To begin this review, I should emphasize that I have never visited a hostel before. Nonetheless, I knew that they are worth staying in for a short visit, and that they allow people to get to know one another.
I booked Stumble Inn, excited to visit Stellenbosch. My friend and I were equally excited about the great deal that we got: two nights + a wine tour for R700. On the phone, the management was friendly and welcoming, and we were really looking forward to our stay.
We got to Stumble, were given the gate code and the WiFi password, and were told to return a bit later to get into our rooms (we were a little early for arrival.) Later that night, we returned, were fully booked, and paid (also paying a R50 deposit to make sure we returned our key).
The first night was odd in that it was never fully quiet. As is the nature of a hostel, people were constantly coming and going, and so I shrugged my shoulders, complacent. I was a little frustrated that thumping music played for a good bit of the night, but I did manage to rest some. The next morning I was quite tired, but got up to go to the wine tour with my friend. The wine tour was rather pleasant. It includes a good bit for the price, and I was quite pleased.
That afternoon, I could not get into the gate to save my life. Turns out, the gate code had been changed, but the guests were not informed. Interesting, kind of an important point to notify people on, but okay…
That night, I returned, anxious for some sleep. Once again, the thumping music was playing but at a reasonable level. Around 9pm, the music was turned up a bit. Then, at 10pm, as my friend is preparing to go to bed, the music is cranked up, so that it can be heard throughout the entire premises. Then, the banshee yelling begins. Whether it be management or a guest, it was completely rude and disturbed many throughout the hostel. I resign myself to the fact that I won’t be sleeping a great deal tonight, and go into the main room. I put in headphones to block the noise, and try to focus on my studies, in the hopes that I will tire eventually.
This is when it starts to get interesting: a girl comes down the hall, asking me where the toilet is. I direct her to it, and she stands in front of the door to it, complaining that she doesn’t see where it is. I walk over, show her where it is, and the interaction is over. It was quite obvious she was drunk, but I didn’t think much of it.
About fifteen minutes later, the same girl strolls back in, and sits on top of my books and papers and starts asking me questions. She is, indeed, extremely drunk. Her breath smells of alcohol, and her eyes are bloodshot. At this point, I’m mildly annoyed, but I try to be friendly. Despite multiple hints, the girl will not leave. Multiple hostel guests walk by, including people I met on the wine tour, looking at me and mouthing if I’m okay. She begins to hold me, speak very closely to my face, and won’t let me go. I continually suggest she rejoin her friends, but she won’t. At one point, a man in management walks by, dancing, and asks us to dance with him. He gets upset that we won’t and leaves. (Funny, I wouldn’t have minded if I didn’t have someone holding me against my will.) Finally, I begin to ignore the girl, and she leaves.
About half an hour later, management’s guests leave, and two managers begin the process of locking up reception. They come by and ask me to make sure I don’t answer the bell (trust me, I had no plans to, didn’t feel like dealing with any more drunk people ever again), and then proceed to compliment me, tell me to have a good night, and thank me for being such a wonderful guest. At this point, I am literally shocked. A friend of yours would not leave me alone half an hour ago and now you want to be best friends?
I went to bed shortly after considering it was finally quiet, and slept for a few hours, until I was awakened early in the morning by management having a loud conversation with a hostel guest about his missing phone right outside of my room’s window.
This kind of behavior, even at a hostel, is abnormal. I am completely aware that this is South Africa, and that it is a hostel. Nevertheless, basic courtesy, especially when people are trying to sleep, is critically important to a place designed for such a purpose. I am absolutely disgusted with the way this hostel functions, and I will never return, God willing. Furthermore, I will encourage my friends who are abroad in Cape Town currently and will be, not to patronize this hostel. Please, dear readers of this review, heed my warnings before it is too late. The only thing this hostel has going for it is that its WiFi is very fast compared to other establishments. I may have gotten to know other people, but at the expense of my sanity. I did enjoy Stellenbosch, but next time, I’ll splurge on a hotel or bed and breakfast.