My experience at Madpackers Jaipur as a solo woman traveler — please read before booking.y this...
Not sure how to say this...
Madpackers Jaipur is honestly very good at making people uncomfortable. Especially if you booked and paid in advance but didn’t read the fine print about them not allowing local IDs. I don’t even live in Jaipur anymore, but my passport still has my Jaipur address — and they denied me check-in at 10 pm.
As a woman traveling solo, I put my pride aside and explained the situation. I requested them not to turn me away so late, especially since I’d already paid for a week. The woman manager replied, “If your address is local, you must have family or relatives here — why don’t you stay with them?”
That was… beyond absurd. I’ve been traveling solo across India for a year, and never have I heard such an invasive, tone-deaf thing from a hostel. I swallowed all my frustration and said, “This is personal, please don’t go there.”
But they genuinely treated me like a runaway — just because my ID showed a Jaipur address.
Oh, and I was already exhausted after a full day of travel, barely any sleep, and dealing with period cramps. All I wanted was a bed I’d already paid for.
After more pleading, the manager called her boss and said (in Hindi), “Ye keh rhi hai, kahin aur nahi ja sakti.”
Then she told me, “Okay, you can sleep here tonight, but leave tomorrow before 12.”
At that point, I felt like I was being given shelter out of pity, not accommodation I’d paid for.
And the cherry on top? They don’t provide bottled water, all the dispensers on three floors were empty, and the street outside wasn’t safe at that hour. Thankfully, the receptionist — Akaash, I think — noticed and kindly filled my bottle. That was the only time I actually felt like a guest there.
The next morning, I went to shower, and guess what — the geyser was broken. When I asked, the same manager casually said, “Oh yeah, that’s broken, we’re going to lock that room today anyway.”
So… they put me in an under-repair room, took my money, and acted like I was a nuisance.
I left feeling like I’d stayed there for free — not because I hadn’t paid, but because of how unwelcome they made me feel.
For solo women travelers (or honestly, anyone looking for a better experience in Jaipur):
— Ohh Hosteller (Bani Park) — genuinely friendly staff and safe vibes
— Hotel Aurelia — clean, peaceful, and professional
Wouldn’t recommend Madpackers Jaipur unless you enjoy being made to feel like an inconvenience.
Besides, there is no government rule in India that prohibits hostels or hotels from accepting guests with a local ID. It is an internal policy, not a legal mandate. I was also under the impression it was a govt rule at the time — which is why I didn’t argue with them that night — but I checked later, and it isn’t.