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Barracuda Hostel is located in Khabarovsk, a city in the Far East of Russia that's an important hub for those doing the Trans-Siberian Railway (the hostel is not too far away from the station). Khabarovsk is very near the Chinese border, and many shops and restaurants are owned by Chinese people.
The Location
It takes about fifteen minutes on the bus from the railway station to the hostel. It is a bit difficult to find Barracuda Hostel; it is located in an alley, is not visible from the main road, and no indications are provided. You need to call the property and they will come out and explain how to reach it. Around the area there are restaurants and a few bars, and there's a supermarket is right in front. To reach the promenade in front of the river, you need to walk twenty minutes, while the central street is only ten minutes away.
Rooms and Bathrooms
It has private rooms and dorm accommodation, and it is developed on two floors. Rooms are quite spacious and lockers are available but you'll need to use your own padlock. Toilets and showers are separated and there are many, so you should not need to wait. The hostel is maintained and clean in all common areas and the rooms. Soap is available in the showers but not shampoo. The beds are comfy but a little tiny, and they are not ready, as bedsheets are provided at check-in and you need to make your own bed.
Common Spaces
There is a large area with sofas, TV, a table with chairs, and a kitchen where guests usually spend time and hang out. The kitchen and the cooking equipment as well are new; everything you'd need to cook is provided and there is a free drinking water dispenser that guests can use to fill up their bottles. The vibe is not really that of a party (similar to most hostels in Russia), and it is used mostly by locals. English is not spoken by the staff but the Wi-Fi works well so you can translate. It is not very easy to meet other travelers and the hostel doesn’t arrange any tour or activity to help people to interact.
Summary
This is a comfortable place for a couple of nights. It's not great for solo travelers that want to meet other people, or for those looking for a party. However the sleep is ok and the hostel is kept clean.
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