I stayed at Arm Hostel for 3 nights. The location is one of its main advantages — it is situated on a main street close to the Opera House, with convenient access to the city center.
However, the hostel is located on the 5th floor of a building without an elevator, which can be difficult, especially if you have luggage.
I stayed in a 10-bed dorm room with a balcony facing the street. The price is around $8 per night per bed, which at first may seem budget-friendly, but for Yerevan it is not particularly cheap, and there are cleaner and better options available at the same or even lower price.
The bunk beds are a major issue. They shake heavily even with the slightest movement — to the point that any small movement from one person significantly disturbs the other. This made resting uncomfortable and interrupted sleep.
The mattresses are relatively soft and acceptable, but the bed sheets, although clean, feel old and worn.
Due to poor ventilation, the dorm room often has an unpleasant smell. In addition, the windows do not block street noise effectively — even when closed, outside noise is clearly audible. If you are sensitive to noise, earplugs are essential.
The bathrooms and toilets are extremely small (approximately 1m × 1m). In the shower, the door opens inward, which makes the already limited space even more difficult to use. There is no place to hang clothes inside the shower. Even for me, as a relatively slim person, taking a shower was quite difficult.
On the other hand, the kitchen is one of the better parts of the hostel. It is spacious, clean, and well-equipped with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, constant hot water, and all necessary cooking utensils. There are also several dining tables and a counter with chairs. Please note that the kitchen is locked from 2:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
There is also a small shared sitting area in the hallway for about four people. Drinking water is not always readily available; however, bottled water can be purchased at the reception during the night if needed.
During my stay, interaction with the staff was limited. They handled basic tasks, but the overall attitude was not particularly welcoming. One staff member named Vardan, in my experience, was noticeably impolite. When I raised issues, the usual response was “I can’t do anything about it,” without any effort to assist or suggest alternatives. The communication felt dismissive and at times uncomfortable.
Summary:
While the location is convenient, this hostel may not offer good value for money compared to other available options in Yerevan. Issues such as unstable beds, poor ventilation, noise, very limited bathroom space, and unfriendly service could negatively affect the stay. Travelers may want to carefully compare other options before booking.
