Iduna Hostel

I booked two nights after a really bad stay at a nearby hostel, and wound up extending twice. The volunteers were lovely, and the staff made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. There’s a pool for cooling off when it’s too hot for the beach, plus a full bar and great food. Breakfast is delicious but costs extra, while coffee is free. Towels are provided. They also hold different events every day. The place is kept spotless, including the bathrooms and kitchen. There’s a TV room with a comfy couch, rooms have fans and air conditioning, and there are enough parking spaces. It’s a five-minute walk into town. Definitely coming back!

A great stay, with comfortable rooms and kind service.

My private room was lovely, but the hostel felt short on atmosphere. They don’t arrange activities for guests to meet each other. I also didn’t like that reception isn’t open around the clock, and some of the staff were a bit rude. Mina was the exception, she’s so sweet and was easily the best part of Iduna. It’s not right in the center, but Pipa is small, so the location wasn’t a problem for me.

The hostel has a hostile atmosphere, and this was the worst service I had in Pipa. I wouldn’t recommend it to women traveling alone. There are some good things about the facilities: the beds and mattresses are good quality, there’s a coworking setup and an equipped kitchen, and the pool is always clean. But from the start, I heard staff and volunteers talking about guests in a really disrespectful way. They don’t explain all the rules, and when they do, they can be rude and out of proportion. Some volunteers bring outsiders in to stay the night, which made guests feel unsafe. Staff were harsh and acted as if helping guests was a favor. I wasn’t the only woman who felt that way. The volunteers may blur the line between their relationships with each other and their role with guests, which should be more professional and less personal. Since I’m reserved and was working during my stay, some of them called me unfriendly and even said I had a “resting bitch face,” haha. It’s kind of funny, but that’s not an appropriate way to act at work, especially when you don’t know someone well enough to joke like that. As a woman traveling alone, I don’t recommend it. The place felt sexist and run by men, and it seemed like the staff were only nice if you gave them some attention. In the end, I had a disagreement with one of the staff and had to call the manager.