What's special about the hostel?
The hostel is a boat-hostel, with a low energy building in the hold. Welcome aboard shipmatees!
What do you mean by 'eco'?
Well, this means the hostel is low energy, in any meaning. We have our own water purification on the roof (yes, the garden that looks like a jungle), we heat the rooms and water CO2-neutral, you'll find the comfiest natural matrasses ever, an organic breakfast and last but not least the whole building is low energy, which means lots of insulation and a ventilation system!
But don't let this scare you! Eco-friendly doesn't mean we compromise comfort! Sleeping here is as comfortable, if not more, that any hostel; you just reduce your travelling footprint by sleeping...
Let us seduce you with an organic beer (or something non-alcoholic) on our terrace, and enjoy!
Do I need a hostel or membership card?
No! We are an independant, small hostel and proud of that!
Is there a curfew or lockout?
Of course not, you've paid for your bed so you're entitled to go to sleep whenever you want. We just ask a little understanding for the fact that the rooms need to be cleaned daily!
How about check in and check out time?
check in: 2 pm - 8 pm (unless you warn us it'll be later)
check out: 8:30 am - noon
Do you provide bedsheets?
Are there hostels that don't provide them? Tell us so we won't go there... You even find your bed made at arrival, we just like it if you take off your linen when leaving... We ask kindly not to use sleeping bags, since we provide you with duvets and pillows!
Are the dorms mixed?
Yes they are! But don't worry, most backpackers are very good in respecting each others privacy!
Do you have lockers?
We have lockers in the hallway, just ask for a key! It's not necessary to bring a padlock. And... lockers are for free, you just pay a deposit (5 €) that you get back when returning the key!
Do you have internet?
Ofcourse, this is the 21st century! There's WIFI in the lounge, on deck and -most of the time- in the rooms.
Is there an age limit?
What's that? No serious, we don't care how old you are, as long as you're young at heart! But it's not everyday you got to be a pirate, you might as well go for it, because suddenly you're 65 years old and wearing an earring...
Is breakfast included?
Of course it's included! We offer you an organic, fair trade breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 am. Is this way too late for you? Try to ask us kindly to have an earlier breakfast, and we'll try our very best!
Until what time do you hold my reservation?
If you make an online secured booking (hostelworld or affiliates), we ask to arrive before 8 pm, but if you let us know well in advance (so not the day itself) it'll be later, there is no real deadline if we are there. If you don´t show up at all, we charge your credit card for the first night.
If you book by phone or email, tell us what time you'll arrive and we'll keep the bed for you untill 6 pm, unless you call or email us the day you arrive!
What are the hostel booking/cancellation conditions?
If you make a reservation we ask to pay one night in advance (if you book more than one night, we ask a deposit of 50%), or to provide us with a credit card number and expiry date. This is a safety measure for no shows (when we charge the first night), or for late cancellations; otherwise we don't use this information. Cancelling is possible up to 48 hours in advance.
If you make a reservation through hostelworld or an affiliate, their cancellation conditions are applied. Cancelling is possible up to at least 24 hours in advance; late cancellations mean we charge you the first night! You can or cancel through your account of hostelworld, or cancel directly through mail or phone; in the latter case your reservation is not cancelled if you don't receive a confirmation trough mail. The deposit you've paid isn't refunded, unless you have a cancellation protection with them.
I you book directly via reception you can cancel up to 48 hours in advance, if you paid a deposit we'll refund it back to you. If you cancel later than 48 hours we don't refund the prepayment.
For group bookings we have a specific cancellation policy: in this case you can cancel up to two weeks in advance. If you cancel later we keep a deposit of 50% of the first night, or charge your card with this amount.
What time can I move into my room?
We're very flexible about check in and check out: if we have free beds, we'll let you into your room before 2 pm. But if the hostel is full, you can leave your bags and go explore town already, or wait for check-in time which is 2 pm.
Is there a guest kitchen?
We're sorry but we don't have one for the moment... But we have a little fridge and a little oven, so be prepared to cook creative with an oven! If you have some easy recipies please let us know, maybe we can edit a cookbook!
But eating out causes no problem in Ghent, there's a wide range of restaurants and snackbars, for every budget.
Ghent is a incredibly veggie friendly city, so let yourself go and go veggie for one day! If you're interested we have a veggie guide to Ghent, for vegetarians and flexitarians.
How far are you from the city center?
We are about 1,2 kilometres from the historic heart of Ghent, so about 10-15 minutes walking! If you consider this to far you can take tram 1 instead of walking. If you do that buy a 10 ride ticket (9 €) at the bus shop in the center or at the station, or at any supermarket or newspaper shop, it's way cheaper than always buying single tickets (1,3 € - 2 €)! Just don't forget to validate the ticket when entering the tram...
Do you provide maps?
Yes! We have the world famous use-it maps, made by locals... We don't only have the Ghent ones, but also the ones of Bruges, Antwerp, Brussels, Leuven and Mechelen! And for the veggie people, Ghent is a town with lots of vegetarian/vegan restaurants, all collected on a map of veggie Ghent! Just ask for it!
Are there parking possibilities around the hostel?
Of course we prefer you coming with public transport, but if you come by car you can park for free on the other side of the canal. In the weekend (saturday evening 6 pm till monday 8 am) it's free on this side too; parking fees cost around 4 € for the day. They don't come check everyday, but still often enough, so avoid extra costs!
Are there specific rules?
We're very willowy when it comes to rules, it's all about common sense and respect! Try to respect the neighbours by being (more) silent outside after 11 pm, and try to respect your roommates when you come home late (or early, however you want). Leave the hostel as you find it, which means you clean up your own mess! Don't eat or drink in the rooms, use the lounge for this! Last but not least, take your linen off the bed when leaving, we already made it for you before coming.
