After 30+ years reviewing hostels/hotels worldwide, Stay 424 is hands-down the worst. Beyond 1 employee, it shows zero effort.
*Check-in: No promised door code sent; had to talk to a faceless iPad voice to get in.
*Security: Large dorm with bunk beds and prison-style curtains. Back-alley door had a static posted code—anyone (including ex-guests) could enter anytime. Cameras easily unplugged; monitoring unclear.
*Nighttime: Lights out at 10pm, but constant door traffic brought cold air. Loud booming music from downstairs all night.
*Advertised perks (false imagery incl. pool table) completely nonexistent. Space was freezing, unfinished with exposed insulation, dingy smells masked by industrial cleaner.
*Cleanliness: Feces left in shower for 8 hours; vomit in sink ignored for hours.
*Staff drama: Cleaner fired publicly while weeping. False assault claim by employee brought police through dorm at 1am - no explanation from management.
*Other issues: Food theft, leaking tepid showers, broken dishwasher, faulty door codes (1 guest locked out in pajamas for an hour).
*Breaking point: Transient masturbated openly in dorm. Confrontation escalated to threats of violence (1 had a knife). transient kicked out; aggressor stayed and threatened me. Moved to private room at extra cost; denied refund/refusal for remaining days despite safety concerns.
*Left early amid utility outages from construction.
Don't stay at Stay 424. And yes, they did try to buy my silence, wanting more praise.