The Holy Rock - Hostel at Meteora

I was here for two nights on my recent Balkan trek. Not only is it a great, and inexpensive place to stay when visiting Meteora, but also for meeting people. To start, the hostel is very clean, with comfortable beds. Each bunk had their own plugs for your electronic devices, and had privacy curtains. The bathrooms were a good size and I never found them crowded. I also found the hostel had very nice, large windows, that allowed the rooms to be bright and feel nice to be in. Bottom line, very good value for the price. Now the bonus, the people who work there: especially Sue. If you are here, you probably plan to hike to the monasteries above the city. Every evening, Sue provides a detailed explanation for a fantastic six-hour hike. If you are there longer, this can be broken up over several days. Regardless, Sue’s detailed map, explanations and tips, gave me an amazing day out that could not be beat. Don’t miss her talk! Also, for 6 euros, she prepared a dinner for the hostel guests. The food was delicious and it was a great way to bond with your fellow travellers. I honestly will never forget my stay here, and would recommend Holy Rock to anyone coming to the area.

This was really a fun place to stay. Kostas is a wonderful host. He spent a lot of time talking and joking with his guests. Everyone feels welcome. Kostas says he hates goodbyes--well, we all hated to say goodbye to him. The kitchen is well-supplied with equipment for just about any cooking you would like to do in a hostel. The common area is cozy and inviting and is set up to encourage interaction among guests--indeed I meet several great travelers there. Warning--plan to stay more than one night. Three is better so you have plenty of time to explore Meteora and Kalampaka. I spent 4 nights and could have stayed at least one more, easily.

Επισκεφτήκαμε οικογενειακά το hostel σαν λυση τελευταίας στιγμής. Οι ιδιοκτήτες είχαν την καλοσυνη να μας παραχωρησουν δωμστιο αποκλειστικά για μας παρόλο που περισσευε ένα κρεβάτι. Το δωμάτιο ζεστό, τα κρεβάτια πολυ άνετα, το WiFi εξαιρετικό. Τα μπάνια ήταν πεντακάθαρα, υπήρχε υγρό σαπουνι για τα χέρια και πιστολακι για τα μαλλιά. Η κουζίνα παρολο που δεν την χρησιμοποιήσουμε ήταν πληρως εξοπλισμένη, το σαλόνι ζεστό και φιλοξενο. Υπάρχει πλυντήριο για τα ρουχα με μικρή χρέωση και παραχωρουνται και αντικείμενα ρουχα, παντοφλες κλπ από προηγουμενους ενοίκους αφου πρωτα έχουν πλυθει. Οι ιδιοκτήτες πολυ ευγενικοί και εξυπηρετικοι, το hostel βρίσκεται στο κέντρο κοντά σε όλα τα μαγαζιά!! Parking δε, βρήκαμε ακριβώς απέξω. Συνίσταται για παρεες και για οικογένειες!! Ακόμα όμως και οι μοναχικοί ταξιδιώτες θα βρουν σίγουρα παρέα και αποδοχή!!

As an absolute basic requirement you expect to be able to take a warm shower in a hostel at any point, not have to wait 20-30 minutes for it. For me this is the number #1 or #2 basic requirement after a comfortable bed in a hostel. To give context, I was up early to workout, shower and catch a train. However at 8:30am there was no hot water, it was freezing cold!! It’s not like it was 5/6am, there were around 10 other people up at this time, some wanting to use the water too. I subsequently had to sit on a train in my own festering sweat for over 5 hours. It completely ruined my day.. The low review is mainly because the owner/receptionist showed absolutely no concern, understanding or consideration, in fact balked at me making me feel like I was being unreasonable to expect to have a shower 🤷🏼‍♂️ I expressed in detail my issue in an email and he just suggested I was blackmailing him by asking for a partial refund for not getting what I paid for.