Ahmad sent us very detailed instructions on how to reach the place and we really enjoyed our stay with his family. Chatting with Ahmad's family was an absolute delight! We had a meaningful conversation with them along with some delicious tea. Easily one of the most gracious, hospitable and genuine hosts we had any where in our travels.

Stayed in September 2023

Most lovely, friendly, and helpful hostel ever. Very room was perfect for two people. Very authentic and traditional location/area. My mom and I really enjoy our stay there. Definitely, we want to come back and stay there again!

Stayed in May 2023

Hikaya Collective Hostel is not just a family homestay, it's much more! It’s a unique experience, with an introduction to the culture of Palestine and its amazing people, valuable stories, and important insights into the life in Dheisheh refugee camp. We learned that Palestinian hospitality is a very generous one. Ahmad and his family are extremely caring and friendly. They treated us very well, and made sure we got everything we needed at all times, including delicious local food. We were often invited to their house and we got to know and spend some time with Ahmad’s parents and sisters. We felt very safe in the neighborhood. In fact, when passing by houses and shops we were greeted by people, and invited to have coffee and tea. Before coming communication was great. Ahmad speaks fluent English and immediately contacted us as soon as we booked the room, even though we booked it last minute. He gave us all the information and instructions on how to get there, and everything we needed to know. The property is situated in a good location, just 3.6 km from Umar Mosque (which is really easy and cheap to access with a shared taxi). It is close to many shops, supermarkets, fresh falafel, and a taxi point. The room is very clean, spacious and has been decorated in an authentic-cozy way, with heating, and a warm shower. We really appreciated the generous check-in and check-out times, and it was excellent value for money. We wished we could have stayed for longer. ممنونتك

Stayed in May 2023

Very friendly family running the place. They offer their own home made food.

Stayed in April 2023

it's not easy to find at first

excellent for the price, kindness and willingness to help, the room is comfortable and clean.

Stayed in April 2023

Bathroom could be improved a little :)

Very authentic living with Palestinian family but in private room :) nice location.

Stayed in February 2023

Such a lovely family. Friendly and informative. Good luck with everything

Stayed in January 2023

Thank you for the warm welcome, your advice, the discussions, evrything ! Your family was super nice and the food close to the fire was incredible I recommend !!

Stayed in January 2023

The family is amazing, they go above and beyond to attend to your every need

Stayed in December 2022

the food offered was very expensive, but you can get an amazing falafel sandwhich for 3 shekels round the corner! not a negative, but as we couldn’t speak arabic and our hosts couldn’t speak too much English, we didn’t get to hear their stories :(

we had the most wonderful welcome from the family - they really are the most genuine and loveliest people! being able to stay in the camp was a really nice experience & was easy to get to via service taxis -

Stayed in December 2022

the traditional Palestinian food they offer is very good, but we found it a bit pricey (15 dollars for a meal/ breakfast).

This is not a regular hostel. It is a warm family home stay in a refugee camp near Betlehem. The family of Ahmad is incredibly welcoming and they will do everything to make you feel at home. Ahmad aranges everything from a distance. he lives in Italy but he is easy to contact and he speaks fluent English. As a guest you’ll stay in his parents house, they speak a little bit of English also. It is interesting to see how people live in a refugee camp. There are shops and restaurants for falafel/ shawarma nearby. The house itself is easy to find. You can get here by shared taxi from Bethlehem or you can walk from the centre of Bethlehem (30-40 mins walk). Also, the room was impeccably clean. Thanks again for having us!

Stayed in November 2022

Ahmad's home is not just a place to stay. Located in the Dheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, you experience the life there first hand. The idea of staying in a refugee camp might sound intimidating, but what you will actually experience is one of the warmest welcomes you've ever had in your travels. Ahmad's family brings you into their home, with tremendous warmth. They are interested and interesting, and are always happy to spend time getting to know you, even if you don't speak the same language. The day I arrived, I sat in the garden as Abu Ahmad (Ahmad's dad) gave me an impromptu Arabic lesson on the fruits he picked for me from the trees. Um Ahmad (Ahmad's mom) cooked delicious food for me - Ahmad will provide you with a menu with a range of Palestinian dishes you can order for breakfast, lunch, or supper. Dheisheh itself is full of life, with children playing on the streets, shops and restaurants open until late, and poignant street art on just about every wall. This is not to say that staying there is always an easy experience. You will come face to face with photos and drawings of residents martyred by Israeli forces - many of them young men and children. The refugee camp has existed since 1948, and while the people are full of hope, by staying there you cannot remain ignorant of the decades of oppression and displacement faced by Palestinians. If you're looking to better understand Palestine, there is perhaps no better way than staying here. It may be painful at times, but the friendliness and love you will receive make it well worth it, and you are unlikely to personally experience any aspect of the oppression. Ahmad's friend Issa took me on a tour of Bethlehem, including the 3 refugee camps, Banksy's "Walled-off Hotel" and museum, Bethlehem Old City, and the Church of the Nativity. He provided incredible insight, with his own experience informing every aspect of the tour.

Stayed in September 2022

I was looking forward to staying at Hikaya Collective Hostel based on the positive reviews but my experience was quite the opposite. I had arrived at the property but the host was abroad and it seemed like his father was unaware of my booking. Nevertheless, his father welcomed me and showed me to my room. The room was satisfactory expect for three things: (1) there were multiple hair strands on the pillow (2) receipt found on the bedsheet (3) and the toilet was unflushed/unclean. Straight away I mentioned it to the father and showed him my concerns. Communicating with the father was a problem as he didn't speak English. So I contacted the host via WhatsApp to raise the issues mentioned. It wasn't a big deal for me - I had flushed the toilet, so a change of pillow case and bedding would have done the job and made it a good stay. At first the host seemed apologetic, but later on when I went out for a walk - the host messaged demanding photos instantly of the issues. Because I could not send the photos of the issue immediately as I was out (even though the host could have confirmed it with his father) - the host rudely and unprofessionally sent threats for me to leave immediately. At no point was I rude or demanded anything. I didn't even request for the bedding to be changed. All I did was raise the issues with the host. I had no option but to leave the property and I gave the keys back to the father. The father was also surprised at his son's reaction and tried to contact him with no success. I'm not too sure what caused the host to react in such a manner and I wouldn't want anyone to be in the situation where I had to find an alternative accommodation late at night. Overall, a very unpleasant experience.

- The host's father was very friendly and welcoming. - Host was helpful in giving travelling advice before arriving to accommodation.

Stayed in June 2023

The host family were extremely friendly and went out of their way to help me prepare some food ☮️❤️🌎

Stayed in February 2023

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Stayed in February 2024

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Stayed in March 2023

There are no comments available for this review

Stayed in January 2023