Moscow: Monroe Hostel

It was my second time visiting Moscow, when I stayed there as backpacker from July 18 to July 19, 2010. Originally I’ve booked a room at the “Hostel Home from Home” (read the story there) but they didn’t have a dorm-bed left. So they sent me to their “sister hostel”, the Monroe Hostel.

It was one of my “special experiences” to stay at the Monroe Hostel. I stayed there after all in a 6 bed dorm… or was it a 5 bed dorm with a completely broken bed…? There was really one problem after the other… Everything a little bit strange. Here is my review:

Hostel facilities:

• Internet: Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and most rooms. It worked well. There is also a public computer next to the reception.
• There is a lounge with couch, where you can sit – till midnight, than we had to go to bed.
• The staff at the reception are really chaotic. Only being well-trained and run around shirtless is not enough. For this work you need also a little bit brain. It took 15 minutes (!) to get the bill. I had also a quarrel, because I booked originally a 4 bed dorm at the “Home from Home” hostel. After the change to the Monroe Hostel and the “downgrade” to a 5/6 bed dorm of course I wanted only to pay the rate for this category. After a long discussion I got a cheaper rate.

Room-Facilities:

In my 5/6 bed dorm I found the following facilities:

• Warning! The bunk beds are extremely shaky! The ladder and also some parts of the slatted bed frame were broken. Be careful not to break through!
• We didn’t get a key to lock the door of the room.
• In the room is a desk for working.
• There is a window in the room and it can be opened.
• Room has no balcony.
• There is no air condition in the room.
• Smoking is in the dorm not allowed – Non smoker room.
• There are small lockers in front of the dorm. There maximum space for a bag – not more. The lockers didn’t look really safe.
• The room  was quiet – you can also leave the window open during the night.
• The dorm was a little bit dirty.

Bathroom:

• The bathroom is located on the same floor, you share it with other guests.
• There is a shower, but it’s a little bit complicated to use it. You have really less space to move.
• The hot water worked well.
• Toilet paper and towels were provided.
• The bathroom was clean.

Location of the Monroe Hostel:

• The metro station “Arbatskaya” is 5 to 10 minutes walk from the Monroe Hostel.
• Directions and maps shown on Hostelbookers are right. It is a little bit hard to find the hostel the first time. The sign at the door is not really big. Remember the house, shown at the pictures on Hostelbookers, to find the way.
• There are some shops and restaurants around the hostel.

Summary

Warning! This was one of the worst experiences in a hostel I ever had. Moscow is a very expensive city and the Monroe Hostel is one of the cheapest places to stay. But I didn’t really enjoy the stay there. There were too many problems and the bunk beds were extremely shaky.

I’ve met other travelers there, they were also sent from the Home from Home Hostel to the Monroe Hostel. It seems that the organization is a little bit chaotic. But one thing was great there: I met some other, really nice travelers and we had a lot of fun.

You can book the Monroe Hostel here or, if you don’t like, it choose another hostel.

And what experiences did you have in the Monroe Hostel in Moscow? Tell us and write a review here!