Casa Volante Hostal - Hostel

I came back because the staff are lovely and make you feel at home. The facilities are great too, with clean bathrooms, several kitchens, and a patio where people hang out.

For payment, you can use USD or CLP. Paying in CLP means they say you must add the 19% VAT, which is fair since it's the law. Paying in USD avoids the VAT, also legally. Their USD exchange rate is about 5% worse than the mid-market rate, but that's still better than 19% VAT, so use USD if you have a good travel card. As for the hostel itself, it was okay, nothing special, and the Booking photos oversold it a bit. The location is great and the bathroom was reasonably clean. The staff seemed to be having a good time together, but I didn't feel they made guests feel included or welcome.

We had a really good stay. The location was handy, near lots of sights and practical places, and the beds were very comfortable. Breakfast was delicious, the WiFi worked well, and there were plenty of outlets, hairdryers, and towels. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. I'd definitely recommend it.

We really liked the hostel's vibe and location while backpacking on a budget through South America. There were lots of places to relax and a nice kitchen area, and the room was good enough. The staff weren't very friendly, though, and we didn't understand why payment had to be in dollars or by credit card. It was the only place on our trip that charged extra for paying in local currency.