Villa Banana

Is Villa Banana (or "Vila Banana" as they spell it) a bright, blue gem in a city with limited options? Not exactly. It is bright and blue and in a city with very limited hostels, yet it has more to be desired. Overall this hostel is a decent sleep, especially if you're doing a longer stay in Croatia.

The hostel can be booked through the Dubrovnik Youth Service online or via telephone. The hostel owner will pick you up for free at the main harbor and bus station, because the hostel is extremely difficult to find for the first time. (Airport pick-up is also offered for a fee, which is worth it for groups of four to five -- otherwise you can take the Atlas bus to the bus depot and get picked-up from there.)

The hostel sits towards the top of the side of a hill. Then down the hill it's a straight shot to a beach and neither the bus station or old town are out of walking distance. There is a large Konsum (supermarket) at the bottom of the hill, while smaller local stores offer a shorter upward hall.

The dorms vary in size, but nothing too big. Some don't even have bunk beds. The rooms aren't completely spotless, but we didn't run into any roaches, bedbugs, or other undesirable critters. There are two floors of rooms with kitchens and bathrooms. The kitchens are well prepared for your use, and you can even find a spot to stand around and eat outside with a view of the city and ocean. The bathrooms aren't sparkling but they are in fairly clean condition. The shower definitely merits flip-flops.

The owner and his wife are a riot. They are an elderly local couple who live downstairs. While at times the resonance of their cultural differences may be overwhelming to foreigners, they are really well-meaning. If you are there in the summer, be sure to go around the corner into their garden, and although they don't have any bananas, they will surely insist that you try their figs, which are beyond amazing. They will also give you maps showing where "Vila Banana" is so that you can find your way back. It's a decent place in a city of beauty -- all right for this price.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
February 2007