Are you looking for an affordable and unique place to stay in Bad Goisern, Austria? Look no further than Hostel-Badgoisern. This privately owned and operated hostel offers a quaint and cozy atmosphere that will make you feel right at home. In this review, I’ll share the pros and cons of my stay at this hostel during my Christmas Markets research tour. 

Pros

Privately Owned and Operated

Hostel-Badgoisern is unique because it is privately owned and operated. You’ll be greeted by the owner himself, which gives it a homey and small-town feel that matches the town’s vibe.

Security

When you first arrive at the hostel, you have to ring the doorbell to get let in. Then, after you’ve checked in, your electronic room key for your room will let you in the front door. I liked that security aspect.

Each room has its own electronic keypad, but the lockers in the rooms do not have locks. If you need to lock anything valuable, there are actual “lockers” in the main common area, and you can get the key from the owner. I used this locker in the common area to lock up my wallet and laptop since those were the only two things of real value in my backpack.

Quaint Layout

The layout of the hostel is very quaint—it is a lot smaller than other hostels I have stayed in, and for that reason it felt special and unique. There is a decent-sized kitchen/dining area with microwave and refrigerator, plenty of counter space, and a big table. I don’t remember seeing a stovetop. Next to the kitchen is a large bathroom with toilet stalls on one side and showers on the other. In the common area next to the lockers, there’s another single person bathroom. There appeared to be three or four rooms in the hostel, each maybe with two or more sets of bunks. I had requested a mixed room. However, since there was only one other guest there that night except for me, I was placed in the female room because that other guest was a female and already staying in that room. I was glad I had someone to chat with that night instead of being there all alone—that kind of defeats the purpose of staying in in a hostel, in my opinion!

As a note, apparently, this place is super popular during ski season, but I just happened to stay at a time when it was really slow. The owner has this huge map above the dining room table where guests can “pin” where they are from in the world. It is LOADED with pins, and he’s only been doing the pin on the map thing for a few years.

Location

I did like the location of the hostel—it was in the center of the town with plenty of other buildings around. However, I felt like since it was slow tourism season right then, there weren’t that many places open to eat, etc. Maybe I would have found more options if I had been there for more than just one night.

I also liked that the hostel was an easy walk—about 15 minutes—to the town’s train station. There’s no need to call this the central train station because it’s literally the ONLY train station. And it has only one track, FYI! It was from this train station that I took the train to the next stop which was Hallstatt. It only took about 10-15 minutes on the train to reach this stop. So, if you are planning on going to this cute little lake town, staying in Bad Goisern is definitely an option.

Bike Rental

The other girl who was staying there the same night I was had already been there for a few nights. She wanted to explore the area, so the owner let her borrow (or rent, not sure the exact arrangement) a bicycle that he had on the property. I thought this sounded like a great option if you’re staying here for more than one day. She rode it around to some of the surrounding towns and even went to a spa—a no-clothing spa, but that’s how things go in this part of the world.

Cons

Wish it was closer to the train station

When I say it was “fairly close” to the train station, I mean it wasn’t too bad of a walk through the little town. However, at 5am, a 15-minute walk in the cold and dark is quite long. To be honest, I would have preferred that my accommodations were a little closer to the train station; however, had they been, I probably would have been farther away from anything else. So, there’s always a tradeoff with locations of accommodations.

May be better when it’s busy?

I also both liked and disliked the smallness of the hostel. It probably would have been more fun if more people were there, but I was pretty much there most of the time alone and that was quite boring, to be honest.

Conclusion

Overall, Hostel-Badgoisern is a great option if you’re looking for an affordable and unique place to stay in Bad Goisern. With excellent security, a quaint layout, a convenient location, and bike rental, it’s an excellent choice for solo travelers. Although it might be challenging for early or late arrivals, it’s definitely worth the 15-minute walk. I give this hostel 4.5 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone looking for a cozy and comfortable place to stay in Bad Goisern.

FAQ: Hostel-Badgoisern Review

Hostel-Badgoisern is privately owned and operated, offering a cozy and homey atmosphere. Guests are greeted by the owner, adding to the small-town feel that matches the vibe of the town.

The hostel has a security system in place where guests must ring the doorbell for entry. Each room has its own electronic keypad, and the front door can be accessed using the electronic room key. Valuables can be stored in lockers in the common area, secured with a key obtained from the owner.

The layout of the hostel is quaint and smaller compared to other hostels. It features a kitchen/dining area with microwave and refrigerator, a large bathroom with toilet stalls and showers, and additional bathrooms in the common area. There are three or four rooms with bunk beds. The hostel encourages interactions among guests and provides an opportunity for them to pin their locations on a world map.

The hostel is centrally located within the town of Bad Goisern, Austria. It is about a 15-minute walk from the town's train station, which makes it convenient for exploring the area and nearby attractions.

Yes, the owner offers bike rental for guests who wish to explore the surrounding area. A bicycle can be borrowed or rented from the property, providing an option for guests staying for more than one day.

While the proximity to the train station is convenient during the day, it may be less ideal for early or late arrivals. Additionally, the small size of the hostel can lead to a lack of activity and interaction, especially during slower seasons.

The hostel receives a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Its excellent security, cozy layout, convenient location, and bike rental option make it a recommended choice for solo travelers looking for an affordable and unique place to stay in Bad Goisern.