Reviews of Smart Russell Square

22 March 2011

Liked: nothing!

Disliked: Is no a hostel, is a prison!!!

17 March 2011 Jason would recommend this property

Liked: There were security details at night so no unexpected visitors. My floor was relatively quiet during the nights.

Disliked: the showers were all located on the lower floor. My room was on the 3rd floor. Was annoying that I had to go down to the basement floor each day to take a shower.

15 March 2011

Liked: Location and the bed curtains

Disliked: -No locks in the toilets!That was quite unbelievable. -Showers only at the underground level and also with no privacy,prison style. -No liquid soap to wash your hands. -No smoking place or at least an ashtray;you have to cross the road and throw the butts on the street..

13 March 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Cheap

Disliked: The breakfast and kitchen area

12 March 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It was in a decent location and had goof accomadations

Disliked: The amount of people in 1 room with limited space

07 March 2011

Liked: Staff were excellent

Disliked: Having stayed all over the world I expected a certain standard at this price which I did not get - room was dirty, I liked the curtain around the bed but if the light was on this was useless, nowhere to store anything in the room unless you were in the bottom bunk, reminded me of prisoner cell block H

02 March 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Pretty good place overall--there were a lot of people there but it wasn't overcrowded. The staff was friendly and they had a kitchen so you could cook

Disliked: It's kind of far away from town, so you have to take the subway, which is quite expensive, to get around the city efficiently. They also charge you a fee to use your credit card as payment, which they don't mention here.

01 March 2011

Liked: Nothing

Disliked: Mixed toilets not very clean in any part.

01 March 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The location was very good, with an underground station and a 24 hour opened market really close wich was very helpfull. The size of the rooms was small but perfectly apropriate to spend the nights. The curtains in each bed were a plus. The breakfast was good too, although sometimes really crowded! The showers were very nice with hot water all the time and no queues. The staff was friendly and helpfull too.

Disliked: I had a small incident in the last night I stayed there wich I hope will be resolved because if not it makes me not to recommend this place to anyone dispite all of the good things it has.

01 March 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It was very well kept and clean. We only encountered a few showers out of maybe 20 stalls that didn't work. The location is perfect. It's close to transportation and a nice walk from the river and lots of attractions. The common room was big- there were a lot of people staying here- and had couches, tables, and free toast and cereal in the mornings. It was very warm, which was good for us (it was cold outside when we visited) but might annoy some people. The showers were hot and free. The staff were very friendly, even when we arrived at 3 in the morning. They always told us which bus to catch to get to various places, and even helped us order a pizza.

Disliked: There were a few unexpected fees, like for bag storage and to play pool in the common room. It can be noisy at night, but that is expected when you have hundreds of young people in one building.

28 February 2011

Liked: The location only.

Disliked: The staff was rude, patronising, and stubborn. The showers were dirty, horrible to look at so didn't even consider to use them! The rooms are not cleaned properly between the renters. The duvet sheets are not proper, just a flat sheet. It costs £22 pppn so it is not worth the money!

26 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: I like the location.

Disliked: I don't like that the showers are only on the groundfloor. The internet sometimes didn't work:(

21 February 2011

Liked: It has an excellent location.

Disliked: Services such as internet, left baggage room, lockers that are otherwise free in most hostels are horrendously overpriced at this hostel. Staff were unhelpful and you were made to really feel like "just one of many tourists."

12 February 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: The convenience of its location so close to everything you need, combined with it´s low prices. And putting all the showers in one place ment that you could shower whenever you want to. There were always several free. Also I found their vendingmachines very convenient, when getting in late, needing some really cold water before bedtime.

Disliked: Most of the negative experiences I had were due to the other guests in my room, not the place itself. For example people getting up at 6 o´clock to pack all their belongings very loudly while wisseling. People really should get ready the night before leaving.. I guess the only negative thing I could say about the property itself, is that the beds were a few cm to short for me.

08 February 2011

Liked: The fact I left it :-)

Disliked: The staff, the noise, the 24 other people in the room - including opposite gender and the constant fear someone would steal my bags. They do not accept cards for security deposits which they make you pay on arrival and for the vile dorms, they make you pay an extra 5% minimum on your card unnecessarily. The staff are unhelpful and the place is not a place to sleep.

08 February 2011 Madeleine would recommend this property

Liked: Comfortable beds, free breakfast, good location and cheap!

Disliked: Staff unfriendly. Have to pay some kind of deposit on arrival which isn't explained previously.

07 February 2011

Liked: location

Disliked: fees for small services such internet, luggage keeping etc.

07 February 2011

Liked: Great location, pretty cheap for London.

Disliked: Had to make our own beds, had to BUY, not rent, towels. Was not entitled to a bed with curtains as advertised, and which would have been good considering the boys in the dorm insisted on having the light on in the middle of the night to pack.

03 February 2011

Liked: Close to Tube

Disliked: We were charged extra money. Showers were very poor. Staff were aggressive on arrival. Stairs were not straight. Floor was not level. Security of personal belongings was very poor. Avoid staying here if possible

25 January 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: location

Disliked: dirty and messy

25 January 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: location

Disliked: everyone was a bit older than us

23 January 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great friendly and helpful staff, liked the curtains round the beds and the tag system for reserving your bed

Disliked: Very noisy on a Saturday night. Very thin walls and you could here every footstep in the hallway

23 January 2011 Gabrielle would recommend this property

Liked: Location, price, free breakfast

Disliked: Noisy

22 January 2011

Liked: The position was excellent

Disliked: The smell don't allow to sleep good

12 January 2011

Liked: Bathrooms were very clean, and maids regularly cleaned them every morning, afternoon and evening. It is close to the Tube station (Russel Square). It's such a calm place: no disturbing noises whatsoever. It's also safe at night, as you're challenged for ID before entering the building. Rooms are neat and clean.

Disliked: The receptionist said they had different prices from those listed in this site, so my friend and I were made to pay for an unexpected mark-up. Quite an inconvenient, I'd dare say. Showers are located in the basement and are quite hard to find, although they are very clean. The staff at the reception desperately needs to be more lively and kind... one of them didn't even understand English -- is that even possible?! No breakfast. No wi-fi access. There's a fee for virtually EVERYTHING.