I should have known that things would not go well when they handed me a key that said "Never sleep again." Little did I know, this would be prophetic. Indeed, from the moment that I arrived in what appeared to be a visually lovely and friendly hostel, at about 2pm, until the middle of the night, it was so loud in my private room (which was otherwise nice enough) that I slept under one hour -- with ear plugs. As a 47-year old traveler who has stayed at other hostels in Israel, including the Post Hostel in Jerusalem about three weeks earlier (which was fabulous), I was shocked at the complete lack of soundproofing: not only could I hear every single word said from in some cases the bar or reception area to my room. It was like trying to sleep in a cardboard box at a music festival. I checked out after one night of a five night booking and was never compensated for it. I will never recommend it due to this. The hostel was busy with a large group, the next day they said it was a Birthright group. Fine. I felt out of place and didn't want to disturb the fun, and I was booked for five nights, so I just checked out. I asked about a refund, but because I had booked through Booking (dot) com, they said I had to appeal to Booking for that. Fine. I did. The reception asked me why I didn't complain in the night, and I was basically too out of it to do that since I take sleeping medication for a medical issue, on top of seeing the problem as largely one of fit. Also, I felt bad, like the grumpy old woman who would ruin all of the kids' fun, and that made me feel awful, even if I repeatedly had to ask people to be quiet in the middle of the night outside of my door. But since the room was easy to re-rent (it was the end of Pride week and very busy; I couldn't find other accommodations in Tel Aviv at all in my price range and had to leave the entire city because of this loud hostel), I also think -- without any question -- that I shouldn't have been charged a five day stay for a one-hour of sleep night. For this reason, I give one star. They had the chance to remedy at least the other four nights and just didn't care to, apparently. Also, it was the loudest hotel or hostel (or Airbnb, or even louder than sleeping in an airport terminal on a long layover) I have stayed at anyone in over two dozen countries now. The reception was honest that there could be more Birthright coming through and acknowledged the noise when I came out at about 8 am and said I was checking out completely, but it wasn't only these groups; again, I could hear every single conversation in the immediate vicinity of my room. I'm not a light sleeper either, with ear plugs and sleeping medicine! About the hostel? I didn't think the location was great because it was very far North and so to get around, in the heat and humidity of summer, biking and walking wasn't an option, leaving only a bunch of crowded Dan bus in traffic. The actual hostel was clean and in what looked like a wareh
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