Hostel Heart of Maribor is located in the city center of this little town and it seems to attract most of the backpackers visiting Maribor, where there seems to be just two hostels available. Maribor is Slovenian’s second city and very close to the Hungarian and Austrian border.
The Location
It is right in the center, in front of the main cathedral and less than ten minutes away on foot from the train station and the bus station. The river is nearby as well, together with shops, restaurants, and supermarkets.
Rooms and Bathrooms
It offers different type of rooms -- dorms and privates. Most of the rooms have two floors, with the bed located on the second floor. Bathrooms are shared among the entire hostel, and toilets and showers are separated so there is less waiting time. Hot water is available in the shower, and both soap and shampoo are available. Also towels are provided and the cleanliness is always on a good level. However rooms can get hot, especially on the second floor where beds are located, and neither a fan nor air conditioner were available at the time of our visit. Mattresses are also not very comfortable, but plugs for electricity are available for each person next to the bed. Lockers are available but you need your own lock.
Common Spaces
There is not much of a common space available. A sofa is located in the corridor, next to a stand with flyers detailing activities in Maribor, and Slovenia in general. There is a common kitchen guests can use freely, which has fairly new cooking equipments and it works well. There is also a little balcony outside of the kitchen that guests can use to eat out. Breakfast is also provided for free, and it includes mostly milk or coffee and cereals, together with bread and jam. The vibe is very quiet, and it's not much of a party spot but mostly a place to chill and spend a night before heading somewhere else.
Summary
All together, the place offered us a great stay. It's not suitable to those looking for a party spot to meet loads of people (Maribor in general doesn’t seem to be such a city anyway). It's perfect for a few nights exploring Maribor, or for a base from which to experience the surrounding areas with day trips.