Hostal Santa Fe

Rooms are cheap and basic, but good value, and the breakfast is decent.

The rooms smelled bad, the place was very noisy, and the staff were arrogant. They call themselves a hostel but don't even have a kitchen. Worst place in Castro. Run away.

The rooms were uncomfortable: the partitions are so thin you can hear everything next door, and the shack-like building didn't feel inviting for resting. It's also far from the center, beach, and basic services, with nowhere nearby to eat and an area that's hard to get around. The bigger problem was the service. I had clearly stated how long I'd be staying and confirmed it again when I arrived, but the next day staff said they didn't know what we'd discussed. Neither the receptionist nor the manager/owner showed any willingness to fix the mistake, and they were disrespectful. Instead of working out a solution, things escalated for no reason, and I had to remove my belongings and lose work time. The poor communication and attitude made for a very unpleasant stay, especially as I was traveling for work. It caused unnecessary frustration and stress, and I wouldn't recommend this accommodation. Other guests could run into the same kind of problem.

It was a shame that cooking isn't allowed and the dining room closes at 10:00 PM. Still, the location is excellent, with buses and other services going everywhere. The whole team was consistently friendly and attentive, and breakfast was full and varied. I also loved the huge handwritten map at the entrance, showing places to visit and how to get there from the hostel.