LADIES THIS PLACE IS UNSAFE!
I checked in on a Friday. The check in took forever, as the manager is incompetent as well as protects her abusive male staff and lies to the patrons as well as the police whom I had to call because one of the male volunteer staff became physically aggressive and violent with me on Tuesday morning.
Dallas, as he is called, was upset with me when I told him on the second day of my stay that his romantic advances were no longer welcome because he had become increasingly possessive, visibly agitated, and downright insulting as he saw me dancing with, speaking to, and having general fun with the other male patrons at the hostel. I asked him to keep his distance and we could be civil until I left. That didn't happen. On Tuesday morning, he was already up to begin cleaning and left the room I was sleeping in which was his room as well. A place having workers sleeping in the same quarters as patrons is another issue, but businesslike is NOT what this place exudes. It's more like an adult day camp where the counselors are all drunk and high all day. Fun, but as we see, that leads to trouble. It
Anyway, I woke up around 6am to turn off the AC. The room was freezing and the people remaining sleeping in it were all huddled under our blankets. Dallas returned to the room and turned the AC back on. I asked him to turn it off, and he said, "I aint no slave or no bitch and youre was getting the fuck outta here." He went and grabbed for my open suitcase which was on the floor at the foot of my bed and proceeded to throw all of my belongings from the room into the breezeway outside. He returned three times to be sure he got everything even the bag I was holding that he ripped from my hands. He destroyed some of my things including my glasses.
I get up and dress to walk to see the manager. She tells me I have to leave as if I had done something wrong when I was lying in my bed naked holding a blanket to my chest watching this madness. Two older women who were in my room came out and told her I did nothing wrong. They were visibly shaken and upset because his tirade had scared them. Another man from my room defended me as well. They then moved me to another room away from him, bit he still had access to the rooms because he changed the beds everyday. I decided not to stay that night. The manager gave me the owners email and told me to be sure to document which I did. The owner didn't contact me until after 6pm when I emailed at 9am that morning.
The following day I called him and he said whatever I wanted to happen would be fine. I asked for a refund for my stay because I don't pay to come on vacation to be attacked and for that man to be removed because he is dangerous. Another female employee said they had been getting complaints about him as well.
When I returned to the hostel later the day after, the manager said I had to leave and wasn't getting a refund. I told her the owner said opposite and a phone call was made. The owner Michael then asked for me to call on which he told me that I was only getting a refund for two days because he had people who had a different story. He threatened me that if i called the police or reported to Airbnb , I would get nothing. Once he threatened me, that was it. I called the police immediately and made a report with them and Airbnb. The police knew I was telling the truth and advised me with how to proceed. That man still works at the hostel. At this point Airbnb has swept this under the carpet, and I will be suing both the hostel and Airbnb.
Other than the violence, the place wasn't clean, a puddle of water always in the bar bathroom, paper thin walls and mattresses, the food was basically boiled eggs and frozen crap. The drinks were good and the people were cool except for the abusive Dallas and the lying manager Ashley. If you're desperate to not sleep on the street, stay here. Otherwise, it's in a part of Miami with nothing but strip malls and apt buildings, and who knows, you might get your belongings damaged. Save your money and skip this nightmare.
Please don't let this post fool you. I am having a blast! Left the Bikini Horror, oops, I meant hostel, and went over to Generator Hostel, as did about half of their patrons after Dallas's outrage outpouring. Generator is EPIC and so are the staff and guests! No one can kill my awesome time, not even the demons of joy try to spread their darkness and I have to take a few breaks to write about them to protect others. Love, peace, and chicken grease, my friends read more