Prague is arguably one of the prettiest cities in Europe, which also makes it among the most popular to visit. With such popularity often comes higher hotel prices, making hostels a great cost-saving alternative. If you’re on the lookout for a hostel in Prague city, I’ve got you covered.

In this detailed review, I’ll share my honest thoughts on the Dream Hostel Prague. I recently stayed here during my own trip to Prague and will share my experience, including what they offer, what I liked about it, what I didn’t like, location, pricing, and more. 

Dream Hostel Prague Booking Prices
Hostel pricing is greatly dependent on when you go. In my case, a two-night stay during winter cost me about $65 (or $32.50 per night). While considerably cheaper than hotels, it might feel a little higher compared to other hostel prices out there. That said, for the location and quality of the hostel, I was okay with these prices.

Dream Hostel Prague Check-In Process
Check-in time here is at 3 p.m. I arrived slightly earlier than that, so I had to wait a little bit, but they were cool about letting me hang out in the lobby in the meantime. They also have 24/7 reception service, so no need to worry if you’re arriving late. As far as a key, you get a keycard that opens both your room and the doors that lead to the rooms from where the stairs are, which is good for extra security.

During check-in, they also gave me a card for a cup of free mulled wine, which was a nice perk. I’ve only seen one other hostel do something like that, and it was the Euro Youth Hostel in Munich, which gives you a ticket for a free drink.

Dream Hostel Prague Towels
Unless you bring your own towel, you’ll have to pay to use one of theirs. Unfortunately, it’s not a deposit either. In this case, it cost 80 Czech Koruna ($3.89). I wasn’t a fan of this since a lot of other hostels only require payment as a deposit, in which case you get your money back when you return the towel. But I double-checked with them at check-in and they confirmed it wasn’t a deposit.

Dream Hostel Prague Location
The Dream Hostel Prague is centrally located. It’s just a 10-minute walk from the main train station and walkable to sites around the city, including Old Town Prague. The area looked relatively safe too. When I had to wait for my Uber to Prague’s Airport, it was around 4:30 a.m., and there were still people out and about. Safety in numbers, right?

Dream Hostel Prague Rooms & Bathrooms
I loved that the dorm rooms here come with privacy curtains on each bunk bed. Each bunk also featured a private light and charging outlet. As far as bathrooms go, our floor had two single shower rooms. I appreciated this for privacy, but the space outside the shower is small. Then, they had a separate room with two sinks and mirrors for getting ready. However, they only had a single room with a toilet, though there were two additional toilets in other areas of our floor. This wasn’t the worst bathroom/shower setup I’ve seen at a hostel, but I think they could stand to have a few more toilets since it didn’t seem like there might not be enough for everyone. 

Dream Hostel Prague Lobby & Overall Experience
The lobby here is nice. They have drinks and food you can order, with plenty of seating to hang out and chat. Overall, I thought the crowd here was nice, though there was one guy who was absolutely hammered sitting in the lobby making a ruckus while I was waiting for my Uber to the airport. Thankfully, it didn’t look like he was going to his room anytime soon. As far as the people in my room, they were all quiet and respectful.

Pros: What I Liked About This Hostel

• The location - This hostel is centrally located, so it’s great for anyone who loves being able to walk around the city.
• Free mulled wine - The ticket for a free mulled wine was a nice welcome.
• Rooms - The rooms here are clean, and they come with privacy curtains, personal lights, and outlets. 

Cons: What I Didn’t Like

• Pay for towels - Instead of a deposit, you have to pay 80 Czech Koruna ($3.89) to use a towel here (and you still had to return it).
• Not enough bathrooms - I think they could use some more toilets here. It didn’t seem like there was enough if multiple people had to go.
• Elevator wasn’t working - This wasn’t an issue for me personally, but if you have limited mobility or heavy luggage, a non-working elevator could be an issue. Thankfully, it seemed to be just a temporary thing since they were doing work in the building, so hopefully it opens up again soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Prague Dream Hostel?
The Prague Dream Hostel is located just a 10-minute walk from the train station and about a 15-minute walk from Prague’s Old Town Square. The hostel’s address is Ve Smečkách 23, 110 00 Nové Město, Czechia. It’s also located right near lots of shopping as Wenceslaus Square.

How secure is Prague Dream Hostel?
As a solo female traveler, I thought this hostel was very secure. They have 24/7 reception (usually two people at the front desk), and you need a key card to open the door to where the dorm rooms are and your own room.

What makes Dream Hostel Prague unique?
Honestly, I thought the ticket for free mulled wine was a unique touch. I’ve only seen one other hostel do this, and while it’s not something that makes or breaks a trip, it’s a nice touch that stands out.

Is Dream Hostel Prague suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, the Dream Hostel Prague is totally suitable for solo travelers. I stayed here on my own, and I felt safe and met some nice travelers.

​​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

​

Bratislava, Slovakia is an under-the-radar European city, especially in comparison to other nearby hotspots like Vienna and Prague. However, this small-but-mighty Slovakian capital offers a charming old town neighborhood that has the traditional European appeal without the large crowds you’ll find in Bratislava’s more famous counterparts.

If you are looking for Bratislava hotels, my biggest recommendation is to stay in Old Town. Outside of this area, Bratislava didn’t feel as safe, which is also why I’d only recommend no more than two days here. During my two-day trip in Bratislava, I stayed at the Hotel Elisabeth Old Town. In this review, I’ll share my honest thoughts about this hotel based on my experience there.

Hotel Elisabeth Bratislava Location
The Hotel Elisabeth’s location is hard to beat. It’s located at the edge of Old Town (A.K.A. where all the tourist attractions are) but still walkable to the city’s main train station. During my time there, it was about a 30-minute walk to the train station. While some hotels may be further into Old Town, the convenience of walkability to the train station gave this hotel a huge leg up in my opinion.

Elisabeth Old Town Bratislava Hotel Prices
For a two-night stay in a single room, I paid $147, which equates to about $66 per night. In general, Bratislava was far cheaper than other European cities, which meant cheaper hotel prices. And, in the case of the Elisabeth, this hotel had one of the best rates considering the location. While you may find cheaper prices elsewhere, consider the location. Old Town felt considerably safer than other parts of the city closer to the train station, so if safety is also a priority, I think this place is a good find.

Hotel Elisabeth Rooms
My room here was small, but for just me, it was plenty of space. Keep in mind that the bed you get is only a Twin size, so if you prefer something larger, you may need to make a special request or just book a bigger room. The bathroom was clean, and there was a window in both the bedroom area and the bathroom in case you need some air. 

The only downside was that the hot water took a minute to kick in, but once it did, everything was fine. Towels and soap are provided in the room as well.

Pros: What I Liked About the Hotel Elisabeth

• Earlier check-in time -  Check-in time for the Hotel Elisabeth was 2 p.m., which is considerably earlier than other places that don’t have check-in until 3 or 4 p.m. They also provide a storage room for you to leave your luggage if you arrive early. 
• Convenient location - This hotel is walkable to both the tourist sites in Old Town and the main train station.
• Affordable prices - For two nights, I only paid $147, making this one of the best deals during my most recent European trip.

Cons: What I Didn’t Like 

• Hot water takes time - This may have been because my trip was during winter, but the hot water took a little longer to kick in. While I wouldn’t consider this a dealbreaker, it was the only real negative I found with this place.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Bratislava famous?
Bratislava is famous for being Slovakia’s capital city and its historic Old Town, which has medieval-era origins. Old Town Bratislava is where you’ll find notable landmarks like Bratislava Castle, Michael’s Gate, and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Where is Elisabeth Old Town?
The Elisabeth Old Town is located near the edge of Bratislava’s Old Town neighborhood, about a 30-minute walk from Hlavná stanica, the city’s main train station. The hotel’s official address is Klemensova 2523/2, 811 09 Bratislava, Slovakia. 

Is Bratislava worth visiting?
I think Bratislava is worth visiting, especially since it’s so close to Vienna. You can either stay in Bratislava and take a day trip to Vienna or stay in Vienna and do a day trip to Bratislava. If you stay in Bratislava, you don’t need more than two days here.

Where is the old town in Bratislava?
The beginning of Old Town Bratislava is about a 30-minute walk south from Hlavná stanica train station. Old Town doesn’t sit directly against the Danube river, but it’s closer to it. 

​​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

​

Budapest is one of the most famous—and frequently visited—cities in Europe. But like most major European cities, it’s not always easy to know where to stay. For some, location is everything, while others consider hospitality or pricing as top considerations. And the golden nugget is something that offers excellent hospitality in a central location on a budget.

I recently visited Budapest for the first time and stayed at the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall. This place functions as either a hotel or hostel, depending on the type of room you book. While I booked a private room all to myself, my dad went for the four-person dorm option. I’ll share my thoughts on the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall as a hotel, along with the hostel side of things based on my dad’s experience.

Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall Location
The Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall is in a central location, which was important to me. It’s right next to the city’s Great Market Hall, a large food hall where you can get all sorts of foods from local vendors. The Meininger is also right by bus stops and the Danube river, and it’s walkable to different sites around town. 

Now, depending on what site you want to visit and the weather, you may prefer to take a bus. Some examples of this are Budapest Castle, shoes on the Danube, Parliament, and Fisherman’s Bastion. However, we could easily walk to places like Doheny St. Synagogue, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the Christmas market. 

For those coming from the airport, you can take the 100E shuttle bus to Kálvin tér; it’s the first stop but roughly a 20-25-minute ride. You can buy a ticket for the shuttle right outside the airport arrivals terminal.

Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall Pricing
The cost to stay at the Meininger Budapest Great Market Hall was actually pretty great. For a three-night stay in a private room during mid-November I paid 144 euros (the equivalent of $169). It’s important to remember that November isn’t the busy summer season, but they had the Christmas market up and running, which is popular in Europe. Of course, going the hostel route here would be much cheaper, but I think it’s a steal for those who want the hotel experience without the extravagant prices.

Meininger Budapest Check-In
Check-in at the Meininger Budapest was pretty straightforward. I got my keycard and didn’t have to worry about towels or anything since they’re all provided in the room for you (if you book a private room). Check-in is anytime after 3 p.m., and the staff here were very helpful.

Meininger Budapest Hotel Rooms
I honestly had no complaints about my room. It was clean and quiet, and while European hotels aren’t known for having lots of space, it was bigger than I expected it to be. That said, if there were more people in the room with me, it might feel a little cramped. I had booked a single private room, but they had two twin beds pushed together and an additional single bed against the wall. I really only needed one twin bed, but I’m guessing the extra beds are for folks who book a private room for multiple people.

On the flip side, I was able to get a peak at the shared dorm-style room my dad was staying in. My dad loves saving money, but this room just wasn’t it. The main reason? The sewer smell in their bathroom. It was awful! I had a similar experience with a hostel in Córdoba, Spain, but thankfully there was a second bathroom as a backup. 

Meininger Budapest Pros

• Incredible breakfast — They had one of the best breakfasts, and it’s worth every penny. For just 10.50 euros, you can get all kind of incredible foods, including eggs, bread, sausage, cheese, vegetables, fruit, etc. I definitely recommend getting it at least once while you’re there.
• The staff — The staff here went out of their way to make us feel welcome. My favorite employees were Eurico from Portugal and Jeanne from Switzerland. 
• Lots of communal spaces — They have a lot of communal space here. There’s the breakfast area, the lobby, and then additional seating on the second floor that’s by the kitchen and laundry machines.
• The location — I really appreciate how central this hotel/hostel is. If location is important to you, I think this one is a great option.

Meininger Budapest Cons

• Sewer smell in some dorm bathrooms — Considering the awful sewer smell from my dad’s dorm room here, I’d recommend going with a private room if you can.
• Not walkable to all destinations — Depending on the weather and how much you love to walk, you may need to take public transportation to get to some famous sites further down the Danube.
• Laundry machines — During our stay, my dad used the laundry machines to wash his clothes. Unfortunately the dryer barely worked and my dad was left with clothes that were still pretty wet. They also only have one washer and one dryer, so if someone else is using them, you’ll have to wait a while.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Meininger from Budapest center?
The Meininger is very close to Budapest center. It’s right next to the Great Market Hall and about a five-minute walk from Kálvin tér. You can also walk to sites like St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Danube river from there.

Is Meininger a hotel or hostel?
The Meininger is both a hotel and hostel. They offer private rooms for more of a traditional hotel experience, along with dorm options that are much cheaper and like a traditional hostel.

​Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

​