JO&JOE Vienna

I was really on the fence about booking this place because the reviews seemed to be all over the place. But the bottom line is, I totally recommend it! One of the concerns I saw in the reviews was about hair dryers. As a backpacker, I usually don't carry a hair dryer (to save space), so whether a hostel has one is always a big deal for me. I read reviews saying that while they do lend out hair dryers, they were often unavailable. However, during my 3-night stay, I was able to borrow a hair dryer every time I asked, except for once. And even then, when I went back to reception after about 30-60 minutes, I was able to get one that someone else had returned. The night staff at reception are truly, truly kind! I couldn't find the hostel entrance for over 10 minutes and ended up calling. When I still couldn't find it despite their explanations, they came out to get me. When I apologized, they actually told me not to worry, saying that the entrance here is indeed hard to find. (It was a cheerful female staff member with short hair. Seriously, so kind). The male staff member (big build, cool beard) who seemed to handle computer tasks like check-in and check-out was also very friendly regarding check-in and the hair dryer. The hostel was so good that I decided to extend my stay for another day, and when I requested an extension, they assigned me to the same bed if available. The price was also similar to what I'd found on the app, so it wasn't a burden! The dorm rooms seem to accommodate about 10 people, and each has two sets of toilets and showers. There are two sinks outside. There's also a changing room, which is convenient for changing clothes. It seems like the room lights are turned off around 11-12 PM (I'm not entirely sure, as I always came back after midnight...).

Completely unexpected! I received an email informing me that the hotel lobby would be hosting an event, and the 5th floor would be off-limits that day. When I expressed my dissatisfaction and tried to cancel early, I was refused! Checking in felt like being a prisoner; my room key was checked constantly. The whole experience was absolutely terrible!

Beyond the spacious room, having two bathrooms in one unit is a huge plus! The common areas are well-equipped and functional, and there are even board games available. It's a very youthful and lively hostel. The lower bunks come with curtains, so privacy is decent, and each bunk has its own light.

Very clean, and my roommates were all great. Someone came to clean every morning, and security was excellent. The lockers had locks, so I could store my belongings. There were outlets, USB, and Type-C ports by the bed, and the view from the window was also very nice.

The location was excellent, right in front of the station. The common areas were spacious, and being able to access the rooftop was a nice touch for relaxation. However, it was a bit disappointing that luggage storage before/after check-in/out cost extra (lockers) and bath towels weren't free. But I guess that's to be expected given it's a dormitory.

Excellent location, right above IKEA on the 5th floor. It's about a two-minute walk to Westbahnhof (train or U3 metro). There's a kitchen available with utensils, but you can't cook, though there is a fridge. Plenty of common areas for relaxing and chatting. However, they charge a fee for luggage storage.