JO J'S Hostel

On arriving, there was no water, which was a huge problem while I was so sick and couldn’t wash. I had food poisoning and couldn’t leave the room for two days. The private room is a wooden shack behind the main house, but its air conditioning was great, which I really appreciated. I also asked John to check on me the next morning because I was scared of being sick alone, but he didn’t. The stove and TV in the room weren’t working, and the bed was small and next to a boiler, which made me feel somewhat unsafe. The main house is clean, though dark, with too few windows for sunlight. It’s not far from well-known Miami beach. I think the shared bedrooms could be pretty good. There was a charge of 15 Barbados dollars in taxes, which John said only some guests have to pay. It wasn’t listed on my receipt, though apparently it was on his. After a few exchanges, he agreed to waive it and kindly offered me a towel without the 5 Barbados dollar charge. As for the mosquitoes mentioned in other reviews, there were a lot of them, though I don’t think he can do much about that.

We had a wonderful time here, and John was a great host. The cozy, affordable place is well located and made it easy for us to visit this lovely country. We also enjoyed relaxing in the garden and the gazebo out front. A real gem, and we can’t wait to come back.

The neighbors were always friendly and helpful, and the hostel is in a great spot if you want to experience a real neighborhood. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the main road, the fish fry and Miami Beach. John was a lovely host, quick to respond when we had an issue and always willing to help with our other questions about the island. I can’t recommend his hostel enough and will definitely stay again on my next visit :)

A nice, quaint place that’s affordable if you’re traveling alone. They can also offer a good deal if you ask.