Welcome to the Podstel family!
Podstel Umbrella is more than just a bed - we are a community hostel run by travellers, located right in the heart of Piata Romana - the liveliest, youngest and most hip neighbourhood in Bucharest.
We are owned and run by Dan and Sam - childhood friends from the UK - who shared a collective dream to set up a new kind of hostel. We visited over 400 hostels in 50+ countries to understand what travellers need from a hostel while building the Podstel vision on the road. After travelling the world for 4 years, we moved to Romania in 2016 to pursue our dream of setting up our first hostel - Podstel Bucharest.
After a successful couple of years with Podstel Bucharest, we’ve now taken what we've learned and opened our second location - Podstel Umbrella - which we’re very excited to be able to share with you.
Here’s what you can expect from a stay with us at Podstel Umbrella:
STAFF
We know what it’s like to be on the road. Our staff all love to travel and have collectively adventured to over 50 countries on 5 continents over the past 10 years.
Beyond a friendly social atmosphere, hot shower and good night’s sleep, we want to welcome you as a friend, get to know you and make your trip extra special by giving you personalised recommendations of things to see and do in Bucharest.
We love learning new languages, so to help make sure nothing is lost in translation, we speak fluent English, Romanian, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German & Swiss German.
ATMOSPHERE
Podstel Umbrella is located in a gorgeous, charming, and homely building from the 1920s, which was previously occupied by Romanian royalty. It has been recently restored and modernised, but rest assured special care was taken to preserve much of its original character and artistic elements.
We have a beautiful courtyard and terrace area surrounded by a huge wall of green ivy, trees and comfy benches, which make a great place to kick back, relax and meet fellow travellers, or enjoy one of our famous Podstel family meals.
On the second floor, you’ll also find a romantic balcony with comfy seating overlooking the courtyard, which is perfect for daydreaming, reading or simply relaxing and watching the day drift away on a hot summer’s day.
With only 34 beds, Podstel Umbrella feels familiar, like a small family home where it's easy to get to know fellow travellers and our friendly staff on a personal level.
SOCIAL
Since we now run two Podstels in Bucharest (Podstel Umbrella and its sister hostel Podstel Bucharest), we thought it would be a great idea to give ALL our guests the ultimate Podstel experience by creating fun social activities and events that run between both our two locations every single day.
We host all kinds of events including movie nights, board game nights and live performances, and of course, the famous Podstel family meals.
So whether you’re staying at Podstel Umbrella or Podstel Bucharest, you’re part of the family and you’re welcome to join in on the fun wherever it’s happening.
LOCATION
We're located right in in the heart of Bucharest’s most hip neighbourhood, Piata Romana - a perfect location to make sure you experience the best that Bucharest has to offer.
We are within 5 minutes walking distance to many concept cafes, vintage shops, restaurants, urban bistros, parks, bookshops, nightclubs, garden cafes, supermarkets and Bucharest’s most famous and beautiful street, Calea Victoriei, where you’ll find all kinds of museums, famous buildings and landmarks.
With the French Embassy directly across the road and guarded 24 hours a day, we are situated in a very safe and secure neighbourhood.
Although Bucharest is a walkable city, we are only 5 minutes walk from the Airport bus (number 783), Piata Romana Metro and all major bus routes, giving convenient access to the whole city.
Here's our proximity to points of interest in Bucharest:
-Gara De Nord (main train station): 20 minutes walk, 8-minute taxi.
-Nightclubs: 5 minutes walk to Gradina Eden (one of Bucharest’s most famous nightclubs).
-Old Town: 20-minute walk to all the bars, cafes, bistros, clubs, art galleries, antique shops & museums.
-Airport Bus (no. 783): 5 minutes walk from Podstel Umbrella.
OTHER
-Free hugs and positivity.
-Fully equipped self-catering kitchen with a cooker, microwave, fridge, utensils, herbs & condiments, reverse osmosis water!
-Free board games.
That’s everything for now, thanks for reading and we look forward to welcoming you to the Podstel Family.Located right in the heart of Bucharest's most lively and alternative district, Podstel Umbrella is a family run hostel and the perfect choice for solo travellers and couples looking for a vibrant, modern and comfortable to place to stay in Bucharest.
We are more than just a bed, and offer our guests a unique hospitality experience through weekly events, workshops and family meals.
With only 34 beds, Podstel Umbrella feels familiar, like a small family home where it's easy to get to know fellow travellers and our friendly staff on a personal level.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Podstel Family,
Property Name: Podstel Umbrella
Street Address:
City :
Contact Name: Podstel Umbrella
Phone: -
Email: -
Amenities
- Baggage storage
- Concierge
- Laundry service
- Lounge
- Photocopying services
- Printer
- Lockers
- Free City Maps
- Free Wifi
- Free Parking
- Free Hugs
- Towel Rental
- Events & Workshops
Check-in/Check-out Policies
This property has the following check-in and check-out times and policies:
Check-In: 14:00
Check-Out: 11:00
Property and Cancellation Policies :
Terms and Conditions
GENERAL
Check-in/ Check out Information
Check-in: 2 PM
Check-out: 11 AM**
**If your departure is later, you are more than welcome to stay in the hostel during that day and use the facilities. We also have free luggage storage on your day of departure!Booking Policy
When making a reservation with us, you will be required to provide identification information including, their name, email address, contact telephone number, credit card number and expiry date.
For bookings over 200€, to confirm your booking, you will need to provide 20% of the total amount in advance. Payment can be through credit card or we can give you our bank details for direct debit. Your booking will be confirmed once payment is received.
Podstel reserves the right to pre-authorise credit cards without any written approval from the customer and may at any time cancel the Booking if the payment details provided by the Customer are invalid and the Customer fails to provide alternative valid details.Can I make a reservation without a credit or debit card?
No. You’ll need a valid credit or debit card to reserve online or over the phone.
We accept payment in cash or by credit card. Please note that paying with credit card incurs an additional 3% surcharge. If you don't have cash when you arrive, you have the option of paying later during your stay.Cancellation Policy
If you wish to cancel or amend your reservation to receive a full refund you will need to notify us by email 48 hours in advance of your arrival date by 2.00pm (GMT+2). If you notify us any less than 48 hours before your arrival date, or in case of a no-show, you will not be entitled to a refund and will be charged for your first night of accommodation.
— Advance Purchase rates: If cancelled, modified, or in case of a no-show, the total price of the reservation can be subject to change.
— Podstel may at any time cancel a booking if the Hostel becomes unavailable due to circumstances outside Podstel’s control. In which case Podstel will refund the Customer any deposit or booking fee paid.Group Booking (More than 6 people)
If you want to make a reservation for more than 6 people, please contact us by email, We have special group prices!
Group Policies regarding payment and cancellation will be given on requestDiscretion
All bookings are subject to availability and Podstel reserves the right to decline any booking at its discretion.Hostel Rules
Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the PODSTEL buildings. Any guest found smoking inside the building, outside of the designated areas, will be fined €50 and asked to leave the premises immediately. A refund will not be issued for the stay.
No SmokingNo Drugs
Drug use is illegal in Romania. Any guest found using drugs within any of the buildings will be fined €250. He/she will be asked to leave the premises immediately. A refund will not be issued.Damage to Podstel Property
Guests will be expected to reimburse Podstel for any damage caused by inappropriate behaviour during their stay.ID
Valid photo identification in the form of a National ID or Passport is required at check-in.Conduct
Guests are required to conduct themselves in a reasonable and responsible manner at Podstel and must not act in any way which may disturb other guests. Failure to adhere to this requirement may result in guests being asked to leave the hostel in which event all Charges and Additional Charges shall become immediately payable by the Guest.Damages
The guest will be responsible for any loss or damage caused at Podstel. The guest may be liable for Podstel’s reasonable cost of repairing, cleaning or replacing any property of Podstel which is damaged, soiled or lost by a Guest.Animals
No animals are allowed in the hostel or garden area.Bed Sharing
No single dorm room bed can be booked or used to accommodate two people. Each room is limited to the number of people stated on the online platforms.Age Restrictions
Bookings cannot be accepted from any person under the age of 16 unless they are accompanied by an adult (18 or over)
Nobody under the age of 18 will be accommodated in any shared dorm rooms and therefore must stay in a private dorm, accompanied by an adult (18 or over). Failure to adhere to this rule will result in automatic cancellation with no refund given.
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