Emile Youth Hostel, Gibraltar

good basic accomodation

I stayed here last year when i was over at gibraltar for the music festival, it is a very good basic option.

The price is reasonable i think i paid around 20 pounds a night, something like that it is close to cassemates square for the centre of gibraltar, owner is a pleasant fella.

This is the ONLY hostel in gibraltar, there are hostels in nearby la linea but i have heard bad reports of the town especially at night.

Very basic for its price; central location

Very very basic hostel with basic facilities for its price. Central location. Lumpy mattress. No lockers. Helpful stuff.

Average but a roof over your head

To be fair its basic and a roof over your head. If your looking for something basic then go for this if your looking for a 4 star hotel then go for a 4 star hotel. Bit pricey though for what it is but had a good time there.

Average, but satisfactory accommodation

Very good location. The establishment is modest but satisfactory. Cheep when compared to Gibraltar prices. Best for young and solo travelers.

Emile Youth Hostel is Gibraltar's only humble accommodation, although the price may not seem so humble. While this hostel beats any other place nearby in terms of price, don't expect anything more than a hostel.

The Location

Located in the center of Gibraltar, Emile Youth Hostel is right across the street from the main shopping square. With Gibraltar being so small, you can get anywhere with about fifteen minutes' walk.

The hostel is not too difficult to find. Once you cross the border into Gibraltar, just keep walking along the path until you reach the airport runway. Once you cross the runway you'll find yourself on the main road, Winston Churchill Avenue. Continue walking down this road until it forks three ways -- here you will need to take the middle road (don't follow the traffic turning right). Continue up this middle road and continue walking until you pass a bridge. Once you pass the bridge, you will find Emile Youth Hostel on your right-hand side, right across from Pizza Hut.

Rooms and Bathrooms

This hostel has a total of forty-two beds to offer, most of them in co-ed dorm rooms. Linens come free, but towels are not available. The rooms are spacious and well-kept, but quite modest. The bathrooms are shared among all the guests. In the main building there is one male toilet and one female toilet. The shower rooms are also separated by gender; however, the showers themselves are communal. So don't be expecting any privacy while you're showering.

Common Spaces

The main common spaces are an outdoor patio and a dining room/cafe. There is a kitchen, but it is off-limits to guests. Feel free to purchase breakfast from the cafe -- prices are relatively cheap compared to the rest of Gibraltar. The outdoor patio consists of a table, large umbrella, and a few chairs where you can sit and soak in the fresh Mediterranean air.

Summary

Gibraltar is a unique place with a unique blend of English and Spanish identity and culture. Be warned though -- things are quite expensive, which is why this hostel may not have prices as cheap as you'd like them. If you're looking to save some money, Emile Youth Hostel is your smartest (and only) option in Gibraltar. The place is family-run and the owners are quite friendly -- that's a plus!

Great friendly hostel

Great friendly hostel situated in centre of town. Basic hostel but very clean. there is also free wi-fi included. loved my stay.

Only budget option in Gibraltar

We stayed here as this was the cheapest option in Gibraltar. On arrival, had to wait outside and call the bell several times to be let in. To be honest it was not clean, breakfast room had flies buzzing around, tv blaring from lounge until early hours, and staff were very unhelpful (he seemed more interested in taking one girl who was staying there on a date than being present to help everyone else!). Location is good though, opposite main square and shopping street. We weren't expecting 5 star service like a big hotel but for 17 a night I have stayed in much better hostels. Ok if you just want a bed for the night but if you can afford a couple more pounds for a decent place, its worth it.

Worst Hostel Experience!

I stayed at Emile during the off season (early March) and had the worst hostel experience of my life here. I had a poor reception with unfriendly staff. Breakfast advertised on the website was not served. I stayed in a private room and the communal shower/bath had no hot water in the showers or sinks in the toilet stalls. There were no hand washing soap or rubbish bins anywhere in the building either. When asking about the lack of hot water for showers, the staff blamed me for not going over, across the courtyard to ask about it, despite the fact that is was before office hours and I had no way of knowing if anyone was there. The response of the staff, the blaming, the lack of hot water, and no food when advertised leads me to recommend staying else where. I met other backpackers in the city that day and they found a hotel room with a full breakfast for just 2 pounds more. To say the least, I was ripped off and denied the chance to speak to a manager!