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Stay away ...
... if you have the slightest difficulty walking or require a minimum of comfort. Allright, the hostel is central near the Sepulchre in a very old cavernous building (expectduring daytime to battle your way a good 10 minutes through masses of tourists from the Jaffa Gate).
That's where the problem starts: narrow staircases. Toilet/shower combinations (way too few) that are second only to those in Hongkongs notorious Chungking Mansions, with no space whatsoever.
The ground floor looks nice enough with a few settees and the only area where WiFi is working with a very weak signal. If you don't break your neck -- or at least an ankle on the way up to the dorm -- the cheap one with 12 beds + 2 mattresses on the floor as needed at 70 Shekel has no wardrobe or storage area. No keys are given adding to a feels of insecurity.
No towels. Laundry is charged at outrageous 50 Shekel (the coin-op laundry down the road @ 20).
The fully equipped kitchen is overcrowded with two people. Staff are, put mildly, indifferent, which becomes understandable once one finds out that they either volunteer for free nights or receive he royal payment of 70 Shekel for a 11 hour shift (~ 1,75 US$/hrs).
Additionally there is the opportunity to sleep in the open on the roof where the mosquitoes have a field day.
A one off!
Can't make better -- sleeping on rooftop in heart of old city for few euros, and decor interior like top Moroccan place. unmissable cool!
Best of jerusalem hostels
a fantastic pick for travelers who are looking for an authentic experience. location is amazing, atmosphere is fun and cozy, and you will have great information of how to go around the country.
RUDE STAFF
Stayed at the hostel on the night between April 26-27, 2014. The reception clerk said that they take only cash (nowhere on the website this is indicated. I arrived late. What would have happened if I didn't have any cash?). Gave his 100 NIS for sleeping on the roof (69 NIS). He did not have change for me and said that he will have some in the morning. In the morning he still didn't have change and suggested that I will wait for two hours until his shift is over, maybe the other clerk will have change. He did not suggest any other solutions and it seemed reasonable for him that he had no change and that I should wait. He refused to give me his manager's name or his own name saying that "we are not allowed." I came back two hours later. The new clerk gave me the night clerk's name and the manager's name. She also had a bag full of change. No apology from her. She gave me the silly explanation that "this is a small hotel so sometimes we don't have change."
Great location
Location fantastic if you want feel heart Old Town Jerusalem. People in reception very helpful and nice, beautiful view on the roof but little dirty -- especially bedding. Near Citadel Hostel on Mark St. very good and cheap falafel, shoarma, and very good tea -- very clean and nice place.
Excellent location and romantic roof terrace
My girl friend and I decided to visit Jerusalem as part of our journey to Jordan. We chose the Citadel Y.H. as our second option but it turned out to be all we ever wanted and more than we could have expected. The location is just fantastic with a 10 minute walk from the City Hall tram stop. The facilities offer no real luxury but you will get access to a roof top terrace with fantastic views. We got room no. 12 which has access to its own little roof top terrace from which we enjoyed the staggering views of many world class religious sights and Jerusalem roof tops.
The cheapest hostel in the city, but it's not worth the price they ask
Dorms cost 15 per night, which is not cheap considered everything -- no keys in the rooms, no breakfast, horrible coffee from the coin coffee machines, cats entering the hostel from the roof and peeing in the rooms (it happened to a couple while I was staying there), wifi only in the hall, not safe at all. The perfect price for this place it would be 5/8 per night in dorms and 2/3 in roof (mattresses in the ground with no place to put your stuff). It's not true that you feel observed by arabs (arabs managing this hostel are the best thing actually, even if they should manage it more as arabs and less as hebrews). The staff is quite friendly, they help you with everything and they speak many languages. The hostel is quite clean and central (very well located in the centre of the old city, near Jaffa Gate). Something that I didn't like is that they ask people to work there as volunteers, in exchange of a free bed, but they make them work for many hours (15 per night would be like 2-3 hours of not well paid work, but they work sometimes for like 8-10 hours) and they give them very uncomfortable duties (like changing the sheets after the cat has peed). I felt like if they were taking advantage from the volunteers.
If you have a girlfriend or you are a woman you will feel observed in this place. Arabs manage this hotel and they will surveil your every move. When a woman walks in this place, they immediately (as most arabs) assume you are a whore and that you belong to them. They will harass you to the end, and if you have a boyfriend or meet a guy in there they will kick you both out.
I was extremely impressed by the hostel, its lovely staff and the facilities. The only thing I would change is to make sure people are booking spots on the mattresses on the rooftop. At the end, I ended up sleeping in the hall.
I booked a bed in a multi person tent, just thought what a strange description, but ok. When I arrived I was greeted directly with "I don't think they know what they booked"!
No tent, no room, a mattress on the roof terrace, no tent, no windbreak!!!!
The staff was ok, but when I asked how I can best continue traveling I got no answer.The cleanliness is ok, but for the price you expect more than a mattress on the terrace which is accessible to every guest. There were no possibilities to lock...
Good place to stay
A unique stay in the middle of the old city. Nice, clean rooms, kind staff, functioning kitchen, and a pretty breathtaking terrace with plugs and space to work or chill. Definitely worth it if you would like something a little more original than the usual. Only thing I can say: the walls are very thin so you'll be able to hear pretty much every conversation.
Host was a superstar. Very clean rooms and amazing view from the rooftop. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Thanks to the host, despite the pandemic, we had a wonderful time.
The hostel has a really good environments, staff is very friendly and helpful, main lobby its awesome, very well located near all major attractions
Dirty, cold, bathroom is not acceptable. Location is great but it was a bad experience.
Liked: Roof! And helpful staff! Didn't like: No elevator, water in the floor of bathroom. For people with luggages a road to the hostel in the old city can be tiresome bcoz of stairs on the street, so, take it into account:)
No window in the twin bed room.
Liked: Location was great in the old town. The view from the terrace is great, also the staff is great and helpful, especially the American born (Sorry forgot your name) Didn't like: There was no hot water throughout our 4 Day stay. Also the kitchen is very bad, hard to cook something, also no microwave. Owner promised for a month other travellers told me. We needed to ask few times for toilet paper as there was often no paper. Lower floors are nice but the upstairs floors look like it was just in a hurry to finish, unused potential to make a great hostel.
Excelent localization!
+ near Jaffa Gate
+ old house
+ nice roof top terrace if weather is good
+ unobtrusive and helpful staff
+ quiet room
+ nice bed mattress Disliked: - too less dishes, espeacially spoons and cups
- days with only cold water at one of two floors
- some days a bit cold above first floor
- room with one window only to the staircase
- narrow toilets and toilet/shower combinations
- visible wash basins on the floor
- one toilet/shower not lockable and slots in the door
- luggage room is an unlocked area, but with a camera
- hard pillow
Liked: Within Jerusalem Didn't like: Need better ventilation and refurbishment
Liked: I liked the view from the roof top and the location is great. Didn't like: It was really cold in the rooms and when it rained it rained through the roof so that the floor was wet. Also, when we arrived we had to discuss for 2 hours that we only wanted to pay the agreed amount. They wante us to pay more. We were so annoyed that in the end we still payed a little more than the initaly amount of the booking.
atmosphere and location
Liked: The rooftop had a really great view, and the staff/volunteers were helpful and nice. Didn't like: The female dorm smelled very moldy/musky, even after airing it out all day.
Liked: Nice old building Didn't like: Room was a bit stuffy, could use some better ventilation. But that might be due to it's old character.
Liked: The staff was excellent Didn't like: Can't wait to go back
Liked: We did meet a few people a few nice people the night I did stay there it did have a great view from the roof Didn't like: Just about everything it wasn't very clean tons of steps the rooms were very dark and cramped poor ventilation no fans or air conditioning very hot and stuffy
Address: St Marks Road 20, Old City, Jerusalem, Jerusalem District, Israel
Digital Nomads
Solo Traveller
Bedsheets
City Tours
Luggage Storage
Towels
Wi-Fi in Lobby/Commons
Airport Pickup
Lockers in Lobby
24 Hour Security
BBQ Grill
Book Collection/Exchange
Cable TV
Clothes Dryer
Concierge/Info Desk
Credit Card Payments
Cultural Tour/Class
Currency Exchange
Entirely Non-Smoking
Evening Entertainment
Food/Restaurant
Gameroom
Hair Dryers
Hot Showers
Kitchen
Laundry
Live Music/Performance
Lounge Area
Meeting/Banquet facilities
Movie Library/Rental
TV
Walking Tours
Wheelchair Accessible
Service Animals
Max. Age: All Ages
Checkout: 11:00 (11 AM)
Curfew: No Curfew
Lockout: No
Maximum Stay: Unlimited
Minimum Stay: 1 night
Open Dates: All Year
Reception Hours: 24 Hours
Size: Very Large (100+ beds)
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