Baron's Hostel

The only redeeming quality of this hostel is its location — it’s central and convenient for exploring Reykjavik. But honestly, that’s not enough to make up for the poor experience overall.

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I feel obligated to share my experience at this hostel in Reykjavik, especially to help fellow travelers make an informed choice. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst hostel experiences I’ve had. The cleanliness was seriously lacking — common areas were dirty, the bathrooms weren’t maintained regularly, and overall I felt uncomfortable and even worried about hygiene. Facilities were incredibly insufficient for the number of guests. There was only one sink in the kitchen, which created a constant queue and made preparing anything more than a sandwich frustrating and stressful. Bathrooms were few and far between, which led to long waits during busy times. Staff presence was another major letdown. There was rarely anyone at reception when needed, and when you did manage to catch someone, they were unhelpful and borderline rude. It felt like guests were an inconvenience rather than a priority.

Building was very well organized and guests were all very friendly

Showers could have been bigger, and bathrooms could have been cleaner

Nice, clean, quiet, convenient place, and the parking is great! Location is a short walk to the main touristy part of downtown. Room was spacious, beds comfortable. Bathrooms were very clean, spacious, and there never seemed to be a wait.

The kitchen has only one sink, which results in having to wait in line a lot to wash dishes or get a drink of water. There should be a better protocol for disinfecting dishes, also, since not all guests may wash their dishes that clean. Please get rid of the scratched up teflon pans -- they are toxic, are no longer non-stick; please provide stainless steels pots and pans. As hostels go, since the kitchen and hallway were just off the bedrooms, this was not the most social or informative hostel compared to others where I have stayed. Normally at hostels, there is a lobby, lounge, or cafe, separate from the bedrooms, where travelers can consult the hostel workers about sightseeing, connect with each other to share trips, and usually get a coffee or have cafe amenities. The only social space was the kitchen, which was dominated by one large group when I was there, while the single travelers were shy and did not have a space conducive to conversation. In the hallways, there were chairs, but people kept silent, since they were just outside the bedrooms. the hallways still have a hospital feel -- it would not be expensive to get some second-hand decoration and to paint the walls or doors an extra color to make it feel more cheerful. I would suggest that the office be put in one of the larger rooms, and include couches, sofas, coffee tables, and travel info where people can chat with the office person, lounge and meet and connect with others. Right now, one office person keeps quietly alone in a small office. The result is a very sterile feeling, rather than the normal bustle of a friendly hostel.