A new hostel in the old town centre
In one of many streets in the old town centre there is a tall sky blue house. It's almost the only lady in blue in the whole of Izola. The thick walls protect her from the winter winds and summer heat, the closed blue window shades do not let sunshine true unless you want them to and in the evening there is a nice breeze cooling you down. It is a century old town house in the street called Dvoriščna ulica, at number 24. It is where the
hostel Alieti stands. The original staircase, already squeaking a bit, is the only reminder of how old the house really is. Its interior is completely changed and new and it was turned into a nice four floor hostel that offers comfort and the warm feeling of home.
In the centre of Izola, near everything
Izola is a small nice town and everywhere you go it feels like it’s really close. It doesn’t only feel like that, it really is. Alieti si only 10m away from the Manzioli square and just a few more steps and you’re at the coast. It takes you just 5 minutes to reach the beach at the lighthouse, and this is not the only place where you can take a dip. There’s the whole coastline where you can sunbathe. Just a few steps away is the tourist information centre, where you can get any information you’d desire. Close by (just around the corner) are also the Paranzana Izola museum, which shows you the former narrow tracked railroad, which used to connect Trieste with Poreč and the permanent model ships exhibit. It’s a great thing to see! Whichever way you arrive, you won’t have any problems reaching the hostel. You can arrive at the railroad station in Koper, from where there’s a bus to Izola about every 20 minutes (the fare is 1,8€ for a single trip), or you can take the taxi, which takes about 10 minutes. From the bus stop in Izola there is just 300 meters (or 5 minutes’ walk) to the hostel. And if you arrive by car, you can leave it at the arranged parking for 10€/day and walk to the centre of the town. There’s even a cheaper one, but it’s a bit further away (700m from the hostel) at the beginning of the tree avenue, for 2,5€ a day. The Hostel is positioned in a great place in the centre of the town, with all the evening activities, which are plentiful during the summer. Still, as the houses are near together, you won’t hear much of the action if you’re trying to slep at the hostel, so it’s a quiet retreat in the centre of the town.
Waking up to the smell of coffee and freshly baked bagels
Hostel Alieti will become your temporary home while staying there. Instead of an alarm clock waking you up on your cell phone, you will be awoken by the smell of fresh bagels and apple rolls with cinnamon, which makes its way all the way to the top floor. Your nose will also be spoiled, by the aroma of coffee that miss Majda cooks with a smile every early morning – so how not to get up, when the day starts so fine? The smiling owner will welcome you to the dining room and wish you a good morrow, just waiting to offer you the delicacies you’ve been smelling since you’ve opened your eyes. It’s time for a tasty warm breakfast!
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Friendly staff and a homey feeling
Beside miss Majda, you will also see mister Uroš in the hostel Alieti. Majda and Uroš are mother and son, who run the place and are very friendly and warm people, full of stories and information. For them Alieti is not a job, but a way of life, which you can see in everything they do. They love working with people, which guests get to feel. In the two years since the hostel has opened, the visitors are already returning to visit them and experience the great atmosphere of Alieti.
Air conditioning, clean bathroom and no curfew
Hostel Alieti is not large, but it’s its size that makes it so much more pleasant. The four floors offer 25 beds altogether. The bottom floor is equipped with a modern kitchen and a dining room, which also serves as a common rom for socializing. There’s also the terrace and the toilets. The first floor has four air-conditioned rooms with 4 and 6 beds, along with bathrooms that are always clean. The attic is a dormitory with 5 beds. Each room has a name of the colour of cupboards it has (white, pink, blue and green), which fill up the unused space where dust bunnies usually reside (under the bed). The cupboards were made especially for the hostel and are really clever. They are large enough for a suitcase or a backpack and can be locked. You can check in while the front desk is open (between 8 and 11 in the morning, or 5 and 7 in the afternoon). But if you arrange it by phone, Majda or Uroš will wait for you outside these hours as well. As a guest you will get a keycard that allows you to enter or leave the hostel at any time.
We’ve been to many cities in Europe and have slept in many hostels, but have never been so charmed and satisfied as in
hostel Alieti in Izola. We are sure to come back soon!
What can you do in Izola? Where to party? Where to swim? All that and much more is described in my article
Fairytale Izola.
