Reviews of Citadel Hostel

07 February 2012

Liked: Free WIFI, nice and friendly guests

Disliked: We got an room where the ceeling was full of must and it smelled strongly like that. We complained and got another room without must but bad smelling matrazes, pillows, and blankets. The sheets could have been washed, but all togehter it smelled in the room like peolpe who havn't reasised the invention of a shower. They charge you directly when you enter, so we had no chance to leave without losing 35 Euro. Heater costs extra 5 Euro. It can be quite cold in the winter. Furniture and bathrooms dirty and used for too long. We didn't look in the kichen, which was probably good. The view from the terasse is not that amazing. There are definately better places. After all it is better to stay in the center of Jerusalem in clean hostel in a modern building with heating included, cause the walk to the old town isn't far!

13 January 2012

Liked: Friendliness and helpfulness of the staff was excelent!!!

Disliked: Just a few jackets to notebook. The room was very tight and the tiny and dirty bathrooms.

03 January 2012 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: friendly staff, close to sights

Disliked: not clean enough, have to pay for the heating

29 December 2011

Liked: It looks like an old cellar inside

Disliked: It was freezing cold, very difficult to get a good night rest. They said they didn't have any extra blankets. Showers didn't have holders. You had to duck in some of the bathrooms. No lock on the door.

20 December 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Everything

Disliked: Nothing the hostel was dishonest about, but it would've been nice to have sturdier mattresses and WIFI in the rooms

06 December 2011

Liked: Location. The rooftop.

Disliked: It was dirty, full of people 40+, strange atmosphere. Plus we booked a bungalow: when we got there a bungalow happened to be a plastic storage house on the roof, full of small holes from where the freezing wing blew (we had to rent them a heater! without one we would freeze, for sure!!!), it had such a bad smell and besides the 2 thin matresses there was no extra space for anything at all!! So bad =(

25 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great place, friendly staff, good atmosfere, we well secure

Disliked: dificult to reach with a car

13 November 2011 Karalynn would recommend this property

Liked: The Citadel Hostel is right in the heart of the old city, and has nice facilities. The staff is very helpful in showing you how to get to places. Market square is also right along the hostel, which makes souvenir shopping easy.

Disliked: It got a little cold at night (in November), but not freezing - a long sleeve shirt made all the difference.

12 November 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Great location, character, and people

Disliked: Could use some more cleaning, and the kitchens lack any dishes and facilities which would give having a kitchen to use value.

30 October 2011 brooke would recommend this property

Liked: i had fun here the staff were friendly and it was good value for money was pleasure to stay here.

Disliked: nothing really

20 October 2011 Samuel would recommend this property

Liked: location

Disliked: price

17 October 2011

Liked: The central location and friendly and helpful staff made it easy settling into the Old City.

Disliked: The price is cheap but when you have to buy antihistamine and anti-itch from the bites you walk away with overnight (and that was sleeping in silk sleeping bag liner bit on their blankets) its not value for money. Communal bathrooms servicing a lot of people aren't the "sparkliest" although well stocked with toilet paper!

17 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Cheap. Good if you are on a budget especially.

Disliked: Basically it's good if you stay on the rooftop. Otherwise unless you have one of the two rooms with a window, it's like being inside a windowless cave which could b very hot in the summer. When we checked in, our room wasn't ready and reception asked one of the volunteers to go clean quickly. When we arrived in our room, bathroom bin was full, bed not really made and sheets and towels weren't changed we felt. Told reception a day or so later to empty bin, nothing was done. Shared bathrooms not that clean. Then suddenly two days before we left the communal areas seemed more cleaned up and they sent someone to come clean our room upon request. I think service depends on who is on duty at the desk managing the hostel. The hostel must do something about it's cleanliness, I.e. Keep it clean consistently. I know it's budget but being dirty and smelling sweaty sometimes just won't do. Also, we had a window in our room which kept slamming close when it was windy so we had to stuff card paper in the gap to stop this from happening. I think if you are on a budget and backpacking for a while and stay on the rooftop in the summer, great. If not on a budget at all, choose somewhere else. But the place has potential, just need to keep clean consistently make make sure a room is made up when guests arrive.

16 October 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Sleeping on the the rooftop

Disliked: The quality of the blankets and matrasses

20 September 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: good position, helpful staff

Disliked: bad tours recommended - not good value for money. bed linen was not clean, and rooms did not get cleaned automatically

09 September 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: Nice little hostel just a couple minutes from Jaffa Gate. I like the old fashioned feel of the building. Place was pretty much clean.

Disliked: The room was a little hot with no fan. The problem with the old fashioned building style is there is just one small window so not much fresh air unless you leave your door open... Also WIFI only works downstairs where your cell phone doesn't have reception. So you choose cell phone or WIFI which is not great if you're in the middle of say, booking hotels or trying to call home. They recommend a tour called Mikes Tours and sell tickets. Don't use that tour company, its a rip-off. The tour guide says maybe 5 words every hour and you are expected to figure the rest out for yourself. He drops you outside Masada and says "come back in 2 hours" while all the other groups have guides explaining to them what they are seeing. Its more of a lift service than a tour.

05 September 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: good atmosphere, quiet, non smoking and non drinking, amazing view from the roof

Disliked: showers not clean, same with kitchen

04 September 2011

Liked: Location is in the Old City

Disliked: Quite a crowded place. The lock on our door broke, so we ended up locked out for quite some hours. Also, we asked at the reception if alterations in our booking were possible, and this was answered with 'sure, no problem! tomorrow you can get your money back for the night you cancelled' and gave us a receipt to confirm this. Next day, another person at the desk told us that this was not possible at all. They were unwilling to take responsibility for their mistake, did not want to contact the owner or anyone higher in charge. We left with a bad feeling and without our money they promised to give back :(

30 August 2011 Adam would recommend this property

Liked: Fantastic atmosphere in this place, feels like you are living in an ancient jerusalem cave! Very Osama-Chique! But seriously though, great room, fantastic roof terrace with view of the city and sunset. Hot water freely available, internet usage and tv and plenty of space indoor and out to chill out.

Disliked: 2 main things. Firstly, as their is no air con in the rooms, you must leave the windows open (NOT that that makes a difference... still very hot in there - even when its cold outside!). This isnt the issue really, the issue is that at 5am you will be woken by either a very close mosque and it's call to prayer or by a very close (or seriously incredibly loud) church bells that go on for 40mins for no reason in a creepy fashion. Second thing is the shower / toilet sort of wet room spaces are very compact, some might say awkward, but its part of the charm from the unconventional nature of the plan here.

24 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: It is a very very nice hostel on the perfect location in the old town of Jerusalem. It has a certain flair and a nice atmosphere. We slept on the roof and it was one of the greatest experience ever, with the view of the whole Jerusalem, the sunrise... also there was a free computer, free wi-fi, very helpful stuff! Highly recommend!

Disliked: nothing comes to my mind

23 August 2011 Customer would recommend this property

Liked: awesome location; we slept on the roof top and loved it despite it being somewhat crowded, but if you look around you´ll find a good spot for yourself; very helpful and friendly staff; remarkable cozy interior

Disliked: the washrooms are very tiny and there aren´t a lot of hooks to hang up your clothes etc. to avoid your stuff getting soaked. it was managable though.

16 August 2011 Javier would recommend this property

Liked: Great location with nice views from the Old city.

Disliked: Too many people in corridors, small rooms, not very clean.

12 August 2011 Daniel would recommend this property

Liked: The rooftop is great! A very different experience. It comes in handy during the summer months, when a room in the summer easily gets hot and humid, the rooftop is chilled, relaxed and the city is quiet after 8-9 pm. The mattresses are good and there is a wide variety of covers and blankets.

Disliked: None..

18 July 2011 Zheng would recommend this property

Liked: Good location. Interesting Ottoman building. Good view on the roof.

Disliked: Not as good as I imagined according to previous rates. They put too many people in without any arrangement. The roof is over crowded. The matresses are not clean. There is no microwave oven in the kitchen. And the shower space is too narrow.

14 July 2011 Chris would recommend this property

Liked: Good location, nice building, good terrace. Have a few drinks with everyone on the roof.

Disliked: Hot in the rooms, the guy uses every possible inch of the hostel to cram as many people in.