Hostel Domestika

We were welcomed with incredible hospitality and generosity from the host! We felt so well taken care of for our short stay at Hostel Domestika! The location is great—right near the city park, and easy walking distance to the city centre and to the ruins of Heraclea as well. Although the facilities could use an upgrade, everything was clean and tidy, and we very much enjoyed our stay 😊

Strategic location close to the train / bus stations. The hostel is ok, a little bit rundown, but the price reflects this.

A lot of stay dogs in the nearby area, I had no issues, but it was uncomfortable early morning.

Michael, the manager, along with his mother Betty and the long term local residents, make you feel like part of the family. Michael was a gem of a guy, quick to offer a coffee, wine, or rakya. I enjoyed kitchen conversations with Betty about what it was actually like to live in the old Yugoslavia, as I am a senior who can remember the news in America in those days. There is a very large garden where people sat around a table for drinks and snacks in the afternoon. Ideal for kids to run or play ball. Excellent location. The ancient ruins were 20 min walk south, the near end of Shirok Sokak walking street with its cafes and restaurants was 5 min northwest and the Old Bazaar another 15 min north of that, everything else of interest in between, and the bus station less than 5 min walk. The hostel is off a main street next to the medical high school and normally very quiet. Lots of parking space if needed. The large city park is just across the street. My twin room was large and appeared to be recently renovated. Comfortable bed. Two tables, a wardrobe, and a desk with a tube TV, all formica laminate finish in near new condition. Carpeted floor. Very good wifi. Contrary to some reviews, the room was very clean, as well as the nearby bathroom. Water pressure and hot water were excellent. (I normally showered at off-peak times.) There was a large dining room and an older commercial scale kitchen with a wall-length refrigerator, microwave, and gas stove and oven. Guests were welcome to use the kitchen, which was also used by the management to provide meals to some long term residents and work crews staying on contracts. (Using the gas stove and oven required the staff to turn them on and off as a safety precaution.) Management would also run loads of laundry in the wash machine at no charge when it wasn't in use for sheets and towels. Overall, very good value, costing little more than a dormitory bed. As a long term traveler, I extended, staying 2 months.

Rooms do not have individual aircon/heating units. It is a big sprawling building with a good central heating system, but it must be fed bags of fuel pellets, which is labor-intensive and probably expensive. Heating was not turned on until mid-October, and after that only a couple hours in the early morning and again late evening. Needed to wear a coat in the room in the day. (There were lots of extra blankets though.) Wouldn't recommend for cold-sensitive people or digital nomads who work in the room. (This may change in the future if they are allowed to connect to a central utility system.) I would have given a 9 rating if the heating were better. There were minor quirks, like some sheets that were torn, and such, but nothing major considering the price. It would have been nice to have electrical connections next to the bed instead of across the room so I wouldn't have to constantly recharge the phone and laptop. A long extension cord could solve the problem.

Location. It is very close to the bus station and the city center.

The room was very cold in the evening. When I asked, the mother and son brought me a quilt and an electric heater which was great. The beds are very old. The bathroom was also cold and it wasn't possible to take a shower because there was a gap below and above the bathroom door.

The host

The bathroom

Near to a very beautiful large park , the ancient Roman city and the town. Quiet but with an active feel as schools are nearby. Very friendly helpful staff. Able to share a kitchen. Rooms are adequate and beds fine

Smoke smells outside the bedrooms. As long as I kept the windows open and doors closed in my room it was fine! A little lacking in hot water sometimes!

Loved everyone there, it felt like Family thank you.

Nothing