Helvetia Hostel, Hvar Island

Helvetia Hostel is a small family-run hostel providing a good option for anyone wanting to stay on a budget on the expensive island of Hvar.

The Location

The hostel is located just a few minutes up the hill from the waterfront on a residential backstreet with a great location for anyone arriving by fast ferry to Hvar Town. Otherwise, you have the bus station a five-minute walk away, which will get you around the island and to the slow ferry terminal. Getting clear directions from the hostel and looking out for the signs will help you to navigate the backstreets to find the hostel, which can be a little hard to find sometimes. Many restaurants and bars are located nearby as well as a couple of supermarkets. The nearby beaches are within various walking distances, depending on how far you want to walk before jumping in.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Dorm rooms are fairly compact and come with four, five, and six beds. All rooms come with air conditioning controlled by the guests, which can mean that you end up with a temperature you can't stand and an air-conditioner remote hidden in someone's bed, so you can't change it. Small lockers are provided, but are built into the wall outside the rooms. Beds are comfortable for a good night's sleep. Bathrooms are separated by gender and are usually clean and tidy.

Common Spaces

The hostel is lacking in large common areas due to the narrow width of the building. A kitchen is provided with enough facilities to cook a basic meal but there are only three or four spaces where you can eat. The hostel also has a great terrace on the roof, which is perfect for sitting and enjoying the view on a sunny day; when the rain hits, the terrace gets locked and all the hostel guests get packed into the tiny kitchen. Most guests are friendly and social and it's a good hostel in which to meet people, especially if you want to hit any of the famous bars whilst not staying in a party hostel itself. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hostel for guests to use. The hostel is run by the couple who own it, so they often check if everything is going well.

Summary

This is a good budget option with a handy location for visiting Hvar Island and is a great place to meet other travelers.