Almaty · Kazakhstan
Almaty Backpackers
Sketchy reports
10 reports 9 recent reports 360 text reviews scanned
Why this surfaced
Repeated, deduplicated traveler-review reports matched these incident categories:
One report can match more than one category. Counts describe review reports, not independently verified incidents.
These are reports in traveler reviews, not independently verified incidents. Duplicate review text and strong repeat-reviewer identities count once.
Category matches are automated. Relevant passages are exact review quotes selected from concrete incident wording, not hidden model rationales. If none appears, treat the match as suspect and check the full review.
Evidence reviews
Select a category to view evidence quotes.
-
-
your stuff might get stolen.
Show full review
Full reviewGood: Close to the attractions and public transportation. Bad: Guests don't follow the rules, have gross hygiene, and leave rubbish everywhere. Only three toilets. Don't trust the other guests or the lockers--your stuff might get stolen.
-
-
-
4 people in our dorm were robbed. Powerbank and speaker were stolen off one of my mates. 1500 tenge stolen off me and 10,000 tenge stolen off another guy in our dorm.
-
4 people in our dorm were robbed. Powerbank and speaker were stolen off one of my mates. 1500 tenge stolen off me and 10,000 tenge stolen off another guy in our dorm.
-
4 people in our dorm were robbed. Powerbank and speaker were stolen off one of my mates. 1500 tenge stolen off me and 10,000 tenge stolen off another guy in our dorm.
Show full review
Full reviewWouldn’t recommend, staff is terrible. 4 people in our dorm were robbed. Powerbank and speaker were stolen off one of my mates. 1500 tenge stolen off me and 10,000 tenge stolen off another guy in our dorm. When bringing this up to the host he would outright call us liars and threaten to call the police on us. They also tried to overcharge a girl into paying for an extra night that she wasn’t staying for and when she refused he hid her bag. All of this within 2 days.
-
-
-
Sold me a bed, took my money, then as I unpacked they told me they couldn't host me anymore and told me they had to give to bed to someone else.
Show full review
Full reviewSold me a bed, took my money, then as I unpacked they told me they couldn't host me anymore and told me they had to give to bed to someone else.
-
-
-
I extended paid cash for 4nights and got kicked out on 3rd night the same day k lost my money and later i found out it was the receptionist took my money
Show full review
Full reviewI stayed here it was good for social and then I extended paid cash for 4nights and got kicked out on 3rd night the same day k lost my money and later i found out it was the receptionist took my money it wasnt nice experience
-
-
-
they cancelled my booking claiming a Hostelworld error and overbooking.
Show full review
Full reviewI had this place booked for a while and 2 days before my arrival, they cancelled my booking claiming a Hostelworld error and overbooking. However, they conveniently: 1: marked the cancellation as MY CHOICE (it absolutely was not). 2: did the cancellation about 10 hours after the free cancellation window ended. Thus I have lost my deposit and had to find a last minute booking elsewhere. Now I understand that there are technical issues sometimes, but to steal a deposit (when you’re the party that’s backing out of the agreement) is absolutely unacceptable.
-
-
-
Had almost brand new pair of hiking shoes stolen (not hostels fault but really sucked) and staff did not care.
-
Reserved thru booking (3-4 different times) and staff cancelled all the stays so we still had to pay them booking fee and they just pocket that money.
Show full review
Full reviewStaff is useless, lazy and rude. Reserved thru booking (3-4 different times) and staff cancelled all the stays so we still had to pay them booking fee and they just pocket that money. unprofessional and illegal. Don’t let them have you cancel it and confront them if they cancel it on you. Had almost brand new pair of hiking shoes stolen (not hostels fault but really sucked) and staff did not care. Also food stolen from common kitchen. Had to make up own bed because staff is too lazy. Had breakfast thrown out by terrible cleaning lady and she lied about why she did it. My friend was compensated but they did nothing for me. 3 toilets and showers for maybe 30 people. All disgusting and not cleaned properly (watched terrible cleaning lady do lazy job) Christine is cool and did a good job. Overall, great place to meet people and plan trips but terrible for everything else. Budget hostel so some of this is expected & normal but stealing money from you and booking is wild. Everything added up to a bad experience. Stay at evergreen or wanderlust
-
-
-
letting anyone use it as late as 10:30pm at night, with a staff member themselves having a 30 minute shower at 11pm.
-
letting anyone use it as late as 10:30pm at night, with a staff member themselves having a 30 minute shower at 11pm.
-
I paid extra for a room with private ensuite and the staff treated it as communal, leading guests into the room and letting anyone use it as late as 10:30pm at night, with a staff member themselves having a 30 minute shower at 11pm.
Show full review
Full reviewOnly one working communal shower. I paid extra for a room with private ensuite and the staff treated it as communal, leading guests into the room and letting anyone use it as late as 10:30pm at night, with a staff member themselves having a 30 minute shower at 11pm. When confronted they laughed about it. The same staff member also admitted cancelling English and German people’s Hostel World bookings after payment, as they “always leave bad reviews”. Shady, disingenuous, and unprofessional.
-
-
-
My bed was stolen several times throughout my stay
Show full review
Full reviewNot enough showers and the hostel regularly overbooks and has to kick people out after taking their money. My bed was stolen several times throughout my stay
-
-
-
Lockers didn’t have keys and staff came into dorms randomly in the night to ask questions which was odd.
Show full review
Full reviewMost social hostel in Central Asia. Has kitchen, lounge, courtyard, laundry, and most things you need. Lockers didn’t have keys and staff came into dorms randomly in the night to ask questions which was odd. Location isn’t that close to the centre but Yandex makes it easy. Would still recommend staying here overall
-
-
-
someone stole my bag of potato chips
Show full review
Full reviewThe staff was rarely available or helpful when they were available. The water heater was not working one day and the electricity went out another day. The communal kitchen was chaotic and someone stole my bag of potato chips
-
Vibe Analysis
The courtyard is the main event at Almaty Backpackers: a patio and long table where backpackers gather, grab beer from the shop next door, trade hiking plans, and let the night get pleasantly nonlinear. It turns a fairly basic house hostel into one of Almaty’s easiest places to find day-trip partners, drinking buddies, and a temporary crew for Kazakhstan chaos. The hostel has a homely, social setup with a lounge, kitchen, outside space, laundry, and a nearby metro around a 10-minute walk away. Staff energy can be a big part of the stay, especially around Aisultan, Valentin, Arai, Rufina, and other team members who help with city tips, tours, extensions, and general logistics. Trips to Kolsai, Kaindy, Charyn Canyon, lakes, hikes, and even oddball nights out may be part of the ecosystem. This is more social basecamp than polished boutique pod-world. Dorms can be simple, beds may be creaky or lacking curtains, and the bathrooms are a real bottleneck. Cleanliness and staff helpfulness seem to swing by day, so the best fit is a solo backpacker who values atmosphere, easy connections, kitchen access, and backyard momentum more than immaculate facilities.
Signals to check
- Too few showers and toilets can mean queues, wet floors, toilet paper gaps, and cramped mornings.
- Bookings, bed assignments, extensions, and room moves can get chaotic.
- Cleanliness is inconsistent, especially in bathrooms and the kitchen.
- Dorm privacy is limited: curtains, lockers, sockets, and air conditioning are not reliable across all rooms.
- The location is quiet and workable by metro, bus, or Yandex, but not ideal for every central sight or hiking departure.
- Card payments, reception hours, gate access, and check-in details may need extra patience.