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HOSTEL REVIEWS

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 Hostels are a functional oasis for travelers of all experience levels, demographics, and travel styles. They’ve even now evolved to become more than just a backpacker’s overnight bunk, but offering accommodation essentials and amenities, coworking spaces, and countless socialization opportunities. 

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Throughout my travels, I’ve stayed in a fair share of hostels and plan to experience many more as I visit new places. On this page, I’ve compiled a list of the hostels I’ve stayed in along with a short review and link to their Hostelworld, Booking.com, or direct website page where you can read reviews from other travelers, get details on the property, and book your own stay. I’ll continue to update this list as I travel more and stay in different hostels, so be sure to check back here from time to time to hear my thoughts!

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My reviews are based off my own experiences from my stay at each hostel, so I can’t guarantee that other travelers’ or your own opinions might not differ. If you’re new to hostel life or want to learn more about it, check out my blog for beginners here.

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LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN

ISLA MUJERES, MEXICO

NOMADS HOTEL & BEACHCLUB

8/10

I enjoyed my stay at Nomads and loved the laid-back, bohemian island atmosphere. They had all the basic amenities and the beds were comfortable and private. The staff was a bit quiet and standoffish, but I was still able to enjoy my time there and socialize with other travelers.

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CANCUN, MEXICO

MAYAN MONKEY

8/10

An energetic and clean party hostel with lots of young travelers looking to make friends and memories. A good location with lots of amenities and services including low-cost laundry services, free breakfast, an outdoor pool, and more. I loved Mayan Monkey would recommend it to other travelers.

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TULUM, MEXICO

MAYAN MONKEY

7/10

A bohemian-themed hostel with good vibes and energy. There's a big party emphasis with loud music playing most of the time and regularly scheduled events and DJs, which can be disturbing. The location is a bit out of the way from the downtown area, but the hostel offers convenient amenities such as bike rentals, an outdoor pool and bar, and free breakfast. 

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ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA

OJALÁ

9/10

A stunning and clean boutique hostel with a garden, volcanic views, and central location. Suitable for various types of travelers and a great place to relax, work, or be social. Each bunk has a designated locker, lamp, outlet, and privacy curtain and showers have consistent hot water. Sister properties Maya Papaya and Casi Casa are other great hostel choices in town.

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LAKE ATITLÁN, GUATEMALA

FREE CERVEZA

8/10

A unique glamping hostel situated right on the lake in Santa Cruz with breathtaking views. Super friendly staff and a great social atmosphere with free daily activities and family dinner for a reasonable price which includes two hours of free beer. Best for a 2-3 night stay, as this lake town is relatively quiet compared to others.

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LANQUÍN, GUATEMALA

ZEPHYR LODGE

5/10

A super popular choice for backpackers, but I personally didn’t get the hype. The views and visual appearance of the hostel are impressionable and the beds are comfortable, however the social atmosphere felt divided and overall cleanliness was substandard.

 

SEMUC CHAMPEY, GUATEMALA 

GREENGO'S

8/10

A stone’s throw from Semuc Champey and my preferred hostel when traveling through Lanquín. There’s an abundance of common areas to relax and socialize and delicious menu items for a fair price. The social environment among guests and staff felt very welcoming and inclusive.

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FLORES, GUATEMALA

LOS AMIGOS

9/10

A fun and vibrant boutique hostel with spacious, comfortable dorms and a great location on Flores Island. A variety of amenities and perks including a travel agency, shared kitchen, hot showers, great WIFI, and even a nightclub in the back. The staff is super friendly and their in-house restaurant & bar is top-rated on the island. Definitely the place for travelers to stay in Flores.

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RIO DULCE, GUATEMALA

BOATIQUE HOTEL & MARINA

10/10

I cannot recommend this hostel enough! I was in awe from the moment I arrived with the beautiful, environmentally sustainable architecture, the friendly and exceedingly accommodating staff, and cleanliness and comfort around the property. This is the absolute jackpot for travelers and a great place to relax and immerse in the beauty of the natural reserve.

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GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA

TEQUILA SUNRISE

7/10

A simple hostel with basic amenities, located in one of the safest city zones. Their rooftop terrace is charming with a partial skyline view and functional kitchen appliances, and each dorm bunk has a private curtain, lamp, and fan. Not the most impressionable hostel, but great for the price which includes complimentary breakfast.​​

 

QUITO, ECUADOR 

VIAJERO

9/10

A rustic hostel with lots of character in the heart of Quito’s old town. The communication from the staff was top-notch even before I arrived and the 24-hour reception was helpful for arranging travel plans. The rooms were spacious and private, although the floorboards were super creaky which made it hard to be quiet in the morning. I loved this hostel and wished I would’ve had more time there.

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QUITO, ECUADOR 

THE SECRET GARDEN

9/10

A top-ranked social hostel just blocks from the historic center with a rooftop terrace providing incredible city views and a friendly social atmosphere. The hostel is clean, comfortable, vibrant, and their free walking tour was one of the best I’ve been on. It felt LGBTQ+ friendly which was an added bonus. The only downfall is there being no community kitchen space.

SANTA MARIANITA, ECUADOR

SOGA

6/10

I stayed here through a volunteer exchange and at first was thrown off by how remote and seemingly deserted the town is, but after a few days grew to love the simplicity and authentic local culture around the hostel and surrounding area. The rooms and bathrooms could use a touch of TLC, but overall the hostel has plenty of common spaces and amenities, laid back vibes, delicious food, and is just a 2-minute walk to the beach (with incredible sunsets!). Best for an off-grid, quiet getaway from the hustle and bustle of travel.

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MACHACHI, ECUADOR

THE SECRET GARDEN

10/10

Stunning, quiet, and tucked right in the heart of the Ecuadorian Andes with an undisturbed view of the famous Cotopaxi Volcano. My time spent here felt magical and although the nightly rate seems steep at a glance, it’s very encompassing including 3 meals/day, tons of snacks, select activities, not to mention an incredibly accommodating and friendly staff. You can even feed the llamas on the property! A MUST when traveling in Ecuador.

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BAÑOS, ECUADOR

MAMA TUNGU

9/10

A beautiful and relaxed stay just outside of Baños. The property has incredible and unique amenities, plenty of games to socialize with other travelers, cozy and clean rooms, and is tucked in the middle of the forest just a few minutes walking to waterfalls. I stayed here for 3 weeks through a work exchange and loved every second, finding it the perfect place to base and relax for some time. My only negative takeaway was the WIFI could be unreliable, making remote work a semi-frustrating task. 

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CUENCA, ECUADOR​

GUILLERMINA'S

8/10

Recently renovated and hardly feels like a hostel. The common areas and rooms are super modern, clean, and the beds are some of the comfiest I’ve ever slept in. The location is in the heart of the historic center making it super walkable and breakfast is included, although I didn’t find it the most tasty. It’s not the most social but you can certainly make friends there (I did!). However, one of the volunteers gave very standoffish, judgemental looks for days which turned me off from the hostel atmosphere.

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CUENCA, ECUADOR​

ALTERNATIVE HOSTELS

4/10

I originally had booked here for four nights but didn’t end up staying even one. The location was a hike from the city center which made me unsettled as a solo female traveler and my intuition gave me weird vibes. There was road construction going on right in front of the hostel that was extremely loud and shaking the entire building. The receptionist was super accommodating with reimbursing me for 3/4 of my nights which I appreciated.

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CUENCA, ECUADOR

SELINA

7/10

I stayed for a week, both in a dorm and a private suite. The hostel atmosphere is less social than others, but the perks, amenities, and locations of Selinas are always reliable and convenient, which was perfect after having to find a last-minute relocation. The dorm beds were too firm for my liking, but I got the best nights’ sleep in months in the private room. Overall I would’ve loved to see more organized activities for travelers to interact since the hostel is so large.

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LATACUNGA, ECUADOR

CAFÉ TIANA

7/10

The notorious ‘home base’ before starting the Quilotoa Loop hiking trek. Located walking distance to the bus terminal, city center, and restaurants, and providing all basic necessities you’d need for your stay. The hostel is nothing fancy compared to others I’ve stayed in, but is a comfortable, affordable, and reliable stay nonetheless.

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ISINLIVÍ, ECUADOR

LLULLU LLAMA

9/10

Right up there in the ranks for best hostel in Ecuador. A beautiful, secluded mountain lodge with delicious food served family style, incredibly friendly and accommodating staff, and even a yoga studio– perfect for stretching after a day of hiking on the Quilotoa Loop. A tad expensive, but includes two meals and is worth the splurge for the amenities, views, and comfort it offers.​

 

CHUGCHILÁN, ECUADOR

CLOUD FOREST​

7/10
A simple, eco-friendly hostel located in the mountains along the Quilotoa Loop hiking route. Meals were served family style with generous portions and the rooms were clean and comfortable. The hostel owner makes a round after dinner to talk to each guest and provide hiking instructions for the following morning which was a sweet and personal touch. The only downfall was there being no indoor lounge spaces aside from the dining tables, as it was quite cold to sit outside in the hammocks.

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SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

MANGO MANSION

6/10

A party hostel in the heart of San Juan with a great social atmosphere and family feel between both guests and staff. It’s not the most fancy, but has anything you may need as a traveler including a large shared kitchen, laundry services, and high-speed WIFI. Comfortable common spaces are limited, but it’s a great place to have a fun time and make friends.

EUROPE

ROME, ITALY

HOSTEL BEAUTY

3/10​

Stayed here with a few study abroad classmates and felt weird vibes. The rooms were super dirty and the neighborhood felt unsafe. The staff was accommodating with a late evening check-in which was helpful. Overall, I would not recommend this hostel to other travelers.

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