Your choice of accommodation varies, telling a lot about what kind of traveler you are, and yours truly is a huge sucker for hostels. Hamra Urban Gardens (HUG), a hostel in Beirut, seemed to meet my set of criteria and when I stayed there for 9 days, it surely exceeded my expectations.
That being said, I decided to share my two cents about the place. So, here’s my detailed, honest review.
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Location
Looking for a hostel in Beirut that’s close to most of the city’s attractions? Well, HUG is strategically located in the heart of Hamra, one of Beirut’s most popular neighborhoods. It’s the Lebanese capital’s hottest commercial district, full of all sorts of dining options and shopping stores.
Address: Abdel Baki St, Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
Dorm Room
I stayed at an ensuite 6-bed female dorm. Each bed had a curtain to completely block the light and a night lamp on the inside. Although that seems great if you’re staying in the lower bunk and your fellow dormmate on the upper one has the lights on, you could see its reflection on the wall. The bunks, however, were very spacious and comfy. There was also a locker-like compartment under the pillow to keep valuables.
Each bed was assigned a small closet space that stored a lot. It consisted of a rack with hangers, with enough space for you to place your drawers below, as well as two drawers.
The room was air-conditioned and came with a sofa and a mini-bar. Housekeeping also came in every day to clean the bathroom, the room, and make the beds.
As for the bathroom, it had a stand-up shower, a toilet (of course), and a large mirror by the sink with a backsplash to place your toiletries. Housekeeping normally changed two small towels, along with toilet paper, every day. So, you will need to bring your own large towel.
Tip for Arabs: You’d better bring your portable shatafa. The toilets aren’t equipped with any!
Facilities
- Restaurant: “Em Nazih” is accessible to both HUG guests and non-guests. There’s an open buffet for breakfast every day from 8 am to 11 am, serving authentic Lebanese cuisine. Unfortunately, I didn’t really like the breakfast options; there wasn’t much of a variety. I preferred to grab something from Barbar (a famous Lebanese street food chain) on the go instead. There were also events there on weekend nights.
- Rooftop Pool Bar: This was definitely my favorite part of the hostel. Whenever I stayed in Beirut or had some free time during the day, I went for a dip. The main pool was medium-sized and the seating area had chaise lounges, hammocks, and wooden dining tables. The place was family-friendly, so there was a small children’s pool. As for the bar, it didn’t just serve hard and soft drinks, it also served a fine variety of mid-day snacks and meals. I personally loved their chips and dips (salsa, sour cream, and guacamole). Every guest gets a free complimentary drink from the bar as well. It’s also worth mentioning that the rooftop pool bar is accessible to outsiders for LBP 15,000 on weekdays and LBP 20,000 on weekends.
- Gym: I honestly didn’t try out the gym. However, for those staying for longer periods, it’s a great option if you’re the active type, especially that it’s open 24/7.
- Travel Board: Traveling solo? Don’t worry about it. There’s a super cool mirror at the reception area where travelers can write their travel plans and leave their WhatsApp numbers. So, if you’re looking for a travel buddy, you’d easily find yours by joining someone or leaving your own plans. It’s definitely a great way to socialize and make new like-minded friends! HUG also offers pre-planned day trips, however, I honestly found them super expensive and planned my own.
Service
Overall, the service was pretty neat and the staff was very friendly and cooperative.
Price
I booked in mid-August, during the Eid holiday, and paid USD 25 a night, including breakfast and taxes. There are definitely much cheaper hostels, however, for me, that’s an ideal price as I prioritize cleanliness, safety, and location. Plus, having the facilities it has, I personally think it’s a great deal. Payment is acceptable in cash (USD or LBP) and debit/credit cars.
General Information
- There’s free wifi all over the hostel and it’s highly reliable and fast. So, if you’re a digital nomad who needs to get some work done or if you just don’t want to finish your data plan, don’t fret.
- Check-in starts from 2 pm and check-out has to be before noon. Also, note that the reception desk is open 24/hours and there’s no curfew.
Overview
Overall, I definitely enjoyed my stay at this hostel in Beirut and would surely recommend it to you guys! Other than its great location, refreshing ambiance, and comfortable stay, what I liked the most was that it offered a friendly environment for travelers to socialize. So, whether you’re traveling with friends or on your own, you’ll never feel alone!
It may be a hostel in Beirut, but it really reminded me of the international chain of Generator Hostels, on a smaller scale though. Seems like HUG meets international standards as well.
How to Book?
You can easily make a reservation through Booking.com.
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
