10 Beds Budapest

Every backpacker remembers their first sketchy hostel experience. Max and I had both been pretty lucky throughout eastern Europe finding relatively clean hostels (ones that operated as actual businesses at least.) I guess you could say we were both virgins to the "sketchy hostel experience." That would soon change after discovering Adrian's 10 beds hostel in Budapest.

Max and I met in Vienna on route to Budapest. He had been traveling with some American girls who I ended up chatting with over breakfast. We all chilled for a while and before I knew it Max and I were on a train together to Budapest. Being the well adjusted/ sensible guys we are, I recon we trusted each other enough to ditch one of our separately booked hostels and both stay at the same place. The hostel I had booked (the 10 beds) was closer to the train station, so we decided to check it out first.

The walk to the hostel was a bit of a culture shock. Budapest is undoubtedly home to some of the knarliest looking panhandlers I have ever seen (seriously the streets are a circus act.) We made it to the hostel unscathed and buzzed up to the 10 beds. A kind aussie voice answered "Hey, Adrian isn't here. But come up, you have to take the stairs." The door opened to the most unnecessary ear-piercing alarm and we hurried inside, either to make the sound stop or to get away from the circus act outside.

We hadn't inspected the building until after we were inside. The place was definitely haunted; dark, large and vacant. We regretted the decision of going inside more and more with every step we took. I think we stopped on the second floor and actually considered turning back. Max and I both started to recall scenes from horror films as to make sure we didn't end up in one ourselves.

A pretty girl named Anne greeted us at the door. She gave us fresh linen, a rundown of Budapest and apologized for Adrian's absence. At the time we found it suspicious of a fellow guest to be so helpful... And who was in charge of the place at the moment. was this Adrian guy? Did we enter a cult? Is Adrian some kind of polygamist leader who summons guest to the suspicious bed in the middle of the living room? We were now pretty sure we were living the movie hostel. Two gullible guys lured in by a fit Aussie :s
It was also a little strange that Anne had Adrians phone number, and was able to text him to find out where to find spare keys.

As much as I hate to admit it now, we actually set out to see if the hostel Max had booked was any better. Maybe it was fate but for the life of us we couldn't find the other hostel. We would have to stay with 10 beds for the night.... Dun dun dun

The 10 beds were all booked up with some of the strangest characters I have ever met. There was a couple from china (the guy wanted to arm wrestle everyone and I don't think I heard the girl talk), Anne and Dan were a traveling Aussie couple who had been away for years (very descent people), Ferdie was a German from Berlin who had lived in Budapest the year before, Nick was an American who had hitched hiked all the way to Budapest from the states (don't ask how that's possible), Liz was a Romanian missionary... you get the idea. Max and I were definitely the only traveling rookies in the place.




The days that followed were an absolute blast. It's not like it was easy getting to know some of these people. But by the time I had left the hostel, I can honestly say it was a pleasure to meet everyone there. Going clubbing with ferdie, watching the white Chinese guy arm wrestle people and listening to Nick's absurd hitch hiking stories. It was a wicked experience. We even got to drink with the all mighty Adrian one night (he is not a cult leader... I don't think)


In the end the clear lesson was that when your traveling, you should never expect to be too comfy. Sketchy hostels aren't always sketchy. And if you stick enough freaks in a room we're bound to become friends eventually. That is if we don't kill each other first.

Thanks for having us Adrian. Also thanks to Anne and Dan who reassured us that other sane people were close by ;)

And thanks to all of those who actually made it through this really long story

Ps. I will upload some more photos to this post that I need to get off my camera