Zurich · Switzerland
Oldtown Hostel Otter
Bed bug reports
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Possible Booking.com
Das Bett war etwas hart über die Zeit. Das Hostel könnte Regeln zum späten Check-in erlassen. Sehr! Laut! über Stunden! schnarchende Gäste die sehr spät ankommen und nicht nur rascheln sondern auch Holzschrank-Türen und Vorhängeschlösser schließen und öffnen. Andere, sehr spät kommende Gäste die mit Taschenlampen nach Bettwanzen suchen und dich dabei mehrfach anleuchten. Bitte: wer neu eincheckt mit lauten Koffern und sein Bett erst beziehen muss, der komme doch vor 22 Uhr.
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Confirmed Booking.com
Bed is not really clean, be careful of bed bugs, very bad!!!
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Confirmed Hostelworld
I got bed bugs after staying at this hostel. The cleaners came into our rooms during our stay to lightly clean the grounds and the bathrooms that weren’t in our rooms. The beds clearly were not cleaned well after each stay. Being that this hostel cost $70 a night, I’m extremely disappointed.
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Confirmed Hostelworld
I was bit by bedbugs for 4 nights stays. Very noisy at night due to the restaurant bars downstairs and around.
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Confirmed Google Maps
There's lots of mixed reviews here primarily because this hostel is a mixed bag. It best be described as a party hostel in the loudest part of town. The place was "cleaned" daily at nearly exactly 10AM (whether or not you were awake) and overall service was ok, they are maintaining what they have but it's not great. For reference, I will describe what is offered. When reception is closed you may self check-in with a machine at the door using a code that was emailed to you, when entering you're met with a dark dingy concrete stairwell circling up that for some reason always smelled like cigarettes. Going higher you'll hear an echo and shouting from various rooms with their doors open reverberating in the concrete stairwell. The entire place is dimly lit with dark walls and limited lighting. Once you get to your floor you'll smell the bathroom (both sewage and shower smells), and find the room well marked. The rooms was fine. Wooden luggage lockers, outlets galore, vanity sink, mini-fridge, big windows that let in all the light from the neighboring building, and wall mounted fans. You'll immediately hear the incredible amount of street noise from not only the bars and clubs, but the residence across the street that was throwing a wild party till about 4AM. The beds have a pad that isn't cleaned or washed, but you are given a zip up sheet that incases the mattress. No one used it as intended, preferring it as a blanket. This was probably the loudest hostel I've ever stayed in, all coming from outside. The showers aren't cleaned, there's all sorts of fluids on the walls that was there the entire stay. The baskets and shelves are full of other people's stuff leaving no room for any of your personal items. The "cleaners" for the room simply come in to take out the trash and remove the old sheets and place folded clean sheets on the new bed. Maybe sweep as well if needed. Nothing else is wiped down or cleaned up. I stayed for several days and it was far from my worst hostel experience, it was acceptable. No bed bugs, fans, mini-fridge, good people in the room, big storage lockers. Too bad they're the only hostel near the center as I'd prefer a different place if given the choice.
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Confirmed Google Maps
No bedbugs 😂 Clean, nice good showers. Massive lockers to keep your luggage. Plenty of amazing people come and go. Great location. Friendly and interesting staff. Owner is a really cool easy going dude who owns a music label. I stayed 2 weeks and was sad to leave. Recommend 100%
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Confirmed Google Maps
great location, in the old town! free breakfast and coffee/tea....there seems to be bedbugs there unfortunately as I had loads of bites the next day! Nice bar downstairs where the locals go! Nice cocktails!
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Confirmed Google Maps
Careful !!! they remove negative comments, I published 2 years ago about insects/bedbug infestation of this hotel - and now it's gone. Poor job google, no trust to reviews at all !!!
HostelPunk native reviews
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Vibe Analysis
Oldtown Hostel Otter is a central Zurich crash pad with real social voltage: old town outside, a pub downstairs, and the lake, trams, churches, bars, shops, and food all close enough to handle on foot. It works best for travelers who want location and a bit of meet-people energy more than polished comfort. The practical stuff is better than the building first suggests. Free basic breakfast usually means toast, cereal, coffee, and tea. Towels may be included, luggage storage is available around check-in and checkout, and the lockers can be genuinely useful: large, lockable, sometimes with outlets, and big enough for serious backpack cargo. Rooms are simple and can feel packed, warm, and dated. Bed curtains, sinks, mini fridges, or microwaves appear in some rooms, but the setup changes by room and floor. Staff can be friendly and helpful, though service is uneven when problems need fixing fast. Book it for a cheap-by-Zurich base in the old town, a downstairs bar, and basic hostel mechanics. Do not book it expecting a sleek modern dorm, a restful night, or spa-level bathrooms.
Signals to check
- Rooms can be cramped, hot, and noisy, especially near the pub or street.
- Beds can be shaky, loud, thin, or worn, and you may need to make and strip your own bed.
- Bathrooms are limited on each floor and cleanliness can be inconsistent, with drain smells appearing at times.
- The kitchen is basic, with limited cooking gear and little space for food prep or eating.
- Security and late-night support have been uneven in serious situations, including key-card and room-access problems.