Your First Day at a Hostel in Alexandria: What Happens at Ithaka

The strangers didn’t scare me on my first hostel stay. Neither did sharing a room. What got me was standing outside a shut door, backpack cutting into my shoulders, having no clue what came next once somebody opened it.

I’m Egyptian, I travel alone a lot (more than my family would like), and I still get that knot in my stomach just thinking about it. So here’s what a first day at a hostel in Alexandria really looks like at Ithaka, from the message you send to the second you find your bed. Torn between a hostel and a hotel? I wrote down the honest differences in another post.

Spoiler: it’s much calmer than whatever you’re imagining right now.

Who Is Ithaka?

Ithaka is two adults-only hostels in Alexandria, made for people who travel solo and still want some company at the end of the day. The idea is simple. A clean, safe place with other travelers in it, at a price that won’t wreck your budget.

There’s something happening most weeks: yoga, movie nights, karaoke, themed dinners with live music. Nobody drags you along. I’ve skipped more than I’ve joined, honestly, and just sat on the balcony with a book. If you want a feel for the atmosphere first, the Vibe page does a better job than I can.

And the front desk never closes. That sounds minor until your flight lands at 3 a.m.

A Glance at Each Branch

Mansheya is right on the Corniche, so your morning view is the Mediterranean. The dorms have balconies facing the sea, the beds are open (no curtains), and the common room has a door down the middle: smoking on one side, non-smoking on the other. There’s a little minimarket for snacks, drinks, and water bottles. It feels cozy and a bit lived-in, a place with some noise in it. I’d say it works best for solo travelers, culture nerds, and people staying a while.

Raml is downtown, a few steps from the Corniche and basically two streets from the Mansheya branch. It’s the quieter one. The beds have curtains, and it’s where I’d send light sleepers and anyone doing this for the first time. If you are planning the Bibliotheca (which is close to the Raml branch), here’s how to get there from Ithaka.

Both are near transport and shops. Prices move with the season and the day of the week, so I’m not going to quote numbers that’ll be out of date by the time you read this. The Ithaka hostels page has the current ones, or you can just message the team on Instagram or WhatsApp.

What Are the Different Ways You Can Book Your First Day at Ithaka Hostel?

You can book in two ways. Through an online travel agency (OTA) like Booking.com, or directly with Ithaka, by phone or by messaging on WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram.

Direct is the one I like. When you get in touch, the team explains what Ithaka is, who they are, and what you’re getting before asking you for a single thing. It feels like talking to a person, not filling in a checkout page. Book through an OTA and you’re under that platform’s cancellation rules, with any exceptions up to the manager.

Confirming your booking

Direct bookings are confirmed with a deposit of 50% of the total. Debit or credit cards work, as do mobile wallets, and there’s the Egyptian kiosk option too (Aman, Masary, Momken, Sadad) for anyone traveling without a card.

Cancellation depends on how long you’re staying. For stays up to seven nights, it’s free until two days before you arrive, and within that window you’re charged two nights. Longer stays get a longer free window, up to seven days for monthly bookings. Worth asking for confirmation before you pay. If you’re sorting out the rest of your budget too, here’s what Alexandria costs per day.

The Shuttle Service

Ithaka arranges airport pickups from both Borg El Arab and Cairo Airport. The price depends on where you’re coming from and what time you land, so ask for a quote when you book. Just add it to the same message as your reservation, and you’ll skip the extra messages.

Landing late? That’s fine if you have a reservation, since the desk is staffed. Not sure the shuttle is for you? I put together four ways from the airport. And if you’re starting in Cairo, how much a Cairo day trip fits might make you add a night or two.

Your first Day at A hostel: A Tour of the Place

The door opens, somebody smiles at you and says welcome home. Yes, it sounds like a line. After twelve hours of travel, it lands anyway.

Check-in starts at 1:00 PM. First there’s a form, then they scan your passport or ID. After that, you pick a breakfast time (anywhere between 7:30 and 10:30, same at both branches) and the team goes over what Ithaka offers, so you know what to ask for later.

Then comes the walk-through. Kitchen first, then the facilities, then the smoking and non-smoking spots. The last stop is your bed and the locker next to it.

The locker comes with a lock and a key, and you leave a 200 EGP deposit that covers the lock and the room key. It comes back to you when you leave. Check-out is at 11:00 AM. And if leaving your stuff in a room with strangers is what’s making you nervous, my honest take on solo safety comes from the local side.

What Facilities Does Ithaka Offer?

Free high-speed Wi-Fi and air conditioning at both branches. Breakfast is included every day, and it’s the same at both: continental, vegetarian, vegan, and halal options with free drinks. A shared kitchen is there if you’d rather cook. Towels are free, there’s a washing machine, and the front desk and concierge can sort out local guides you can trust.

Bathrooms and beds

Mansheya has three shared bathrooms and open beds, so no curtains. Raml has separate bathrooms for males and females, and its beds are curtained. If privacy matters a lot to you, that’s the difference that should help you choose the branch.

Smoking and the stairs

At Mansheya, the common room is divided by a door into smoking and non-smoking sides. At Raml there’s no smoking in the common area, but there’s a balcony where you can.

Neither branch has a lift. So pack lighter than you want to, or get ready to carry. I’d rather you hear that from me now than discover it at the bottom of the stairs. However, Raml branch is on the first floor while Mansheya is on the second, and it’s not really hard.

Before You Walk In to Your First Day at a Hostel

By the time your bag is in the locker, the day has done most of its job. Nobody’s quizzing you. Nobody’s rushing you either. You step back out into Alexandria with somewhere to come back to, and my first-day Alexandria plan is a decent way to spend that first afternoon.

If you’re heading to Alexandria and want a hostel that gets the first day right, Ithaka has two. Book now at Raml Hostel in the middle of downtown, or book now at Mansheya Hostel on the Corniche. Got a question first? Message the team on Instagram.

What’s the one thing you’d want to know before walking into a hostel for the first time? Tell me in the comments.

FAQ

What time can I check in and check out at Ithaka?

Check-in is at 1:00 PM, and check-out is at 11:00 AM. Arriving late at night works too, as long as you have a reservation. Send the team a message before you travel so somebody’s expecting you.

Do I pay anything at check-in besides my booking?

Yes, a 200 EGP deposit that covers the lock and the room key. It’s refunded when your stay ends, so hold on to both and hand them back at check-out.

Should I book direct or through an OTA?

Both work. Booking direct means the team explains Ithaka to you first and confirms with a 50% deposit. An OTA booking follows that platform’s cancellation policy instead, so read it before you confirm.

Is smoking allowed at Ithaka?

In certain places, yes. Mansheya’s common room has a smoking side behind a door. Raml has no smoking in the common area, but its balcony is open to smokers.

How does the airport shuttle work?

Ithaka does pickups from Borg El Arab Airport and Cairo Airport. The price changes depending on where you’re coming from and when you land, so ask for a quote when you book. Landing late is no problem as long as your reservation is in place.