I schlepped my backpack, laptop and camera across town, getting properly lost along the way. The 5 minute walk turned into an hour long hike, as I overshot my destination and searched in the wrong neighborhood. Finally I climbed four flights of stairs and knocked on the hostel door. “Hello? Hostel?” The woman shook her head and said I should try floor 2. This was the best part of my experience at the Hostel “Palacida”. What should have tipped me off? Let’s see:
1. The sign for the hostel was a yellow piece of paper taped to the door. It said “Best Hostel in The World!” and Hostel “Palacida” was scribbled beneath it.
2. The place was family run, which was fine, except when I asked about connecting to the internet, the son came out in skivvies to help trouble shoot. It’s hard to maintain eye contact when someone is in their underwear (briefs) and tugging at themselves. I’m just sayin’.
3. Confusion abounds. They asked me to check in, so I said, “Ok”. The mother said, “Here sit”. I sat. The daughter came in, “It’s 1130 AM you have to check in.” She looked annoyed. I said, “I am, the other woman, just came and told me she was getting my reservation.” I was trying to be nice. She was pissed. “You mean my mother?” she asked. (How in the world did I offend her by not knowing she was related I have no idea). “Well you have to give her your passport. Did she take your passport?” Sigh. Ok take it, I’m really not fighting this.
4. I asked four people if they had internet, and three of them waved at me dismissively. I wasn’t getting this body language for “ya right”, so I persisted. Finally the mother confessed they had to shut off the internet because it too expensive. I could go to the cafe next door and use their internet. They opened in 4 hours… I wasn’t going to hold my breath.
5. And finally, they locked me out. I came home at midnight, and they would not open the door. My cell phone doesn’t allow me to make calls in Croatia. I banged on the door. I waited. I banged again. No luck. I ended up paying full price for a different hotel for the night.
So in the end, the “Best Hostel in the World” was not so good. I picked up my backpack that morning and found a perfectly normal hostel even closer to town. And they have internet. And most everyone is clothed appropriately.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:31 am
Christine,
This post made me laugh out loud. I can’t believe you got locked out for a night. Crazy!
We don’t stay at hostels anymore. It had been a year since we stayed in one and then chose to stay in a hostel in Dublin with the high school kids from our travel club and then we remembered why we don’t stay in hostels anymore. The desk staff were surly, the room was 90 degrees with no way to turn down the temperature and the toilets looked like they had never (ever) been cleaned. The 14-year old boys loved staying at the hostel… us, not so much.
We stay at pensiones (small hotels) and B&Bs and rely on Rick Steves’ recommendations and those of friends. We just stayed at an amazing place in Florence.
I know that there are great hostels but the trick is finding the ones that truly are “the best hostels in the world”.
Monnas last blog post..A Room of One’s Own
August 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Been there, done that. I once stayed in a hotel (loosely used) during a frosty February, with no glass in the windows, just wooden frames. The staff brought me many extra blankets in lieu of central heating.
Best hostel in the world? If by world they mean that street, then perhaps. I hope things get better.
Stevos last blog post..guangzhou dawn
August 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Monna- Agreed! I was never a hosteler and after a recent experience hosteling due to lack of other viable lodging options, my anti-hosteling attitude was reaffirmed. Budget lodging is cool. Being total skimps (as hostelers) is not.
Julies last blog post..8 Easy Things You Can Do to Help Mompox
August 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
Yikes! Sounds dirty.
My husband and I hosteled for the first and last time in Montreal, and would add Clue # 6:
The cab driver can’t find it, the neighbors don’t know about it, and the owners have to work hard to convince you that their 4th floor walk-up is a hostel and not a drop-in center for the homeless.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
how did you even find that place! lol
Nomadic Matts last blog post..Interview with Thomas Kohnstamm
August 18th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Wow… I just had flashbacks to my first night stay (the only night stay, as it was) in a Budapest hostel. I would have left before that night, but it was late, so I left the next morning and went to a new location.
But… at least it makes for good stories!
Look forward to hearing about all of the great things in Croatia!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
OMG!! I agree with Elle, sounds dirty. poor you! well am glad you got out of there. being locked out is crazy!!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Heh. You’re definitely earnin’ your stripes, kid.
I have to agree with Lori… the most awful experiences usually turn into the best stories that can be told ooooooooooover and over again. And at the end of the day, that’s really why we travel, isn’t it?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Wow. quite the experience.
Lolas last blog post..The ol’ catchup game
August 18th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Just yesterday I was telling my friend how I’ve never backpacked or stayed in a hostel and that it was high on my to-do travel list. Now I’m re-thinking that plan, thanks for the heads-up!
August 18th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I’m with Matt - what was the reference for this hostel?
Turners last blog post..Drinking in Japan
August 19th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Sounds like quite the ordeal. Hostels are definitely not for everyone. I’ve never stayed in one, but I look forward to the day that I do. I’m sure it’s not the most comfortable of settings, but I’m a fan of meeting people.
I’m also sure I’ll grow out of budget accommodations once I’m a bit older with more money to spare.
Daniels last blog post..And off we go
August 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Sounds like the sign on the front door was a sure clue! Kudos to you for even getting past that - I would have been backing away at that point I think!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Well, we all have to have one of those stories, right? I’d aim for sticking to just one though! Glad you found a new place to stay!
Theresas last blog post..Complications
August 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I’ve never been one for hostels and now I know why. I’ve just never been comfortable with the concept. It’s either a hotel B&B or a Pensione.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Ah, hostels. I’ve had some great experiences in them and I’ve had some terrible ones. The best were nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in, and the worst… well, there was the one in Bucharest where we shared a dorm with six overweight older men, sleeping in their Y-fronts (a theme?) and the floors were wet with beer. I don’t think I’ve had an experience quite as bad as yours yet, though. Better luck finding a better hostel!
August 19th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
LMAO! The moment I saw the title I knew something wasn´t right. What an experience. If there is a hostel I can tell you that won´t happen, its called Hostal Argentina, next to Atocha station in Madrid. That could´ve been a brothel you were walking into for all you know. When in doubt, run the hell outta there!
Anthonys last blog post..Eu estou finalmetne no Brasil
August 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Very funny! I can’t believe they locked you out. We are going on our 3rd year of our open ended world tour and we have yet to try a hostel, although I think we have tried everything else.
We do Spain super cheaply and very luxuriously (ocean view, 3 or 4 bedrooms, great internet for free ) for peanuts by renting a villa in the off season. It is also great weather then in southern Spain and no tourists. ( There is a reason why even the whole government in Madrid leaves for July and August).
Off season, monthly rentals can be luxurious and super cheap. You might want to look into that next time along with weather reports. We spent less in southern Spain than friends did in the far east.
We spent over 46 days last year in Croatia around this time. I KNOW you are going to be loving it there if you can dodge the crowds. After Sept1, they really thin out, although Dubrovnic is over packed in August with Italians. If you can, do not miss Montenegro, Rovinj, and Plitvice park.
Love your writing. Carpe Diem!
Soultravelers3s last blog post..Viana do Castelo & Vigo
August 19th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Wow, I’ve heard some horror stories about hostels, and I have some myself, but this one definitely takes the cake.
Tanyas last blog post..We Need Snowboots and Sunscreen
August 24th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
This made me laugh and it brought back memories of an accommodation nightmare from about a year ago in Kazakhstan. We were stuck in a town after an awful border crossing. You know it’s a bad sign when the woman working the hotel desk asks, “How many hours do you need?” Then, she was completely in shock when we said the whole night. When she showed us the room, she softened up and assured us that she cleaned after each “client” and was giggly that we were her first American clients. We were so exhausted that we just stayed. We made good use of our ear plugs and sleep sacks that night!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Some great stories. This bad expereince will evolve into a great story in the years to come….
Mark Hs last blog post..Bacon Beer and Bishops (Bamberg, Germany)
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Wow! That is quite the horrible experience. Justin and I leave for our adventure on Sept. 30th and we were discussing heading to Croatia after my bro ties the knot in Italy.
Thanks for sharing the truth about Hostel Palacida (I can almost see the yellow piece of paper in my mind).
Unfortunately, I can relate (somewhat) with the feeling of being locked out of a hostel for the night. Except, Captain Conrad the owner of the Pirate Hostel heard my husband and I knocking on the door making lots of noise. He rescued us from your experience of being locked out for the night.
Feel free to read about our adventures at the Pirate Hostel and how super cheap our entire experience was: http://www.nomadbackpackers.com/2008/04/14/arrrrr-we-loved-our-time-in-st-augustine
Or see if we made it to Split yet. http://www.nomadbackpackers.com
Don’t worry we’ll tell your favorite Croatian fam you said “hi”!
Natalies last blog post..The Mosquito that Cost me $800!