D'S Hostel

The view from the room is awesome, and I’d recommend staying here. It’s a nice, clean place, pretty basic, but Diana is really helpful and laid-back. She helped me get a ticket to Honduras and is always happy to chat.

Dana and her family were among the nicest people I’ve ever met. They welcomed my friend and me so warmly, and answered questions we hadn’t even asked yet. They helped us learn about the area and local culture, and I’ll surely be back after checking out Hopkins. Honestly, 6/5, simply amazing. The hostel is very close to the beach and park, with a rooftop patio looking out at the Caribbean. The family has a huge library, three dogs who’d keep you company while you sunbathed or read, bike racks, and lockers for valuables. They let me use their little kitchen too, which helped keep my costs down and nutrition up. There was great Wi-Fi, hot coffee and toast in the kitchen each morning, and the dorm was reasonably priced, comfortable, quiet, and cool, with a fan on every bed. The shower was blessedly hot and washed the salt off after swimming in the sea.

We stayed a few days only because we’d already paid in advance, and I wish we hadn’t. The owner was anything but friendly, and sleep was impossible with noise almost around the clock. The beach isn’t suitable for activities, and the surroundings weren’t appealing, with rubbish, garbage, and car wrecks everywhere. Our room wasn’t clean and the Wi-Fi was extremely slow. I really don’t understand the good reviews. Maybe they’re bought. Even one star feels too generous. Absolutely not recommended.

We ended up staying because we didn’t want to scramble for another place, but the room was nothing special and nowhere near worth the price. My wife and I were there in early November 2018, and we’re still annoyed about it. The roof terrace listed in the ad was a ruin, the telephone service wasn’t there, and the advertised barbecue seemed imaginary. The meeting place for talking with other guests was the street, and the photos were outdated. The owner charged 20 BZD for a small load of laundry, two shirts, two shorts, and one towel. We’d agreed on 10 beforehand, but she said she’d run the dryer twice. It’s a small thing, but it made me feel she was treating guests like fools. Another example: the room price we’d agreed on two days earlier suddenly no longer applied because peak season was starting. Wasn’t that known two days before? I felt ripped off.