Old Mill Holiday Hostel

Stayed 2 nights I had to pay by cash although I had given my card details online. Luckily atm was just across the road, high charges though. Room was on the 2nd floor which didn't help lugging a big bag up the stairs. Room was warm and bed itself was comfortable and kitchen area was sociable. Bathroom was clean but could do with a dryer or hand towels. Location was handy, train station is about 12-20 mins walk depending on luggage, terrain was not flat. Overall a good experience, would stay again if travelling solo.

Group of us staying for a hen party in Westport. When we arrived all guests were asked for a €30 cash only security deposit. Caused a bit of a nuisance for the group and not everyone had cash. So check in took longer than necessary. Room was grand. Just a plain room with loads of bunk beds. Not really enough sockets in the room for everyone needing to charge phones etc. Grand if you just want to rest your head for the night, bedsheets were clean and fresh. Toilets and shower area clean. No issues Issue with night porter/security man on shift. Rude to different groups of us. Refused to show us the correct door up to our room, refused to let some of the girls into the communal room to get bottles of water filled. Some of the girls had brought home bags of chips and didn’t want to be eating in the bedroom, gave out that they were sitting on steps outside the hostel to each their food. Threatening behavior and based on my own opinion, clearly just because we were women. My advice, teach him basic manners and respect! Spoke to manager next morning who took it on board but said she has never had complaint about him before but based on previous reviews on this…. I think that’s a lie. Anyway, overall great weekend in Westport. Just need to sort out the night porter

The hostel is in a great location and as its the only one in town you don't have many options. It's basic but that's all you want. The reason for the review is the terrible staff, the checking lady was incredibly rude, lacked any warmth and a kind word and they inforced a policy of a thirty euro deposit per person ontop of the twenty five euro for the bed. You also are not told before of the deposit and that it has to be in cash until you check in. (Its in small print on the website) not mentioned in the confirmation or when you book. On checkout we were told a guest asked us keep the noise down last night (which was correct, but we did straight away) and hence this she refused to give is back our deposit. We were never told about this before but there is a laminated sign in reception which was pointed out afterwards. I have stayed in multiple hostels around the world, and no where ever refuses a deposit for noise, no staff were called the verify, just one person's word against another and then refuse to return a deposit. We obviously argued this, the owner is very simple, while we were disputing her taking our deposit she even said 'how can we afford to pay staff when people are paying twenty five euro a night' - so the business model is to rob peoples deposit to cover staff wages- disgusting. She finally decided to only take 70 euros off the six of us and return the rest... Making the rules up as she goes along. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone and will make sure to tell others to avoid solely due to the management and how they just refuse to return your deposit. Why not just charge 35euro per person and run an honest business.