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I cannot recommend that anyone stays here. We were kicked out of the hostel for complaining about cigarette smoke. It was about 10:30 in the evening & the owner was rung by the staff. He turned up & kicked us out. We pointed out that smoking was not allowed in his hostel and he responded that he could not force people to follow the rules. But he still felt ok about kicking us out for complaining.
When we pointed out that we have stayed in many hostels over the world over many years (we are both in our 60s) and never been treated like this he responded that he has never ever stayed in a hostel!
Other issues are that the kitchen is literally locked up at night until 8 am so if you leave early you cannot access any food you have there. There is no individual dorm security - once you are in the front door you can access all dorms. There are lockers but they are too small to be really useful.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Very noisy at night. I paid for a bed in a 4 bedroom but there was 5 people in for overbooking. They came in at 2 in the night. In the rest of the hostel the guest were shouting, laughing and talking very loud. None of the staff were there to keep it quite. I hated it
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I do not recommend this hostel to anyone!! The worst experience I have encountered in my life regarding hostels. I arrived very late, because the snowy weather made the road difficult. At the reception there was a boy who could barely answer. I made the payment and went to the room. I had booked a standard room (but not specified mixed or only girls). I went to the room, the first impact of a scandalous room with a stinky smell and all the men just staring behind the bed curtain. With drunken people in the corridors of the rooms. Dirty bathrooms.. I went to talk to the receptionist, an ARROGANT guy in communication. I was very tired after 10 hours on the road, I was speaking good Sami and English and he insulted me for this, because I was understanding his English with a Macedonian accent. I told him that I didn't book a mixed room. Ok, maybe I made a mistake in booking. I told him I want a room only with girls, but his arrogance in communication was scandalous and he made me tell him to keep today's money, return the rest because I will not stay here. Call the owner. Another Arrogant came and started insulting me with irony from the country I came from, calling me stupid. I told him to return the money or I will call the police. They kept my payment for the night I didn't stay there and returned the rest. I left there at 2 am. I do not recommend this hostel to anyone. After leaving at 2 am I found the best hostel in all of Sofia!
P.s. When you come to Albania, let me know so I can show you how the hostels are and the perfect communication we have with our clients! 😉
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gergana Ruskova, General Manager at Bla Bla Hostel
Responded 2 Sept 2024
Hello! Let's clarify so everyone knows. We offer mixed rooms and female only rooms because we are a hostel and not a hotel. We don't just have standard rooms and this is your fabrication. You booked a mixed room and then try to pass the blame on to others. Your behavior was arrogant and insulting to those working there. We were even entitled to keep the full amount because you made a non-cancellable reservation and your misunderstanding about our room type was not our fault, but we have refunded you for the following nights anyway. P.s. We are not too sure if even in Albania they would treat you so well after all you have said to the staff and done at the reception.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Great hostel, friendly personnel, low prices. The best thing is a community area joined with kitchen. All the guests are so friendly, I found many new friends there. Would like to come back here again. Beds are spacious and high. So I had enough space on the top and on the low level.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My first days there were OK, but last day there was another guest, a guy, making a video of me while I was taking a shower. As soon as I found out I screamed and went to look for help
I reported this and Dali, at the front desk, at first he was really helpful, was helping me getting the videos and locate the guy, he also said he was going to make sure this guy ended up at the police and asked me to let the hostel take care of the situation and asking me not to leave any bad comments about this (he seems he was more worried about this than getting this guy out) , but after hours they were not solving this and the others guests told me the guy that did it was actually friends with Dali so he won't do anything
So I decided to leave in the middle of the night, i could get some help to go to a safe place at midnight as I was not feeling safe anymore there as all the dorms you can access easily, U don't need a key, they do not have control or security on this and also Dali was changing the Version all the time of why they didn't kick out the guy yet. Started helping and then it was obvious the Poor management of the situation.
When I left they had this guy finally and he said he was gay and taking pictures of himself (with the phone recording on my shower... Right!?!) and of course this guy believed it to his friend... Kick him out but he never reported this to the police as he promised (checked next day on this) and they didn't even care about texting me, calling, asked me to ratify the legal complaint they were supposed to do as a hostel. I called several times in the morning and never got any response. I know all of this from first hand as some friends were still there and made sure at leas the guy didn't stay any longer.
So at the end of the story me, the victim, was only making big someone taking video In the shower... Even tho on the videos you could see all my afirmations and how the guy tried to open my shower, was doing something weird and ran away as soon as I found out and screamed.
Yes, you hostel are not responsible for others behavior but you are more than responsible once a crime happening in your property is reported and clearly you do not care about your guests.
If you respond publicly this comment I invite you to tell all the people looking for a safe place what are you gonna improve to protect your guests, tell us the number of the file you did at the police as you said you would - you didn't- and all the improvements U will make at the facilities for the security of all of your guests.
In +12 years staying, working and managing hostels I've never had a situation like this. Never. I don't blame U for the perv but I blame U for not helping as you promised or even respond the calls.
Won't ever come back or recommend it for sure as we women are sick of unsafe places!
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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The main problem is that we had a private room, but the door didn't even close. We arrived from a drink at approximately 3 p.m. and we found two strangers sleeping in our room. This was communicated to the reception, something they overlooked. Poor cleaning, very high towel rental, spiders in the rooms…
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Date of stay: August 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THE HOSTEL IS BRILIANT , THE HOST DOEST tollerate drugs and alcohol its a safe place and cheap, clean , HAS GOOD KITCHEN FASILITIES me and my uncle have been staying there many times for 2 years going back from airport. The host is helpful and friendly I recommend that place
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Date of stay: October 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dorms are terrible, sheets are old and need urgent replace. Couldn't sleep because the person sleeping above moved and snored all the time and the dorm shacked badly. Fee to check in before time is high for the quality service. Lockers basically dont work.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am writing this review as a WARNING to all female solo travellers. Please do not stay here you are not safe!
I had an absolutely shocking experience here on the 27/01/24. Me - I am nearly 65 years old, an ex nurse with a hidden disability. I had booked a bottom bunk bed for a few hours sleep before getting a taxi to the airport at 03.30.
Unfortunately for me I tripped over the pavement outside the hostel and head butted the wall. It was dark and was around 18.30 ish.
The resulting injury was a huge lump on my forehead. I lay on the pavement for 5 minutes unable to get up until a man helped me up. I was two minutes away from the hostel and just wanted to lay down.
I climbed many flights of steps with my suitcase because the reception was now on the top floor. It was hard.
When I arrived I mentioned this to the man behind the desk. His description is as follows:- petite, blonde, blonde moustache, metal rimmed glasses and blue eyes I think. He immediately took offence to my normal remark. Next to the reception is a gloomy looking common room. Very unwelcoming.
I handed over my passport to check in. Whilst he was taking my details I asked him if he would book me a taxi to the airport.
I have stayed at this hostel many, many times in the past( twice a month) and the staff always booked my taxi. He replied to me and I quote ' do you think I am gonna book you a taxi when you only paid 8 Euros for a bed? I am ONLY HERE TO SELL BEDS' I was absolutely astounded and said to him I had to leave at 03.30 and the previous staff always booked me a taxi. I told him about my accident a few minutes before and said I needed to lay down. I showed him my head injury. He commented ' I am not a doctor ' I was in disbelief.
He then called his boss. He told his boss that I am a TOXIC PERSON and asked permission to refuse me the bed I had booked. This was given. He told me to leave. I said to him had he ever considered that he was in the wrong job. This man is incapable of dealing politely and with empathy with the general public. I am the customer and should be given some normal help and service. I asked him his name- he replied ' choose one ' I asked him to call his boss so I could speak to him myself - he refused.
He told me to go and then started following me down the multiple flights of steps.
I turned around and asked him why he was following me. I was now afraid of him and both nervous and in pain. I said to him that his behaviour was insane. He said to me ' get out you fat, ugly old cow. I left. I got in a taxi and went to the hostel where I normally stay before a flight. I had tried to book it previously but it was full. The lovely staff welcomed me and were shocked to see my facial injuries. They had no bottom bunks available so I had to climb into a top bunk. I decided to take my flight and seek medical attention when I arrived at my destination.
I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED that no other female solo travellers should consider staying here. I am going to write this review on the other websites the Bla Bla Hostel ( previously known as H2O Hostel when it was a great place to stay) At the very least us women should leave this place for the men to inhabit. If you read the other reviews on here, Hostel World and booking.com you will see other appalling reviews from traumatized females at the hands of this weird and dangerous man. Especially the disgusting shower incident. My aim is to keep all travellers safe Nothing else.
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
HK$86 - HK$117 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
BulgariaSofia RegionSofia
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