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If you’re a solo traveler, chances are you’ve stayed in a hostel or two. Before my trip to Amsterdam, I stumbled upon THIS HOSTEL during my hotel search and was intrigued by the cube rooms, eclectic restaurant, and, okay, the neon lights in all the photos. If you’re a solo traveler and looking for a safe, welcoming accommodation, read my honest review of THIS HOSTEL here.
THIS HOSTEL at a Glance
| WHAT I LOVED | WHAT I WOULD HAVE CHANGED |
| The check-in process | The co-ed bathrooms |
| Fiona, the on-site restaurant | |
| The solo cube rooms | |
| The perfect central location | |
| The helpful, attentive staff | |
| The hostel/restaurant aesthetics |
How I Decided on THIS HOSTEL
When I was browsing hotels in Amsterdam, THIS HOSTEL was the first thing that came up. Although I solo travel a lot, I had surprisingly never stayed in a hostel before! (In fact, my first hostel stay was going to be in London, which is where I was visiting before going to Amsterdam).
When I read that I would have a “single cube room,” I didn’t really understand. Most of the cheaper options in every other hostel I had seen had rooms with 6, 8, or 10 people. Was I getting an upgrade? I looked closer. This seemed like an awfully cheap price for an upgrade. Not only that, this place had great reviews, incredible aesthetics, and was in a prime location.
So, not really knowing what I was getting myself into, I booked it. Whatever. Booking an affordable hostel with a room to myself was far from the worst thing I’ve ever done. I figured that, good or bad, I’d at least be able to write about it and educate other travelers!
How I Would Rate THIS HOSTEL
My rating for THIS HOSTEL in Amsterdam would be 4.5 out of 5 stars. To see why I would give it this rating, keep reading!
Why Do I Do Hotel Reviews?
One of the things that my readers tend to ask me about the most is where I recommend staying in a certain city.
If you’re a solo traveler, you know that finding the right hotel is crucial. To help give my readers guidance, I write blog post reviews about my personal experiences in my favorite hotels across the world.
Click here to read all hotel reviews
Things I Loved About This Hostel in Amsterdam
The Check-In Process
THIS HOSTEL was the first place I have ever stayed where I checked myself in. Assuming you make it past the bar/restaurant (which I almost didn’t, but we’ll get to that in a minute), you can walk straight ahead to kiosks that allow you to find your reservation and choose your room.
If there was no staff nearby, I would have put this in the “Things I Would Have Changed” section. However, if you need help, the staff is right there to ask and assist you! I mainly liked that I was allowed to choose my room and my floor.
THIS HOSTEL has rooms with high and low beds, and when you check in, you are asked to choose which type of bed you want (assuming your floor has both available). I chose a high bed. TBH, I didn’t know what that meant, but it sounded good, so whatever. I went with it.
Turns out a “high bed” means that your bed is closer to the ceiling and you have to climb up on a ledge in your room in order to get to it. I don’t know about you, but I am someone who almost always wakes up once to pee in the middle of the night. At first, all I could envision is how I would likely break my neck at some point from missing one of the steps…BUT thankfully that didn’t happen! However, this is something I wanted to make sure I pointed out to anyone with that same fear.
- You can check out a photo of the high bed in the Cube Rooms section further down!
Fiona: Where Mexican Flavors Meet Amsterdam Vibes
Upon entering THIS HOSTEL, the first thing I noticed were the neon lights and the smell of Mexican spices. Fiona, the Mexican restaurant located on the first floor of the hostel, became one of my favorite places to eat during my trip. I couldn’t resist trying their pork tacos, spicy marg, and chips and guac. Spoiler alert: it did NOT disappoint. The fusion of Mexican flavors with the vibrant atmosphere of Amsterdam was a delightful surprise. It’s the perfect place to satisfy your taste buds without leaving the comfort of the hostel.
I loved the atmosphere in Fiona as well. The bar and restaurant were illuminated by neon lights, and the decor was giving Tulum nightlife vibes. There were plenty of mornings that I sat at the bar here and worked on my blog. There’s no self-serve coffee, but the employees graciously made me a cappuccino every morning, which I loved!
Cube Rooms: A Solo Traveler’s Paradise
Traveling solo can sometimes be intimidating, but THIS HOSTEL made me feel completely at ease. Their rooms are designed as cube rooms, which are particularly nice for solo travelers. I had never been in a hostel that offered this kind of single-room concept before. The cozy, cube-shaped rooms provided a sense of security that I really valued.
- All of the cube rooms have a double bed and enough space for 2 people – although IMO, I think they are best suited for solo travelers. If you don’t have a lot of luggage, it would definitely be easier to fit 2 people in a room.
The cube rooms had a feature that I absolutely loved – they lit up different colors! This added an element of fun and magic to my stay. You could turn the light in your room to a regular, everyday light…or you could change it to any color you wanted. There was even a setting that allowed the light in your room to rotate between all of the colors!
If you know me, you know my room was set on hot pink…although I allowed a rotation of colors every now and then ;).
Anyway – back to the functionalities. The rooms had hooks to hang your clothes, along with a mirror on the back of the door so you could see to get ready. The area beside the bed had places to set your belongings, along with cubbies that I could fit my shorts, socks, etc. I really liked that it was easy to keep myself organized in such a small space!
- You can see the hangers, wall hooks, and cubby storage space in the photo below. To have an idea of how small the rooms actually are, notice where my suitcase is in the photo and how close it was to the mirror.
A Word About The Size of the Cube Rooms
When they say “cube,” they aren’t kidding. These rooms are TINY.
I’m going to be completely transparent here: if you are a bigger person and/or have a lot of luggage, this may be a struggle for you.
My suitcase that I brought was huge, and at first, it was difficult for me to fit it in the room (I had to get reeeeeally creative). Once I got in though, I found that it was surprisingly easy for me to keep my room organized. I got out what I needed for the 3 days I’d be there and kept the rest in my suitcase.
The Location is Perfect for Explorers
One of the things that make THIS HOSTEL a top pick for solo travelers is its prime location. It’s just a short walk away from the train station, which is incredibly convenient, especially if you’re arriving or departing by train. I took the train into the city, and I was so glad I didn’t have to call an Uber from the station to get to my hostel.
In terms of tourist attractions, The Red Light District is just a couple streets over, and you are close to many restaurants, bars, and bike renting facilities. The Anne Frank House is also a short bike ride away! I found it easy to explore the city from here, and the central location meant I didn’t have to waste time on long commutes.
Incredibly Helpful and Attentive Staff
The staff at THIS HOSTEL truly went above and beyond to make my stay enjoyable. They were always ready with recommendations for things to do and places to see in Amsterdam. Their attentiveness and willingness to assist with any questions or concerns made me feel like I had a personal concierge throughout my stay.
I even locked myself out of my cube room at one point, and they were so kind about it! They were super fast at getting me a second key ready. (Note: This is one downside about staying in cube rooms – there’s no one to let you back in if you forget your room key!)
Aesthetic Vibes for an Unforgettable Experience
One thing that sets THIS HOSTEL apart from the rest is its incredible attention to aesthetics. The dark, moody interior lighting creates a mysterious yet incredibly fun atmosphere. From the common areas to the cube rooms, the design exudes a sense of being there to have a good time.
I didn’t see anywhere else in Amsterdam that had this sort of aesthetic. The rest of the city wasn’t giving me the fun-yet-glam nightlife vibes that THIS HOSTEL gave me around the clock. The neon lights in the rooms and the restaurant gave me that “explorer’s energy” that I crave every time I’m in a new place. Every corner of this hostel is Instagram-worthy.
Things I Would Have Changed About This Hostel in Amsterdam
The (Co-ed) Bathrooms
In THIS HOSTEL, you share a bathroom with everybody on your floor. In other words, you’ll be sharing with girls AND guys. There is one bathroom per floor, located at the end of the hallway.
I stayed on the 3rd floor, and my bathroom had 6 showers and 2 toilets. That was a good number of showers, but I wish there would have been more toilets! I really liked the showers though – they were spacious and had an area where you could hang your belongings so they didn’t get wet. I really liked that I could keep my clothes and towels in the shower with me and they would stay safely dry!
The bathroom had 3 sinks in the middle of the room with 3 mirrors. They were situated so one person could stand on each side and brush their teeth or do their hair (in other words, you could fit 6 people around the sinks). Bonus: They also have hairdryers!
THIS HOSTEL is situated right on the water, and while the location is incredibly beautiful, it could sometimes cause the bathrooms to…smell. I don’t think the smell was due to a person, but rather due to a drain or pipe issue in the hostel. The bathrooms didn’t smell all the time, but it’s something that is definitely worth mentioning.
My Conclusion About My Stay at This Hostel
Overall, my stay at THIS HOSTEL in Amsterdam was amazing. Between the delicious Mexican food at Fiona, the safety and comfort of the cube rooms, the convenient location, the helpful staff, and the captivating aesthetics, THIS HOSTEL offers an unforgettable experience for solo travelers.
I left Amsterdam with not only incredible memories but also a strong desire to return to THIS HOSTEL in the future. If you’re planning a solo trip to Amsterdam, don’t miss out on the opportunity to stay here – it’s a journey within a journey!
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