Nicolas M.
Yelp
I just got back from a three day stay in Miami, and it honestly wasn't easy giving this place three stars, because truth be told, it's not like I died. However, I can't in good faith say "woohoo, I'm a fan" or "it's as good as it gets". The first thing to know very firmly is that there are many things that they are not telling you on their website, namely, the 50 dollar deposit that is required upon arrival and check in. Secondly, the fact that Florida residents cannot stay at the hostel is also not mentioned. This hostel is full of unpleasant surprises like this and the larger group that owns them and other hostels in the area thinks they can sidestep important facts that guests need to know. The rules for when you're staying make sense mostly, but they are very weird about other things. Two examples are simply the way they write signs, telling you that you have exactly 30 minutes to use the hostel's two public computers and that's it, no matter how crowded it may be or what the demand for computer use may be. The other example is how they do not let you exchange or trade beds with anyone, or else they will kick you out. Very weird. And of course, they have a very strong anti-sex rule. No sex in the hostel, or you get booted out the door. I booked this hostel through Expedia, and Expedia was very misleading, not making it clear that it was one BIG public room you will be staying in, and that there are no single rooms. Expedia is not designed well for booking hostels, and not even the hostel website makes it clear that it is one very large room with many many bunkbeds. Yes, you will be staying in one big room with people of the opposite sex with very little privacy or areas to change clothes or get undressed without being seen. The huge room is filled with metal frame bunkbeds with convenient drawers for you and your bunkmate's things underneath, but let it be known that these metal drawers make one HELL of a racket when being opened and closed. Please try to be quiet and considerate of your fellow hostelers who may be trying to sleep. People were generally very loud and rude and inconsiderate of the fact that we ALL have to share this one big space and that people making a loud stirring while others are sleeping, in addition to farting, not putting phones on silent, is just not cool. This is why I don't stay in hostels unless I must. I did make two friendly acquaintances, one of which I had dinner with, the with whom I shared a Lyft to the airport, but generally, I prefer the privacy of my own space. So my conclusion is, this place is not bad, but not great either. I am not sure I'd stay here again. Oh, and I had asked for a second blanket because it was COLD in the big room with the beds cause they blasted the air conditioning every few minutes EVEN IN cool temperate Miami January weather, and I did not get the blanket the first time from the cleaning ladies who are supposed to supply you with any extra bedding you may need, not the check in desk, interestingly enough. I finally got the blanket the second time, after asking a different cleaning lady. They also might not have understood English. I get this is Miami and Spanish and Haitian influences are ever-present, but understanding of English is just plain necessary and goes without saying.