Reina Madre Hostel

The owners really made us feel welcome. They were kind, relaxed and hospitable, and we’d happily come back. On our first trip to Argentina and Buenos Aires, this was just what we could have hoped for. The rooms are basic but have what you need, and the price to quality is very good. There’s a balcony and rooftop terrace that are nice places to relax.

The place felt bleak, and unlike at many hostels I’ve stayed in, nobody spoke to each other. Still, it was clean despite looking very worn, the location was good, and with plenty of bathrooms, sharing wasn’t an issue. There’s also a rooftop terrace. I left my soap case in a bathroom overnight and it was stolen. It wasn’t valuable, but it was a gift and a pain to replace. Reception showed no concern and didn’t help look for it. Guests generally seemed to be treated like children and not trusted. You have to leave your room key at reception whenever you go out, and there’s no front door key, so you need to buzz and hope someone lets you in. Reception also controls the AC, so you have to ask for it to be turned on. After a few power trips, my room was boiling at 2 a.m. and I had to walk down two flights to ask staff to switch it back on. It’s always turned off in the morning too. The kitchen is closed from midnight to 8 a.m., which isn't handy if you want an early breakfast, and the terrace also stays shut until 8. During our stay, sunrise was at 5:30 a.m., so that was a pity.

I came back three times during my stay in BA, and the price is an absolute steal. You can pay cash here, which some BA hostels don't allow. The hostel is in a beautiful area, handy for bus routes and not far from Palermo. Rooms and bathrooms are clean, and there are lockers plus 24-hour monitoring of who comes and goes, so it felt very safe. The best part might be the staff. Alberto, Lucas and Denis were so helpful and accommodating, and they make the place great. I highly recommend it!

The location in Recoleta is good, but my three-week private room booking turned into a frustrating stay. The rooms are dated, the beds uncomfortable, and the AC is controlled by the owner from reception. My room got really hot with no ventilation. You have to hand in and collect your key at reception every time you leave, and coming back from outside means waiting to be buzzed in. Some bathrooms ran out of toilet paper and soap, the WiFi was unreliable, and the rooms were very noisy. I could hear almost everything in the hostel and on the street. Even the room lock didn’t work properly, and I had to fiddle with it to open the door. At check-in they told me payment had to be in cash, so I’d need to go to Western Union and collect 980 USD worth of Argentinian pesos to pay. The booking didn’t say cash only, and the Visa stickers around the property made it look like cards were accepted. The next day, I said I wanted to cancel because I wasn’t happy with the hostel or payment options. They rudely insisted cash only had been listed, though I checked and it hadn’t, then asked why I’d stayed so long if cash was a problem. They apologized later, but the mood was already spoiled. The hostel isn’t great, feels expensive and outdated, and the key and AC rules made me feel like a kid. Customer service was terrible. I’m baffled it has such a high rating.