Hammock Hostels - Bandra

Just amazing place to stay highly recommended for all kinds of travellers

It was good stay.

I’ve already shared quite a few reviews about this place, so I don’t think it makes much sense to repeat everything again. However, I would still like to share a few observations, both positive and areas where I feel some improvement could be made. One of the things I really appreciate about this hostel is the amount of natural light and the relatively open surroundings. In a busy city like Mumbai, having some open space around you makes a difference. There aren’t too many buildings immediately surrounding the property, so you get a refreshing sense of openness and feel a little more connected to nature. Another interesting aspect is the surrounding neighbourhood. There are some really nice, upscale areas nearby, along with plenty of places to explore. At the same time, certain parts of the neighbourhood have a more traditional, small-town Indian atmosphere. With little local shops, active streets, and people going about their everyday lives, you get a glimpse of a different side of Mumbai. I personally find this contrast quite interesting because it allows you to experience different lifestyles and communities within the same city. Coming to a few areas that could be improved, the monsoon has almost ended, and the weather has become quite hot and humid. Despite the open surroundings, there is very little breeze these days. Sometimes, even sitting or working in the common areas becomes uncomfortable. I also mentioned this concern to the staff. Since this is a shared space, I believe everyone’s comfort should be considered equally. For example, if a particular cooler is being used by just one person for most of the day, from around 10 AM until the evening, perhaps a small adjustment in its positioning or the seating arrangement could allow more people to benefit from the airflow. This is not about any individual person. Everyone has their own comfort needs, and I completely respect that. However, when we are sharing a space, I feel that everyone should have a fair opportunity to enjoy basic facilities, especially something as essential as proper airflow during hot weather. Unlike North India, where winter has already started approaching, Mumbai generally remains warm for much longer. From my experience, even December and January bring only a relatively mild winter here. So we may still have quite a long period of warm weather ahead, making this a practical concern rather than just a temporary inconvenience. As for the staff, my overall experience has been positive. They are generally helpful and do their best to manage things. Sometimes it may take a little longer for certain concerns to be understood or addressed, but I can understand that they are dealing with a busy environment, with guests constantly checking in and out and plenty of responsibilities throughout the day. Overall, I still appreciate this place and the people working here. Some things, like the weather, are obviously beyond anyone’s control. Perhaps my discomfort with the heat is partly personal, but I believe other guests might experience something similar. A little more consideration towards shared comfort and equal access to common facilities could make the experience even better for everyone.

According to Google reviews, this facility is "excellent." Now that I have stayed, suffered, and left with my dignity barely intact, I curse the internet for throwing around the word "excellent" like loose underwear in a secluded bin. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by a dull neon sign declaring, "Come Swing in and Say Hi!" A promise of warmth, camaraderie, and perhaps a pinch of humanity. Naturally, I did as instructed. "Hi," I said, brimming with optimism. "I have a booking here." The lady at the desk looked at me as if I had personally insulted her ancestors. It was a look that, when translated by my ever-efficient brain, read: "Fuck off." Now, I am not one to exaggerate, but her expression alone could have frozen the much polluted Arabian sea. Cold..! Then came the interrogation, which I assume was part of a secret police initiative to root out unworthy guests. First question: "Have you stayed in hostels before?" Ah, a fine trick question, meant to weed out the riff-raff. I confirmed that, indeed, I had. But she was unconvinced. She demanded the names of these hostels, perhaps expecting me to fumble, confess, and scurry back to wherever non-westerners are supposed to belong. I listed them. She remained unconvinced. "Why didn’t you go there?" she asked, as if my mere presence in her esteemed establishment was a cosmic mistake. With the good results of meditation,Patiently I explained that I was here for the screen writer's conference and had chosen this hostel for its proximity. This, of course, did not satisfy her, because my existence, it seemed, was a personal affront to her rotten class/caste/racist sensibilities. At last, after my impromptu police interview, she deigned to assign me a bed—a top bunk so high that it required mountaineering gear to reach. Clearly, this was no accident. But thanks to my enduring, athletic stubbornness and stoic nature. I survived the ascent and lived to tell the tale. Now, you might think this is where my saga ends, but wait there is one last poetic twist. As I sat in the common area, contemplating my tragic choices, a street cat, wise and discerning, sneaked into the hostel, leapt onto my lap, and curled up in contentment. In that moment, I received more warmth, welcome, and hospitality from a stray cat than from the entire staff of this 'excellent' establishment. If only the lady at the desk had possessed a fraction of the compassion that the cat so effortlessly bestowed upon me, this might have been a different story. Alas, the universe has a dark sense of humor, and so do I. Would I return? Only if I develop a sudden craving for existential despair.