How We Verify, Review and Handle Disputes

This page explains, in plain words, what the badges on HostelSansar mean, who can write a review, what we count, and what happens if something goes wrong. It is written for students, parents and hostel owners.

What the green "Verified" badge means

A hostel with the green badge has been reviewed by the HostelSansar team and its listing was approved. On top of that, each hostel page can show separate checks, each with the date it was done: Phone number verified (we called and reached the hostel), Visited by the HostelSansar team (a team member went to the hostel), Documents checked (registration or ownership papers were seen) and Photographed by HostelSansar (the photos were taken by our team). A check is only shown if it was really done. If a check is old or the hostel changes hands, we may remove it until it is done again.

Paying does not buy trust

A hostel's plan, advertising or sponsorship never changes its verification or its reviews. Badges are given by our team on the checks above, and reviews are not for sale.

Reviews

Anyone may be allowed to write a review, but reviews from students who sent an inquiry through HostelSansar and whose booking the hostel confirmed carry a Verified enquiry mark. Those students receive a private link by e-mail, usable once. When this is switched to "enquiry only", only they can review. Every review is read by our team before it appears. We remove reviews that contain abuse, personal details, advertising, or that we believe are fake or written by the hostel itself. We do not remove a review only because it is negative. Hostels cannot edit or delete reviews; they can report one to us.

What our numbers count

The numbers we show to hostels (views, saves, taps on WhatsApp or phone, inquiry forms) are things that happened on our site. A "lead" is a tap or a form, not a confirmed booking. Visitors are counted once a day without storing IP addresses. We do not add fake or estimated counts.

Payments, deposits and refunds

HostelSansar does not currently take payments or booking deposits for hostels. Any money paid to a hostel is agreed between the student and the hostel, so always ask for a written receipt. Because we do not receive that money, we cannot refund it, but we will help you raise the problem with the hostel and, where a listing misled you, act on the listing. If we ever add online payments, the refund and dispute rules for them will be published on this page before they start.

Complaints and disputes

If a hostel does not match its listing, a review is false, or someone behaved badly, tell us through the Contact page with the hostel's name, what happened and any proof (photos, messages, receipts). We aim to reply within 3 working days. We may ask the hostel for its side, correct or remove wrong information, remove a badge, or remove the listing. We are a directory and not a court, so we cannot decide money claims between a student and a hostel, but we keep a record of complaints against each listing.

Changes to this page

If these rules change we update this page and its date.