The Espy Hostel

Great location, right on the front and near the lagoon and many shops, bars and places to eat. Spoilt for choice. Not far from the train station and boats too. The room was fairly quiet considering this too. There was a pool on site which I hadn't expected. The vending machine and washer/dryer took contactless payment. Great communication from the hotel. The room was really hot when I arrived, and I couldn't change the aircon setting as it was too high up to reach, but a message on the app meant it was fixed very quickly. The keyless entry was a brilliant idea! It was so nice not having to remember to take a key whenever I went to the bathroom/kitchen.

My 6 bed dorm was disgusting and an absolute mess. I was the only one not staying long term and there was literally no room for me to put my things. There was stuff everywhere all over the floor, hanging from the pipes on the ceiling; it was just chaos. The room also smelt really unclean and the floor was littered with hair and other debris and clearly hadnt been cleaned for months (unsurprising as this would be an impossible task with the amount of clutter in the room!) The beds also are not very comfortable; very old and creaky and mattresses not great. The pillow was absolutely shocking, flat, lumpy and mangled and desperately needs replacing. I was also only provided with a very very thin sheet, however the other guests in my room seemed to all have blankets and 2 much thicker pillows than the single one I was provided. Although the self check in process was straight forward, I dont think I saw a member of staff the entire time I was there; atleast not one that was identifiable and I was there for a week. There were signs up saying they are contactable via phone but this seemed to be for emergencies only and it didnt feel right to call about matters they might deem trivial. Most guests are long term so not the most social place as its hard to integrate if youre by yourself, but this isnt the hostels fault of course. Shared facilities (kitchen and bathroom) were okay cleanliness wise, although the bathrooms seem a bit run down. There are lots of signs up saying there are fines for not cleaning dishes and tidying up after yourself in the kitchen yet every morning and evening I used the kitchen I was greeted with a mess on the benches and in the sink so it seems no one is enforcing this. The bathroom also needs some sort of fly wire and/or extractor fan. You currently have to choose between a steamy room or opening the window and letting in mosquitoes!!