Happy House Hostel

The evenings out back were really nice, and there's a big outdoor area to use. Staff were friendly, breakfast was okay, and you can leave your bags in the baggage room or do laundry for a small fee. Great hostel for backpacking around South America on a budget. I'd come back.

The hostel is huge and good value, with a nice pool area, good service, and a very central location in this city of six million. Some bathrooms and toilets were really filthy, though, and there were broken sinks and showers, so I can't give it five stars. One night, while others were asleep, I had to make my own bed and ask for the towel that was included.

The staff were very nice and spoke great English. There’s laundry on site that you can do yourself, and a huge area with a pool and tables to hang out. It was pretty dead, though, with no organized social activities or bar. The hostel is close to the metro, but the area didn't feel safe after dark, around 8 pm. The bathrooms and dorms were very unclean. I went into the bathroom just after someone had cleaned it and honestly couldn't see a difference. The dorm in the photos looks nothing like it does now. The beds aren't the nice wooden ones shown with white blankets. At check-in I got a plastic bag with a sheet and pillow and had to make my own bed. I've stayed in a lot of places and never had to do that, so it wasn't a welcoming start and left me wondering what I was paying for. The beds are metal, and the ladder isn't attached, making the top bunk both noisy and dangerous to climb. There's a sink in the room but no mirror. Each bed has a personal plug, but no light, shelf, safety rail, or curtain, so anyone coming in or out disturbs you. Those small additions would make the room much more pleasant. Breakfast was average, with stone-cold eggs that were probably cooked the day before.

The receptionists were kind, but the building felt like a hospital. I stayed in a private room for one night and can't imagine extending it. The room looked so different from the photos that it felt kind of misleading. The toilet seat was broken, the door was stuck and wouldn't close, the towel had a black stain, and the old window wouldn't open. The pool table's pockets were broken, and the swimming pool was really dirty. People had complained that there was almost no Wi-Fi in the rooms, but nothing changed. Thanks anyway, and I really hope these comments are taken seriously.