Hostel Dom, Novosibirsk

Hostel Dom is in Novosibirsk, the capital city of Siberia and third-most populated city in the whole of Russia. Like several other Russian hostels, it is a family-run hostel that attracts mostly Russian customers.

The Location

It has a great location, right next to Lenina Square, the very center of Novosibirsk. Around the hostel are a supermarket, many bars and restaurants, and most of the tourist attractions. Also the central market, a local spot, is just less than ten minutes away on foot. Most tourists arrive at Novosibirsk by train, as it is one of the main stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the train station is very conveniently reachable, with the bus only a few stops away.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The hostel -- which has both privates and dorms -- seems quite old from the outside and the inside as well; it has beds that are not very comfortable and are sometimes slightly broken, and the bedsheets do not appear to be very clean. Mattresses as well are old and the sleep is not very comfortable. The place is not dirty, but it's not very clean either. There are two toilets to be shared with everyone else in the hostel, with two showers and two toilets each. Again, bathrooms are not perfectly clean all the time. Lockers are available outside the rooms, in the common area, and you need a padlock.

Common Spaces

At the entrance, you must leave your shoes, and slippers are provided. There is a large area with the kitchen and a sofa with a table and a TV. Unfortunately, hot water is not provided and tap water is not recommended. The kitchen is quite old with pans and pots that seem dirty and a bit ruined. The staff seem to spend most of the time on the sofa watching loud TV, so it is not easy to socialize with people (mostly if not exclusively Russians) as English is not spoken. Also, the hostel seems to attract families with kids staying there for a longer time, and walls are so thin that at night you can hear kids crying from many rooms. The staff itself try to help as much as they can. They provide a laundry service for a cheap price and dry clothes as well.

Summary

In general, it is not a great and recommended place. Beds are not comfortable and walls are too thin. Cooking is not easy with the equipment provided and there are always people from the staff watching TV. However, the location is unbeatable and the price is very competitive.