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The 4.6 it has on Google and 10 on Hostelworld is laughable. I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with Madpackers Manali was bad enough that I decided not to stay there at all. We arrived at around 8am and there were staff and workers clearly present, yet we were completely ignored for nearly four hours. Nobody acknowledged us, explained the situation, or gave us any information. When someone finally spoke to us close to midday, the only thing we were told was to “wait.” What made this even more frustrating was being denied access to a bathroom for a significant amount of time. When I was eventually allowed to use one in a dorm room, there were numerous beds already made up and available, making the whole situation even more confusing. The location is another major issue. The hostel is so far up the hill that getting around becomes difficult. Many taxis are unwilling to come up to collect you, meaning you’re often facing a 40-minute walk downhill just to get back to town. There are only a handful of cafes nearby, and in my opinion you’d be far better off staying further down where transport and facilities are more accessible. Communication was virtually non-existent throughout. Messages went unanswered, nobody kept us informed about what was happening, and there was no running water while we were there. After waiting for hours, receiving no useful information, and seeing no sign that things would improve, we decided to leave and book somewhere else instead. If first impressions count, this was one of the worst I’ve experienced while travelling.
I had a really comfortable and relaxing time here. The hostel has a very chill vibe, the rooms are clean, and the staff is super friendly and helpful. The location is perfect—close to cafés, river spots, and the main street but still peaceful. Met some amazing people and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Definitely recommend this place for anyone visiting Old Manali!
It was a complete worst experience there. Non-professional staff members offering no replies to the queries asked and providing no services. The staff is not at all bothered for your comfort. Zero management with not a single responsible person present there to attend guests. No complimentary beverages offered. No water in the bathrooms, no answering of the calls etc. Never gonna book again at this place. 👎🏻
TL;DR: Once a great backpacker hostel, but now poorly managed, unhygienic, and disappointing. I would not recommend booking this place anymore. I had stayed here a couple of times earlier when Minal and Kuldeep were managing the property, and I absolutely loved the experience back then. Unfortunately, this recent stay was completely disappointing. The check-in time mentioned on Booking.com is 1:00 PM, but when we arrived, we were told it was actually 2:00 PM. What made things worse was that they don’t even have a common washroom where backpackers can freshen up while waiting. While sitting in the common area for an hour, we noticed a huge pile of garbage nearby, and the smell of rotten waste was unbearable. The property felt poorly managed and unhygienic overall. Sadly, this stay ruined our first day experience in Manali. Please think twice before booking.
It's alright but I realised it's not for me. It's very nonchalant . When I checked in, the blanket provided had hair of other girls. I don't think they wash it as frequently as they should or atleast dust it to remove all the stuck hair. Beds are SO CLOSE to each other. Please keep some gap. And no natural light. The light has to be kept on all day.
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