Casa De Ari

The staff were kind and did their best to keep the run-down place tidy. Casa De Ari was definitely an experience, and we had a nice time and took the rain in stride, even when it soaked the ground and our blankets one evening. Still, it was very loud, and for the same price you can find nicer places. We wouldn't come back :)

We were meant to stay three nights, but left after the first one. The room was dirty, the sheets weren't clean, and the shared bathrooms were covered in pee and other stuff. There are plenty of other places for the same price in La Candelaria, so I wouldn't recommend this one. Noise was the other big problem. People shouted and sang until 3 a.m., then went to nightclubs and came back around 6, when the shouting started again. At 1 a.m., after I'd asked twice to turn the music down, I went to the manager a third time and was told, “it's Saturday night, I can't lower the music.” I can understand noise on a Saturday, but hostels usually have some rules about it, and this one didn't seem to.

The owner is charming, the rooms are spacious, and the food is delicious. This was the most homely hostel in Colombia for me, with a great location, good prices, and lovely staff. Warmly recommended!

I waited around 20 minutes in total, despite having booked well in advance. First nobody came to the door for seven minutes while I stood outside tired and carrying suitcases. The phone number provided didn't work either. Eventually someone opened one door, then remembered the second one a minute later. Nobody was at the entrance, so I waited for someone to come out. A guy finally appeared and took me down to the kitchen, where he said I should wait ten minutes. More than ten minutes had already passed. When I complained, he asked, “Is this normal?” It was a first for me after staying in hostels in different countries. No, it isn't normal, it's disrespectful to a client. He showed me my bed, but nobody had checked me in or explained where the bath, toilet, or kitchen were. I had to go downstairs and ask again. He said there was no kitchen, only food for sale, and the administrator told me, “This is business!” After I asked several times about the bath and toilet, he finally showed me. Nobody even apologized. I packed up and went somewhere else. A horrible experience. I don't recommend it. Learn to talk to people properly before calling yourselves a business, and deal with problems when they come up. Good luck!