Hostel Sol de Oro

There's no way to cook here or keep refrigerated food, and there's no silverware or cookware. All hostels in Buenos Aires are packed with Venezuelan refugees, and they're all overpriced compared with Europe. Piece of s---.

The one good thing is that they gave me my money back when I left, just a few hours after arriving. Otherwise, the place was dirty and noisy, and didn't feel family friendly. The walls were mouldy and peeling, the ceiling was falling apart, and there was a hole in one bathroom ceiling. Smoking was allowed inside the building. The bed linens smelled bad, and the neighborhood felt dangerous. Their "continental breakfast" was cookies and alfajor, not worth it. The photos are misleading.

Getting to restaurants and shops from this guesthouse is easy, and I didn't get lost. It's close to the train station, bus stop, and main road. The hallways are narrow and the stairs small, but the service is excellent. The friendly people run a small family guesthouse at a good price, with breakfast of bread, coffee, and fruit. I booked while at the airport and had no trouble checking in. Aguas Calientes is the gateway to Machu Picchu, and this guesthouse is a good option for visiting.

The location is the strongest point, close to the main sights downtown and in San Telmo. The hostel itself is extremely basic. Breakfast was just coffee with milk, tea, cookies, and two alfajores. The rooms were okay, but far too hot.