm a horrible singer so I had to sing to make him happy. He didn't ask for a second song. — Ben , USA (2007-06-02) The location and price are just about right, and the free net is good too. Rooms are spacious and it is peaceful and quiet. However, during my stay here i was bitten really badly by bedbugs. Here I was thinking that bedbugs are a made up thing, but no no, they are real and they were here! The hostel may eventually deal with this problem, and hey if you're lucky it might not affect you. But I have spent days and money cleaning everything in my pack, and for me it was not worth the price saving I made staying here. — Vanessa (2006-10-26) Stayed at this place for two nights, overall impression was that it's cool. Beds are comfy -- they aren't bunks so that's good. Sheets are clean too. There is free net on a mac mini, which is really handy. I have a notebook so I plugged in with a network cable as well -- they were happy with that. Archie is awesome -- straight away shook our hands which you don't get very often, so it felt personal and down to earth. He gave us a printout of a map with suggested walking tour and stuff, and it has suggested places to eat (do check them out, we're talking 3-4 euro for a plate of food, thats good for Venice). Price is really good for Venice. The location can't get much better in my opinion, it's along the main drag (where most people walk) and is closer to it than a heap of three-star hotels we saw in our wanderings. This hostel feels great, but is quiet. Oh, probably my only complaint is 1 euro for a hot shower (though it's a generous seven minutes) -- cold showers are free. Also the flow of water from my shower (in the dorm) was pretty piddly. But I recommend this hostel. — funkz (2006-10-23) I stayed two nights at this hostel. It was ok --especially its location (follow the directions mentioned above) between de train station (fifteen minutes walk) and towards (another fifteen minues walk) to the rialto bridge. The athmosphere was nice and the sheet (on the mattress) was clean. The hostel itself is not 'spot on.' It is dusty and old and a little bit vague (therefore the atmosphere is nice). The microwave is useful since there is no such thing as budget (six euro including all) dinners in Venice. Though you need your own cutlery etc. Don't expect the toilet and the shower to be really clean (i.e. don't go there if you are a fuzzy person). I found it a pity that I did not get to meet the legend (archie) himself as his sons seem to run the place. — mar* (2006-07-19) besides the frat like atmosphere, Archies put a roof over our head and a comfortable place to sleep. we were only in venice one night and if we had stayed longer we would have found other accomodations. the shower is a little funny, as well as the bathroom areas. we didn't shower nor eat there. checked in, left, came back, slept and checked out. I recommend walking to the grand canal sitting at a table, ordering a bottle of wine, drinking yourself to a wonderful warmth then heading back to sleep- thats how we did it! — Alicia (2005-12-15) This hostel was the worst thing that happened on our trip in Italy. It was dirty, run down and not recommendable. When you get in the door it smells like somebody died in there. The furniture in the room was ready for destruction. The room was "alive" — mice droppings and bedbugs. It has a dirty bathroom and ancient shower. The only positive thing was the free Internet, but come on...do something about the place, Archie. Just an air-fan to cool you down would help a lot. The place is not recommendable. It's really low class. — John (Denmark) (2005-08-18) This place is just WRONG!!! We called three times to confirm our two dorm beds. Our last call was from the station in Florence to say that the train we were planning to catch was full, and our train would arrive at 12:30 p.m. Archie reiterated that the beds would be held only until 12 p.m. regardless of our promise we were on our way. With this in mind, we contacted a friend in Venice, and asked them to reserve our room. They arrived at 11:30 a.m. in time to overhear Archie give away our beds. She paid for a private room for us for two nights.
On arriving and hearing what happened, we explained that we weren't very happy as our friend was there in time to reserve our beds. Archie said "I am not discussing this, you said you would be there at 12:30 p.m. so I took that as a cancellation." We said "but we called to confirm not cancel" and he put his fingers in his ears (as in "la la la not listening")! Archie may speak 12 languages but apparently he doesn't know how to say "Sorry" in any of them.
We then asked for a refund so we could go elsewhere. Archie refused any refund on the first night and offered that if we paid 10 euros we could have a refund on the second night. Obviously we declined.
We were then handed a 1-page sheet of rules, of which my personal favorites were: "no guests in the hostel at any time not even for 1 minute;" and "showers are cold and if you want a hot one you pay at reception, who will then turn the hot water on for a period of time."
There was no fridge but there is a microwave, chest freezer and free Internet. Towels cost extra as does leaving your bags in the hostel after your check out time. Their office is closed most of the day as well so you can't arrive during those hours.
We spent our stay ignoring Archie (although in fairness the girl that worked there was nice to us) and holed up in our room sitting on the cute windowsill watching people go by. For us it was a very uncomfortable atmosphere. It is reasonably priced, has a decent location and weird (but interesting) decor and I think it remains open on those points alone, because customer service sure ain't a strong point. Overall, I would say not a bad place except don't expect them to be nice to you. :) — Anonymous (2005-07-29) Very nice. Considering all hotels on the island of Venice are somewhere near 80 euros a night and this hostel is 16, that's a definite plus! Staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful. Free Internet is always nice. Highly recommended! — Anonymous (2005-06-02) I really enjoyed staying in Archie's House and can only recommend it! It's close to the railway station and you don't need to take any boats to get there (which is a plus in Venice!). The staff are really friendly and the rooms are great. The bathroom is a little odd, but still ok and not (!) dirty! Hot showers cost 1€ and so do sheets, but as the place is cheap, that was ok with me. — Kora (2005-05-26) The location and prices were great but the hostel was a little run down. Good place to stay if you just need the basics. — Mark Melnyk (2005-05-21) The place is excellent for the price. We paid 16 euros for a room with five beds. The lady who works in the office is awesome and Archie is very nice himself. Chances are they will be able to talk to you, as the office lady knows eight languages and Archie knows twelve. The house is a little old, as is evident when you walk in, but everything is clean and the staff are really nice. The Ping-Pong table and free Internet are a nice added touch. They also give you a suggested guide of sites to visit and restaurants to eat at. You have to pay an extra euro for hot water but it is well worth it for the price paid for the room. It is a small hostel with only 4-5 rooms and they promote a quiet but fun hostel. Highly recommended. — Anonymous (2005-05-16)