Nosrac Leung
Google
My recent experience at the hostel was nothing short of a disaster. What was meant to be a peaceful and budget-friendly stay quickly turned into an endurance test of discomfort, frustration, and sleepless nights. Swarms of mosquitoes infested the room and it felt like we were camping in a barely upgraded barn rather than staying in a proper hostel.
The most immediate and infuriating issue we encountered was the mosquito invasion. It was as if the hostel had rolled out the red carpet for these pests. Every night, our room was swarmed by buzzing insects, turning sleep into a miserable game of swatting and scratching. Windows lacked proper mosquito nets, and the ventilation system only seemed to funnel more bugs inside. It felt like we were donating blood to nature every night.
The bathrooms weren’t much better. The showers stank like old plumbing, with barely any ventilation to clear the air. The stench lingered well beyond shower time, creeping into the hallway like a bad memory that wouldn’t fade.
The toilet setup was almost comedic—if it weren’t so infuriating. The nearest bathroom to our room placed the toilet an absurd four meters away from the sink with the lid pivoting on 1 hinge making it impossible to close. Imagine being half-asleep at night, navigating a maze of doors and corridors just to use the toilet. For a place hosting dozens of guests, this setup was impractical and utterly thoughtless.
To make matters worse, there was no air conditioning in the rooms. With the stifling summer heat and sealed spaces, the rooms became stuffy ovens by mid-afternoon. The few windows we did have barely opened, and the lack of proper airflow made it impossible to cool down. Sweat-drenched sleep became the norm.
The rooms themselves echoed with every sound. Conversations, footsteps, coughing—it all bounced off the walls and filled the space like a poorly managed auditorium. It was impossible to get rest, especially with constant outside noise pouring in through the unsealed windows. Street sounds, and buzzing that only stops when we close the window and endure being boiled alive.
Adding to this cacophony was the overall lack of functioning windows. You’d expect a building designed to host dozens of travelers to at least allow fresh air in. Instead, we were stuck with sealed panes and claustrophobic conditions. It felt like we were sealed in, with barely any access to the outside world—except for the noise, of course.
In summary, this hostel failed to provide the most basic comforts expected by travelers. Poor maintenance and bad design choices. These experiences made this stay one of the worst I’ve endured. If Flanders wants to uphold a reputation for quality tourism, this hostel is in desperate need of reform—or demolition.
