After some brief online research back in mid-2007, I booked a twin and a double room online for 3 friends and myself. There weren't any reviews on HostelWorld, but the price seemed normal for Nairobi.
When the taxi pulled up at the place, even the driver raised his eyebrows, it was a ramshackle building with a smashed window in a slightly dodgy neighbourhood from which you could SEE the heart of Nairobi, but I wouldn't have felt comfortable even walking that short distance to it.
When we got inside, we realised that the phrase 'Youth Hostel' was a gross exaggeration - it was more like a halfway house, or seriously dodgy student accommodation. Which I think it was - the dorms we walked past were full of young locals, who appeared to be living there, not visiting.
The woman who came to deal with us was completely oblivious to our online booking, she said the person who owns the place and accepts the bookings is hardly ever around. Great.
The place was sort of open... more