Hostal Ayelen

The staff were exceptionally kind, and I had a great stay at Hostal Ayelen. It felt like great value for the price. I’d recommend it to travelers who want a reliable place in a good location.

The receptionist was really nice, but unfortunately that didn’t make up for the stay. There’s no common area, the kitchen was rather dirty, towels aren’t provided, the bathroom door doesn’t close, and you can’t pay by card. Our four-bed dorm was in the hotel’s backyard and was indecently tiny, more like a train compartment. Two people could hardly stand in it together, let alone manage their bags. The bed blocked the window so it couldn’t be opened. The sheets hadn’t been changed, smelled bad, and there was a hair on my pillow.

I left after the first night, though I’d booked two, and was pleasantly surprised they charged me for just one. Bring cash, as payment is cash only. The dorms were horribly dirty: the floor was dirty, and the sheets smelled and had lots of someone else’s hair, clearly not changed. The bunk beds were so wobbly, weak, and squeaky they seemed ready to fall apart.

The relaxed atmosphere made this a great place to start a Patagonia trip, and David, the owner, was very friendly and helpful. He even arranged an extra taxi to the airport for us. It cost 10.000 CLP, while Uber would have been 19.000 CLP. We had a great time here.