Exeter · England
Globe Backpackers Exeter
Sketchy reports
6 reports · 5 recent reports · 105 text reviews scanned
Why this surfaced
Repeated, deduplicated traveler-review reports matched these incident categories:
- 6 reports
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Booking / payment / trust Review 21 report
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
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Review 1 Hostelworld
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Theft / access / security
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Full reviewThe dirtiest hostel I’ve ever stayed in. No locks on any of the doors, but hey, you get what you pay for
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Review 2 Google Maps
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Theft / access / security
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…Homeless men so sad and depressing I did not feel safe and by the time I realised just how bad it was the owner had took my money and disappeared and I was too scared to come out of the room as it was late when I got there I stayed awake all night with the light on and chair behind the door I could hear the men in the…
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Booking / payment / trust
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Full reviewAwful 😩biggest mistake made was not looking at the reviews for this place its advertised as a backpackers but it's a hostel for vulnerable mentally ill Homeless men so sad and depressing I did not feel safe and by the time I realised just how bad it was the owner had took my money and disappeared and I was too scared to come out of the room as it was late when I got there I stayed awake all night with the light on and chair behind the door I could hear the men in the other rooms and coming and going through the sound of the doors all night the local housing and council need to do something about this as this owner is profiting from them as these poor vulnerable ill people have no where else to go but it definitely not safe or suitable to call a backpackers misleading travellers into thinking it is one couldn't get out quick enough as soon as it turned daylight.😰
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Theft / access / security
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Review 3 Hostelworld
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Theft / access / security
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Full reviewThis is not a hostel for travelers. DO NOT STAY HERE. This hostel is used by the city to house homeless people, and there are no staff on site outside of the few reception hours to monitor behavior. We felt so unsafe, even with a private room, that we left in the night to find a hotel. The private room lock was not secure and would unlock itself. I normally travel solo, but this time I had my boyfriend with me, and it is still the most unsafe I have ever felt in a hostel.
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Review 4 Google Maps
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Theft / access / security
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewUnclean, unkempt, unloved, uncared for. The kitchen communal areas, bathrooms and showers were dirty, shower wouldn’t run hot. I was let in by someone who did’t know me (another guest). Therefore security isn’t good. It appeared that some of their guests are housed there rather than being homeless. Daytime drinkers in the shared areas. An unwelcoming that didn’t feel safe.
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Review 5 Hostelworld
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Theft / access / security
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Full reviewI could feel the mattress springs - uncomfortable. There was. droning sound coming through the wall of the bedroom - not conducive to rest. I was let in to the hostel by someone who didn’t recognise me - so that’s security blown. The hostel was dirty. A few of the white males behaved and looked like they had been put up there instead of being housed in social housing - made me feel unsafe. they were loud & obnoxious. I wouldn’t be able to recommend or speak well of the hostel it’s management.
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Theft / access / security
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Review 6 Google Maps
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Theft / access / security
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewWe booked all six beds in a six bed dorm, but when we arrived we found that there were seven beds. During the night another man came in with lots of things in shopping bags and disturbed us the whole night. In the morning there was no one there to speak to, so I emailed them, but I received no response. Even without this, the beds, showers and facilities are very old and cheap.
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Theft / access / security
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Vibe Analysis
Globe Backpackers Exeter is best framed as a cheap, central crash pad rather than a lively backpacker base. The location is the clearest upside: it sits close to Exeter city centre, the quay, shops, transport, and local sights, so it can work for one night when price and walking distance matter more than comfort. The building is old, worn, and inconsistent. A few private rooms can be spacious or comfortable, beds can be fine, and staff such as Paul are often friendly at check-in. There may be warm showers, towels, a kitchen, a TV room, books, DVDs, a dining area, Wi-Fi, and laundry help, but the condition of shared facilities is a serious gamble. This is not a strong pick for a classic social hostel trip. The atmosphere can feel flat, tense, or unsafe, with long-term residents, drunk or high behaviour, noise at night, and limited staffing outside reception hours. Cleanliness is the main problem: dirty kitchens, toilets, showers, carpets, bedding, smells, mould, cigarette smoke, missing soap, and run-down fixtures are recurring issues.
Signals to check
- Cleanliness can be poor, especially in kitchens, toilets, showers, carpets, and bedding.
- Security and overnight staffing may be weak; solo women may want a different option.
- Late check-in is risky; the stated check-in window can be strict.
- The social scene is limited and may skew toward long-term residents rather than backpackers.
- Rooms facing the road or near other rooms can be noisy, with thin walls and disturbed sleep.