Sketchy reports
26 reports · 7 recent reports · 1502 text reviews scanned
Why this surfaced
Repeated, deduplicated traveler-review reports matched these incident categories:
- 6 reports
- 3 reports
- 13 reports
- 17 reports
- 2 reports
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 Booking.com
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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 reviewNothing. Very rude staff and very run down worst hostel I’ve stayed in. Everything, had to go next door 3 times to try and gain access to hostel as staff kept leaving me waiting took about 35 minutes for them to finally open door after going in 4 times and told to go wait and someone would come. Then got told I was impatient. Multiple toilets and showers out of order. Dirty sheets and mattresses, room clearly not been cleaned. Also multiple areas looking like a building site with no access tape, Would not recommended staying here at all
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Theft / access / security
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Review 2 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
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here’s where you find out has got charged extra £2 for paying by card on top of deposit.
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Full reviewEasy check in They charge an extra £2 for card transaction. They don’t make aware that there is a DEPOSIT to be paid in the place; here’s where you find out has got charged extra £2 for paying by card on top of deposit. Would mind if been made aware before hand
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 3 Booking.com
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Theft / access / security
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Given that THEFT BY STAFF (see below) is taking place at this location, it makes no sense to add anything here.
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewGiven that THEFT BY STAFF (see below) is taking place at this location, it makes no sense to add anything here. And the only positive thing would be the hostel location, but all the hostels are located in this area. So there is nothing good to say about this accommodation THEFT BY STAFF AT THIS HOSTEL. DO NOT BOOK!! They will ask for a deposit *in cash* when you check in (avoiding credit card so you cant contest them - they charge a fee if you want to leave it via credit card). They use any excuse they can find to steal your deposit. I checked out at 10:20 a.m. and they said it was a late check out and refused to return the deposit. The ability to discuss the matter with them is limited as the receptionists at the hostel speak very little English. if you book this hostel anyways, I suggest you do not give them the key back until they agree to return your complete deposit. It is your only leverage. BUT EVEN BETTER: DO NOT BOOK!
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Theft / access / security
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Review 4 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewI'm an international student. I didn’t get much time to search for my accommodation so I just thought about a short-time stay at that hostel in a 5-bed dorm. I had booked for 22 days, which is one of the biggest mistakes of my life. I thought it would be good for me and then I’d just find a permanent room. At the beginning, I informed them that I might be a little late because of my flight timing. But when I arrived, a guy with a beard at the reception refused my check-in at first, then I had to request him because I had nowhere to go as I’m new to this place. Then he agreed to let me in, with anger on his face. I had an extra luggage so they charged me £5 per day. Okay, if this is their policy, I just agreed. I did request, as I’m staying there for a long time, if they could do me some honor like reduce some extra charges for me. But they directly refused. Okay, then I just paid the deposit. He said it would be refunded on the check-out day. So I started to live there, but their service was very poor. They don’t care about my room service, like changing the bedsheets. They say they do that once a week but actually it took 9 or even 10 days, and they only changed it after I spoke to them—not willingly. In the meantime, I had to pay for my luggage for 10 days, £50 just for nothing. Then I had moved it to one of my friend’s houses. At the end of my stay, the day I was supposed to check out, I was a little late (2 hours) because I was in the university and had to come through the bus—that’s why. But they didn’t fckn care. That ba***rd beard guy, he was always rude to me, he acted like he’s doing me a favor giving me a free stay. No, you m***fckr, I did pay for my living, teri ma ka... So they took my deposit for being a little late. I was there for 22 days, they could at least have done me that favor. That bloody Indian c*nt. At the end it was a horrible experience there. I don’t recommend this shit.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 5 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
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Its scam its dirty the oner ask for 20 piunds deposit after ieep the money.
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Full reviewIts scam its dirty the oner ask for 20 piunds deposit after ieep the money. U dont recomand for nobody this hotel No its no good
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 6 Booking.com
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Violence / coercion / drugging
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Nothing My son was in a room with 4 foreigners, probably illegal, 1 was wanking, the others stole his bag, his money, his phone and bank card which they used and they had a big knife.
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Theft / access / security
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Nothing My son was in a room with 4 foreigners, probably illegal, 1 was wanking, the others stole his bag, his money, his phone and bank card which they used and they had a big knife.
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Full reviewNothing My son was in a room with 4 foreigners, probably illegal, 1 was wanking, the others stole his bag, his money, his phone and bank card which they used and they had a big knife. Don't stay here.
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Violence / coercion / drugging
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Review 7 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
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The principle of this is they are just trying to extort easy money out of you by making up this fee - this fee was not made clear until I was at the front desk.
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Full reviewThe staff were not interested in an form of a positive customer experience. I was a transaction to them. Was all about trying to make money out of me and others who stay there. Barely a smile or any form of emotion. I realised they owned and ran the restaurant next door, maybe they are better at running a restaurant than a hostel. Oddly, they asked for a £20 damage fee, but of course it has to be cash. If you don't have cash - its 2025, cash is not that common anymore - so they charge you a £2 fee = £22. The principle of this is they are just trying to extort easy money out of you by making up this fee - this fee was not made clear until I was at the front desk. (BTW its £5 to leave your bag in their storage - having stayed in many hotels and hostels all over the world, 99% kindly do this for free). To finish, they didn't even check my room to see if I'd damaged anything, they just refunded the £20, even though the bathroom tap was damaged. Avoid, there's something better around the corner.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 8 Booking.com
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Theft / access / security
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They through me out on a panic attack and also stole my £20 deposit.
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewThey through me out on a panic attack and also stole my £20 deposit. The exact above.
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Theft / access / security
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Review 9 Booking.com
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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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Booking / payment / trust
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I didn't use the drawer so never checked it and told the man I honestly never had those cans and to return my deposit which he refused.
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Full reviewThe location...only! Apart form being taken for a really disgusting con trick of taking my £20 deposit by putting 4 cans of JD & coke in drawer saying they're mine knowing I had to leave or miss my plane at 5am. On arrival at 5pm there was no-one at reception and after 10 mins someone finally arrived from their empty restaurant next door. After a unwelcoming greeting I went to my dorm put my bag there and went for something to eat and spend some time exploring my surrounding area watching a firework display and a pint of Guinness in the Shakespeare opposite. I was up and at reception with 15 mins until the airport bus and when checking out he checked my room saying said cans were in the drawer next to my bed therefore they were mine. I didn't use the drawer so never checked it and told the man I honestly never had those cans and to return my deposit which he refused. They were NOT MINE! On passing there restaurant 3 or 4 times I noticed they barely had any customers and seemed desperate to take an extra £20 from me knowing I had to leave or miss my plane.
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Theft / access / security
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Review 10 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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Boundary violations / harassment
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Violence / coercion / drugging
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Theft / access / security
Relevant passage
Someone in the dormitory went through my bag when I was out and stole my phone charger and some loose change.
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Full reviewLocation was ideal - easy walking distance from everything I needed for the night. The facilities were good value for money, and my deposit was returned to me when I checked out. Received what I expected for the night. Someone in the dormitory went through my bag when I was out and stole my phone charger and some loose change. Not much you can do about that, that's why I didn't leave anything of real value in it, but it does put a damper on the stay when you realise your stuff has been taken.
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 11 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewIt wasn’t clear that a £20 cash deposit was required. Staff refused to hold my key in reception while I left the hostel.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 12 Booking.com
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Theft / access / security
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The room key had apparently been stolen or lost, and the room was a little uncomfortably warm, but I'm putting that down to over a dozen people sharing in Summer too
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Full reviewGreat location merely a short walk from the O2 Academy for the concert I was attending, helpful staff at reception and very clean / well kept. The room key had apparently been stolen or lost, and the room was a little uncomfortably warm, but I'm putting that down to over a dozen people sharing in Summer too
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Theft / access / security
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Review 13 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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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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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewGood location They are scammers. I booked two rooms and one friend left an unopened drink in a draw. The staff then forced every member of the room to lose their £20 deposit. They took £80 from them. Only £20 should have been taken from the one person. They are money grabbers and they know it as they proceeded to line up in a big group and tell us we cannot have our money back.
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Theft / access / security
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Review 14 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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Boundary violations / harassment
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Violence / coercion / drugging
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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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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Unauthorized room / sleeping-area access
Relevant passage
even said they can come into our room any time they want at night if they want to check on us
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Full reviewleaving the place at 3 am was the best part of our stay. This was the worst hostel I have been to in 15 years of travelling. The staff was horrible, rude and very aggressive (even said they can come into our room any time they want at night if they want to check on us). They offer no facilities whatsoever apart from toilets and showers (mixed) and don't even have hand driers or paper napkins in the bathroom. They take a £20 deposit for no reason and apparently charge people to keep the luggage. The room was something in between a psychiatric hospital an a refugee centre. Drunk man came back in the middle of the night, was obviously let in and helped upstairs (through the maze that is the hostel), he touched people's beds at night, stunk up the place and even opened the fire exit setting of the alarm at 2am. The windows were small and dirty, no ventilation in any of the rooms nor corridors and fire exit partially blocked by beds randomly squished in every corner of the room. NOT A SAFE PLACE. I never leave reviews but this time it's mandatory. Booking should not allow them to stay on the platform (but I guess the OBVIOUS fake reviews raise the overall score). DO NOT GO. Spend just a little bit more and go somewhere safe and comfortable.
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 15 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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Boundary violations / harassment
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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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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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Unauthorized room / sleeping-area access
Relevant passage
A member of the hostel team also opened our room door during the night to check again if there was extra people in the room which is totally unacceptable and an invasion of privacy.
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Full reviewClean toilets and showers A friend came to the room whilst we got ready, the management then held our £82 (£2 transaction fee!) as it was deemed as a 5th person staying. Tried to tell them it was just a visitor but they didn’t listen just wanted the money. A member of the hostel team also opened our room door during the night to check again if there was extra people in the room which is totally unacceptable and an invasion of privacy. The room was basic, the bed sheet was dirty and stains. Asked for an extra pillow twice to then be told as they were at maximum occupancy they had no spare pillows. Booking.com were still allowing bookings so it was not at maximum occupancy just the management couldn’t be bothered to get one.
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 16 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewClean room and beddings They took my deposit of £22 and were to give me 20…… it’s now 5 days and it has not yet reflected.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 17 Booking.com
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Boundary violations / harassment
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewCentral location Very strange arrangement where need to buzz the door then wait at a stairs to speak to reception before coming in and out. As a solo female traveller I did not feel comfortable with this level of interrogation and the men on the desk tower above at the top of a set of stairs asking questions about contents of my bag etc before allowing you to continue through strange corridors to your room. As a solo female traveller staying overnight for work trip, I did not feel at all comfortable and very little sleep was had. Very noisy room with buses and car noise right at your head all throughout the evening. Not very clean, everything just appeared to be wiped over very lightly but not actually hygienically cleaned especially the shower
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 18 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewI wasn’t even allowed to stay, rude, threatening staff. I was Left very upset by the encounter. Rude staff who was not inclusive to my disability needs. Would not let me stay as I had to charge in order to pay. Once paid was told I could not stay, despite me saying I could both stay and had a disability’s I had to sleep in my car. Have I been charged for the stay?
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 19 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
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No breakfast One of the staff members tried to scam me into paying twice, facilities smelled like urine, the restaurant underneath was the worst curry I've ever had.
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Full reviewNo breakfast One of the staff members tried to scam me into paying twice, facilities smelled like urine, the restaurant underneath was the worst curry I've ever had.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 20 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewZero. Absolutely nothing. Was glad to step back out onto the street. I was refused a one night stay in this place, as I had no photo ID on me. Booking was accepted, one night, £40, pre-booked with booking.com On arrival at the hostel, first red flag was a large spiders web like smashed glass panel in the front door. Buzzed in, you walk into the hall area, and the smell of stale air hits you. The grim low level lighting and grimy flooring add to the scenario of being booked into some sort of holding area / detention centre. A few steps up take you to the mezzanine and an office area, 1W lighting in here as well. These steps / flooring are dirty and have not been washed for years. It was eerily quiet. By now, the smell and grime will be starting to hit home, that stale air, at least a year old, will be in your clothing, hair and backpack. After establishing that I did have a booking to the receptionist, who seemed confused, I was asked for photo ID. I had bank cards, but no, photo required. Receptionist explained it was part of the booking conditions. Fair enough, but then said if I " cancelled the booking " he would take me as a " walk in " guest for £40. Obviously the hostel would then be paid twice. Receptionist made a few calls, but stood firm, I needed to cancel. Which I would not do. There was no negotiation on offer here. There is a similar story on Tripadvisor for this place. Speaking with booking.com ( Singapore ), later that day, I was told that the photo ID was mandatory and there was nothing they could do. Communication difficult with the Singapore staff. I then received a couple of emails from booking.com , one stated there was a " partial booking " query and one stating I was a " no show ". I never cancelled the booking at any stage. Querying this, booking.com, told me that the hostel said that I was lying ! !
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 21 Booking.com
Automated category matches
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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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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewThe beds are comfortable Hidden charges They dont let you your luggage in room they take extra Hidden charges for taking bag To safe place 5 pound each bag i gave 20 pounds for 2 bags in 2 days that was unexpected
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Theft / access / security
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Review 22 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
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The staff were okay, but weren't the best at communicating, and as I say charged me again.
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Full reviewThe bedrooms were clean and tidy, the bedding was clean. I got charged twice, once by booking.com through Google pay and once by the harbourside hotel when I arrived, so I've paid £56 twice. Which is ridiculous. The staff were okay, but weren't the best at communicating, and as I say charged me again. The toilets were a little dirty and one of the doors was broken, nearly trapping me inside the toilet 🤷🤦.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 23 Booking.com
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Booking / payment / trust
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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Full reviewScammers, turned me away at the door saying there wasn't room but happily kept my money. Dodgy establishment, I suspect more is going on than meets the eye. I recommend an inspection is carried out.
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Booking / payment / trust
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Review 24 Booking.com
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Boundary violations / harassment
No concrete supporting passage was automatically identified for this match. Check the full review before relying on it.
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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 reviewOnly liked the location Didn't like anything. Dirty. Felt unsafe/room door didn't lock. Facilities horrendous. Room size awful + tiny for 4 beds. Male staff didn't knock before entering female dorm. Mixed bathrooms/sick all over toilet/showers + sinks filthy/no space in room to move/shower cubicle was normal size with 3 walls + a door/no hand soap/rubbish + dust under bed/no locker/filling cabinet for belongings/drawer had panty liner backings in it/found someone in my bed + had to find me another bed/language barrier (Indian owners)/no private area to dress/underwear on heater in bathroom/no privacy anywhere. Horrendous experience. Felt like an all male hostel/men standing outside smoking felt intimidating.
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 25 Booking.com
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Boundary violations / harassment
Relevant passage
Lastly, talking about unprofessional, one of the staff members used my name from check in and stalked me on multiple social media platforms and messaged me.
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Full reviewThe property was in a great location. Firstly, the showers and bathrooms were disgusting. Seemed like they weren’t cleaned daily, and needed a good scrub. The showers had so much mould. The bedroom I stayed in, a 4 persons woman dorm had one window that opened half an inch, which made the room very stuffy, limiting fresh air. When I got into the room, there was a stench - which was not sufficiently aired due to the limited opening of the window. Check in was 2pm. I arrived at 5:30pm to cleaners in the room making the bed. Check out is 10am. It is expected that the room is made up and ready for check in at 2pm. There is enough time - 4 hours to achieve that. I found it extremely unprofessional. Lastly, talking about unprofessional, one of the staff members used my name from check in and stalked me on multiple social media platforms and messaged me. This is a total misuse of private information, inappropriate, disgusting and creepy. He then proceeded to say it’s a marketing strategy which I find hard to believe. You can ask people to leave a review when checking out, not using personal information to stalk on social media. It does not create a safe environment, especially when the hostel has a copy of official identity documentation!! I would not recommend this hostel due to the disgusting bathrooms and staff, especially as a solo young female traveller. I feel completely violated from this misconduct.
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Boundary violations / harassment
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Review 26 Booking.com
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Theft / access / security
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Someone stole my blanket
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Full reviewSomeone stole my blanket
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Theft / access / security
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Incentivized-review check pending
needs more comparable review data