River Wye Hostel

I never write reviews, let alone a bad one, so they are truly special in that case.

I planned this trip to see the book town Hay on Wye and it became a horrifying experience. First, the staff is completely incompetent. Second, they provided no information (like how to get there, if it is self check in) and expects you to figure it out somehow. Third, their cafe is the only place to get wifi and for some reason they have it closed down, so no wifi the entire time. If you need wifi, you have to go to their other location or try your luck with your mobile data (also, no mobile reception, too!). Also, the location is tough to get to and they did not have updated bus routes to help people get there, had to make my own luck with tourist centres. Nobody attended me at the hostel, except another fellow traveller who helped me navigate the dorms (good for me, as someone shared the passcodes to enter the location because the staff made no effort to tell me those). Might I add, they charged my card three days before the trip, even though I booked “free cancellations” and planned on paying at the venue. I left a day prior as this fellow traveller was leaving to consider my safety, as only a day prior, a person of staff came and ignored our complains, while catering to a new guest and being super helpful as they probably had not already paid. If this sounds awful, trust me this is not half of it. It was horrible, scary, dirty, and basically a ghost town where they have put up bunks for kids with no locking mechanisms at the showers or give any attention to whether or not you have made it into the location.

There was a lot of space to walk around. That’s about as much as you can do in a place this out of the way. When the staff felt like being helpful, they didn’t hesitate but that’s about as generous as I’m feeling.

I arrive late (not anyone’s fault except the coach so I can’t be angry at that) and there is no one to greet me. I’m cold, I’m a little scared because I’m in a new location in the dark, in the middle of the night and I have no information telling me where to go or what to do. I have to call the provided number 4 times before I get a response and I am informed at the person I am talking to is at a PARTY. Not waiting for me, not even on the property to help me. Who knows where but where they should, logically be. By now, I’m too tired to care so I am directed to the Bunkhouse and told that my things will be moved to a different place in a few days. I’m willing to accept this but the next problem occurs when I find that despite what the many signs around the building say, my bed has not been left with any linens and the room itself is freezing. I curl up on the only clean mattress and go to sleep, hoping tomorrow will be better. I am instantly proven wrong by the cold somehow having gotten worse. What’s more, I discover there’s no accessible WiFi anywhere except for outside of the cafe which is closed. Something that should be noted is that I am autistic and complaining and making phone calls are things I find immensely stressful. Therefore, my mother had to get into contact with the staff and I was moved into a bigger room and it was suggested that, instead of seeing to it that the heat was working or even putting me in the main house like I thought they would, they suggested I grab as many duvets as I wished and bundle myself up. If someone could make this make sense, I would love to hear it. I’ve run out of space here so I’ll conclude by saying that this stay was nothing short of a waste of money, time, effort and whatever they did to get the good reviews I’ve seen here, it must have been legendary because my experience was a nightmare. It took them three days to get me into an actually comfortable room and the the communication before that was dreadful.

Easy find. Great communication to get in. Everything was ready in the room, sheets and towels(thank you). Just what 3 cyclists needed.

The environment was ok. Staff was nice, though communication was just over the phone.

No heating. I was so cold at night because I was drenched on my way to the property. Requested the heating be turned on, nothing was done. Was told heating will come on, never did. Had to use a double duvet on myself. Staff was nice, though communication was just on phone, but I just didn't have a good rest because of the cold and not being able to dry my wet clothes. There was also a very disturbing noise from the toilet and from the side of the radiator in the room, which didn't work. The toilet smells so bad.

Didn’t even bother staying. Took one look at room and the beds and drove home instead

No one around, ghost town. Beds too small for adults - kids beds

Chambre confortable - personnel agréable- joli cadre