Hostelworld Reviews 

21,814
TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

4.5

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 1,038 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the friendly and helpful staff, who contribute to a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. The excellent central location is frequently highlighted, making it easy for people to access attractions, dining, and public transport. Many people appreciate the clean, well-maintained facilities, including fully equipped kitchens and comfortable rooms with good amenities. However, some people were dissatisfied with the booking process, experiencing situations where their reservations were not honored upon arrival or they were turned away. Additionally, a few customers reported a lack of communication or support when issues arose with their bookings, feeling ignored or unable to get help.

What people talk about most

Staff

Clients share positive opinions on staff, consistently describing them as extremely friendly, helpful, and... See more

Location

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of location, frequently praising its centrality and convenience for... See more

Booking process

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with the booking process, with many finding it easy and... See more

User experience

Customers had positive experiences with the user experience, often describing it as wonderful, easy to use,... See more

Facilities

People report positive experiences with facilities, often highlighting their cleanliness and modern... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Hostel was very clean, quiet, and located right in the city center. I was able to check in early without paying any extra fee. After checking out, I left my luggage in the baggage room and came ba... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Honestly extremely friendly staff especially Iven 🔑 and Elief ☕️ Nihad as well was awesome, he reacted fast to fix the AC and supported in everything we wanted

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I stay at the Downtown hostel on Burnaby every time I stop into Vancouver. It's in the heart of Vancouver and easy to get to from the airport. The accommodation is clean, staff are friendly and kitche... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Exceeded expectations. Great central location on a quiet street, but with city center, parks, attractions, many dining and shopping options within a few blocks’ walking distance Beautiful clean... See more


Company details

  1. Hotel

Information provided by various external sources

Meet the World


Contact info

4.5

Excellent

TrustScore 4.5 out of 5

22K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 99% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 48 hours

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4.5

All reviews

(21,814)

1,252 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Looks like a great place and booking…

Looks like a great place and booking was very easy. Good information about the hostel

May 9, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for your review, Rose! 😊 We’re glad to hear that booking was very easy and that you found the information about the hostel clear and helpful. We hope everything lives up to your expectations and wish you a great stay and happy travels!

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

So far l enjoyed using the app

So far l enjoyed using the app
It helped me to found a great hostel!!

April 30, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for your review, Stefania! 😊 We’re so happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying the app and that it helped you find a great hostel. That’s exactly what we aim to do! Thanks for sharing your experience, and we hope to keep making your travel planning easy and enjoyable. 🌍✨

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Location

Booking process

May 10, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for your review, Carmen! We’re glad to hear that you found the booking process easy and appreciated the location. Thanks for sharing your experience — we hope to help you with many more smooth and enjoyable bookings in the future! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very attractive historical building

Very attractive historical building. Friendly service. Plenty of amenities. Very clean. And good value.

May 7, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for your kind review, Chris! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the charm of the historic building, along with the friendly service, great amenities, and cleanliness. It’s wonderful to know you felt it offered good value as well. We really appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back again soon! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best budget-friendly backpackers hostel…

Best budget-friendly backpackers hostel in Varkala. As a female traveller, I thoroughly enjoyed the vibe and felt very safe here. It is located near the North Cliff, so all the attractions are within walking distance. The dorms are very neat, and the washrooms are well maintained. Their common hall and the wide frontage filled with mango trees give a complete Kerala vibe.
Thanks to Sree and Vivek for hosting me.

May 7, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Sneha! We’re thrilled to hear that you felt safe, comfortable, and at home during your stay — especially as a solo female traveller. It’s great to know you enjoyed the vibe, the clean dorms and washrooms, and our location near North Cliff with everything within walking distance.

We’re delighted you loved the common spaces and the mango‑tree frontage bringing in those true Kerala vibes! A big thank you as well for mentioning Sree and Vivek — they’ll be so happy to know they helped make your stay special. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Varkala again soon. 😊🌴

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It is making this easy

It is making this easy. I hope it works well.

May 8, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for your review, Gary! We’re glad to hear that things feel easy so far. We hope everything continues to work smoothly for you, and we’re always here if you need any help along the way. Thanks for choosing us! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Up until now the experiences have been…

Up until now the experiences have been excellent, the environments are beautiful, the people are kind and the locations are wonderful for visiting and moving around freely, thank you

April 1, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your kind words, Rosaria! We’re delighted to hear that your experiences so far have been excellent and that you’ve enjoyed the beautiful environments, welcoming people, and convenient locations. Knowing that our stays have helped you explore freely really means a lot to us. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope many more wonderful experiences are ahead! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This is a beautiful relaxed hostel in the middle of nature

This is a beautiful relaxed hostel in the middle of nature. The stuff is super friendly and the food is good! Every day a lot of great activities are offered like morning yoga, breath work sessions or cacao ceremonies. Moreover there is pizza night twice a week with a great fire show. The place is based on a permaculture farm and the freshly cooked food comes from the farm. The equipment is basic with compost toilets but this is what makes
your experience different. So if you look for something special and would like to feel like living in the jungle this is your place!

May 5, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your beautiful review, Yasmin! We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the unique experience of being surrounded by nature. It’s wonderful to know that the friendliness of the team, the farm‑fresh food, and the daily activities like yoga, breathwork, and cacao ceremonies made your stay so special — and we’re glad you loved pizza night and the fire show too!

We really appreciate you highlighting the permaculture values and the simple facilities that make the experience truly different. Thank you for recommending us to travelers looking for something special and jungle‑like. We’d love to welcome you back again one day! 🌿✨

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgraceful treatment by Hostelworld

Booked a hostel through Hostelworld, turned up and waited an hour to check-in only to be turned away as it ‘wasn’t really open’ (their words). No food available, no WiFi and room not in a fit state. Agreed with the hostel a full refund would be given but despite many communications, that hasn’t appeared. Hostelworld has not replied to any communications except to acknowledge receipt of emails. I’m over £200 down. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

May 1, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re truly sorry for the frustration this situation has caused and for the delay in getting back to you on your case.

Unfortunately, we experienced a backlog of enquiries, which impacted our response times — we sincerely apologise for this. That said, we want to reassure you that we have responded to your case today and are now actively working to resolve the issue for you.

We fully understand how upsetting it must have been to arrive at the property and be unable to check in, especially after the refund was agreed with the hostel. This is not the experience we want for any of our customers, and we’re very sorry that you’ve been left out of pocket in the meantime.

Thank you for your patience on this.

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was amazing and magical

It was amazing and magical. Thank you so much for everything—especially to the hostel staff, who were incredibly helpful, gave us a warm welcome, and were always there to offer advice!

May 8, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Rus! We’re thrilled to hear that your stay felt amazing and magical. A huge thank you from us as well to our hostel team — they’ll be delighted to know their warm welcome, helpfulness, and local advice made such a positive impact. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you back again for another memorable stay! ✨😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great location in the heart of Hanoi’s…

Great location in the heart of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, perfect for exploring the city on foot. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the rooms are clean and comfortable. A good choice for budget travelers who want convenience and a welcoming atmosphere.

May 7, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your kind review, Bich Tuyen! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the central location in Hanoi’s Old Quarter and found it perfect for exploring the city on foot. It’s also great to know that our friendly team, clean rooms, and comfortable atmosphere made your stay enjoyable. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again on your next visit to Hanoi! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Probably the only online travel agency I don't bypass to book direct to provider

I've been using Hostelworld for a few years now. I'm all for booking directly with the provider but sometimes they do have better prices and it's just the convenience of knowing the interface, trusting hostelworld and being able to quickly get a glance of the options available somewhere, filter the map and decide easily. I keep coming back.

April 2, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for sharing this, Gonzalo! We really appreciate your loyalty and your thoughtful feedback.

It’s great to hear that even as someone who prefers booking direct, you still find value in Hostelworld. Whether that’s through competitive prices, the convenience of a familiar interface, or being able to quickly compare options on the map and filter what matters most to you. Knowing that trust and ease of use keep you coming back truly means a lot to us.

Thanks again for sticking with us over the years, and we hope we can continue to help make your travel planning simple and stress‑free. 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

SCAM ALERT: Unauthorized charge on a card I NEVER registered for my account!

I am writing this to warn the global travel community about a serious security flaw and unethical business practice by Hostelworld.
​I booked a hostel in Toronto and paid the required deposit through the app using my primary debit card. Upon check-in at the hostel, I chose to pay the remaining balance using a different credit card at the physical front desk terminal.
​To my horror, shortly after my stay, Hostelworld automatically charged this second credit card for the full amount again.

​There are two major reasons why this is unacceptable:
​1.Unauthorised Data Capture: I never registered this second credit card on the Hostelworld app or website. Their system captured my sensitive card information from a physical terminal and used it for an automatic withdrawal without my consent. This is a terrifying breach of financial privacy.
​2.Admission of Error: The hostel management has already officially confirmed that this was a system error. They provided me with their internal transaction records, proving they never received this secondary payment.

​Despite providing clear evidence from the hostel, Hostelworld’s support team has been unresponsive. This unauthorized double-charge has caused me significant financial distress during my travels.
​Hostelworld is taking money from cards that were never authorized for recurring or automatic payments. Avoid this platform at all costs if you value your financial security. I demand an immediate refund.

April 27, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi there,

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re very sorry to hear about the distress this situation has caused and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify.

To reassure you, Hostelworld does not charge any additional amounts beyond the initial deposit paid at the time of booking. Any remaining balance is charged directly by the property. In order to facilitate the booking and allow the property to process payment on arrival, we are required to securely share card details with the accommodation.

Based on what you’ve described, it appears that the charge in question was taken by the property directly. We’re sorry to hear that you may have been accidentally charged twice by the hostel, and we understand how frustrating this must be.

We’d really like to help resolve this for you. Please contact us at customerservice@hostelworld.com with your booking reference number, and our team will follow up with the property on your behalf to investigate the issue and work towards a resolution.

Thank you again for raising this with us, and we hope to assist you further soon.

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very easy to book

Very easy to book. Compared to hotels in same area very budget conscious. Location ideal for central London.

May 6, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Thank you so much for your lovely review, Maureen! We’re delighted to hear that you found the booking process easy, our rates budget‑friendly, and the location ideal for central London. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience! 😊

All the best,
Carol
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Will continue to book over Hostelworld

You pay for the social experience of chatts, it's worth it.

May 5, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Mateo, Great to hear you’re enjoying the social side of travelling with Hostelworld! That community vibe is exactly what we love to see. Thanks for being part of it — see you on the next trip 🌍

Angelo
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Review of Hi! Bye hostel

The checking in process was very simple, you just fill in a small form and pay upfront. Remos the owner shows you how to unlock the front door and gives you a tab to unlock a locker to put your items in. There are a range of rooms to stay in with a couple of bunk beds, it’s a pick and choose rather than being assigned a bed. There’s very nice showers and toilets and generally lovely atmosphere to the building and outdoor area. I slept well and I am more than pleased. I would recommend this hostel as it’s got all you need for a very good price.

May 7, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Nelly, thanks for sharing such detailed feedback! It’s great to hear everything from check-in to facilities and atmosphere made your stay so enjoyable. We’re glad Hostelworld helped you find a place that suited you perfectly. Happy travels!

Angelo
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent 👌

May 5, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Elena,

Thanks so much for the great rating — really appreciate it! 🌟

Angelo
CS Team

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really nice place and friendly people!

Really nice place and friendly people!

May 4, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Femke,
Thanks for the lovely feedback! Great to hear you had such a positive experience and enjoyed the atmosphere. Hope to see you booking with Hostelworld again soon! 🌍

Angelo
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was wonderful experience booking…

It was wonderful experience booking hostel.

May 5, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Sudip,

Thank you for your review, we are delighted to hear you've enjoyed your stay. We hope you'll use Hostelworld again next time you book!

All the best,
Saoirse
CS Team

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Perfect

Its nixe place to stay .good lication always hot water for the shower.very close to the shopping areas ..

May 4, 2026
Unprompted review
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Reply from Hostelworld

Hi Priyanka,

Thank you for your review, we are delighted to hear you've enjoyed your stay. We hope you'll use Hostelworld again next time you book!

All the best,
Saoirse
CS Team

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