Calafate Hostel

The courtyard was a real treat on the sunny days in Calafate, and the location is amazing for wandering around. It’s a charming place, and I’d recommend it. But the hallways are the big problem: with so much wood, you can hear every little thing, even a ghost passing by. The doors make awful creaking noises too. Seriously, a one-dollar bar of Crisco would lubricate them and fix this annoying issue. And please don’t fall for the sad dinner offer with the designated driver who picks you up. No bueno. The view is great, but the food and service aren’t.

The front desk staff were friendly and welcoming, which I appreciated. The room, though, looked nothing like the one we booked online and felt pretty dirty, so it wasn’t as comfortable as we’d expected. Breakfast was very basic: a boiled egg, plain cereal, a banana, and toast that was really hard. Most mornings we ended up looking for food elsewhere. The shared kitchen was nearly always packed, and there wasn’t enough cutlery or dish soap. The dishes often didn’t seem properly clean, which made the place feel a bit unsanitary. The hostel was just okay overall.

It’s a fairly large hostel with an older, atmospheric feel. The common room is good, and the staff are friendly. Breakfast is included and decent, better than at most hostels. The kitchen could use an upgrade, and the showers and toilets are just okay. I’d stay again.

The room was perfect and the place was very clean. My one complaint is that there wasn’t a vegetarian option, even though that was guaranteed. They also decide how much food you’re allowed, so, for example, you can’t take two slices of bread or two pieces of fruit.