Hostel Jamaika — Hotel in Vilnius

Prior to now, anytime I stayed in a hostel, I would get a private room, given I couldn't imagine the real hostel experience of a shared dormitory with strangers would be kind to a finicky sleeper.

I was certainly right on that point - I booked a bed here just this past night as hostel beds are evidently the only reasonably priced accommodation in Vilnius you can get on a very short notice. The reception was courteous enough and spoke English, and if you like socialising with interesting characters, you can find plenty in the common areas in the evening - but those are pretty much the only good points.

Bathrooms were covered in mould, and the kitchens/common area is full of trash and yesteryear's rotting food.

The bed I got was right by the door of the room I was placed in, such that, besides getting to hear every single detail of the noisy conversations in the common area in the highest definition possible, you get to bask in the lights of the smartphones of everyone going in and out of the room after dark. The curtains they have around the beds for privacy might as well not be there for the incomplete coverage/nonsensical placement.

All told, between the noise in the common room that carried on to almost midnight, everyone in the room being prodigious snorers, and the people coming in and out of the room in to the wee hours of the morning, it became clear I was not going to get any sleep before I had to get up at 4 am, so I packed up my stuff and left at 2. To the property's credit, they have a lockbox outside filled with keys that either is always unlocked or I got lucky with the combination (hint: it's the number of the beast). This came in handy because I realised in my sleep-deprived haste, I left something behind, and since I had dropped my key off inside already, I was essentially locked out. Thirty minutes of panic ensued before I finally noticed and tried the box. Would have been much better if I had not had to leave a brainless zombie in the first place, though.

The real horror, however, is the fact that they give out duplicate locker keys to multiple people, such that someone could help themselves to anything you leave in them. I found this out when, while trying to go to sleep, one guest asked another if he had left stuff in his locker, which so happened to be the one I was assigned. The other guy affirmed no, to which the other guest commented how this sort of thing is always happening at this hostel, i.e. guests getting given the same locker, and he himself had been robbed there once because of it. That mortified me so much of course that I immediately got up and moved my things to my evidently more secure bedside. This place might have gotten a 2 or 3 as, although it was not at all my cup of tea, I could see how someone who enjoys hostels might find this place somewhat OK. But sorry, no - when a place makes it possible for other guests to steal your passport, phone, and all of your money, they've completely failed as hospitallers. Stay far away...

Good hostel overall. ||Very central location. Great price. Excellent facilities, including great to have non bunk bed, just normal singles, and own bedside cabinet ||The main feedback I'd give though is that it is best not to have male staff come in to female dorms in the morning before check out time.||I was glad to be in an all female dorm. I went into shower about 10am, a couple of hours before check out time, so did not expect housekeeping staff to be coming into room yet.||When finished shower I returned to bedroom, not fully dressed, as I'd forgotten something, a towel partly covering me, to find a male worker inside making up the beds for those who had left.||I was surprised not just because it was a female dorm but because it was before check out time so didn't expect staff to be there yet.||I was left standing there awkwardly unable to get dressed. Thankfully the male staff member realised and asked if I would like him to leave. Still a situation that is probably best to avoid in future in female...

We spent here 2 nights in a twin room. It's very close to the bus and train station. Around 15min walk to Vilnius old town. Check in through the instructions that hostel sends to you (it's very clear, didn't have any problems to follow the steps). The room is basic but enough for couples of nights especially when you spend most of the time visiting the city. Comfortable beds.The staff is nice and helpful. The towel included, wifi works smoothly, kitchen is available to cook basic food and store your staff in the fridge. We could leave our bags after check out and come and pick it up at the evening before our bus. The bathroom is shared- one thing I didn't like was that on the first floor there isn't a shower so you have to walk down to shower on the ground floor. And it would be nice to have more toilets available.

I recommend to visit a restaurant called Ceburec right next to the hostel- they offer cheap and tasty Lithuanian traditional food

In general- good value for money, I...