Old Mill Holiday Hostel

I’m a solo traveler and I had a such amazing time at the Hostel. Everyone was so kind and friendly to me, as I was part of them, telling me about what I could do around the city, taking me to the best pub to have a perfect Guinness pint and also telling me the best places to have food and find some local souvenirs. The rooms and the shared bathroom was perfectly clean and we have a large common area/kitchen to chill/cook or just have a tea. Also the location is perfect, 3 minutes walking to the main street.

I stayed in a four bed mixed dorm on Friday, in fairness the room was fine but had no blind or curtain on window. So defo pack an eye mask. I was greeted by the receptionist Thomas and he was very kind and friendly. He gave me lots of local knowledge and information on Achill.The common area is a large kitchen and dining room. Breakfast was included brown bread, white bread, selection of jams, real butter, porridge and tea/ coffee. It is a great location beside all the pubs and restaurants. The parking is three euro for the day which is not bad at all. I just have to say this was the most pricey hostel I have stayed in and I have stayed in hostels all over the world. Check in 3.00pm or 3.30pm and check out 10am.

The hostel is in a great location and as its the only one in town you don't have many options. It's basic but that's all you want. The reason for the review is the terrible staff, the checking lady was incredibly rude, lacked any warmth and a kind word and they inforced a policy of a thirty euro deposit per person ontop of the twenty five euro for the bed. You also are not told before of the deposit and that it has to be in cash until you check in. (Its in small print on the website) not mentioned in the confirmation or when you book. On checkout we were told a guest asked us keep the noise down last night (which was correct, but we did straight away) and hence this she refused to give is back our deposit. We were never told about this before but there is a laminated sign in reception which was pointed out afterwards. I have stayed in multiple hostels around the world, and no where ever refuses a deposit for noise, no staff were called the verify, just one person's word against another and then refuse to return a deposit. We obviously argued this, the owner is very simple, while we were disputing her taking our deposit she even said 'how can we afford to pay staff when people are paying twenty five euro a night' - so the business model is to rob peoples deposit to cover staff wages- disgusting. She finally decided to only take 70 euros off the six of us and return the rest... Making the rules up as she goes along. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and will make sure to tell others to avoid solely due to the management and how they just refuse to return your deposit. Why not just charge 35euro per person and run an honest business.