I think it was very in personal...i arrived at 17 hrs and there was no one at the reception. An email send on the day itself comes late. Luckily someone else arrived and top me about the email. I just do not like self check in. I think a youth hostel is a place where you meet people. The facilities are great and worth the price .arriving at a decent time for traveling on the bicycle and seeing nobody is not so fun.
