La Clave Hostel

I spent nearly two weeks here after trying a few other Cali hostels, and this was easily the best value. It’s clean, has lots of bathrooms, and offers a good breakfast for a fair price. Monica, who runs the place, is funny, sweet, and has such a great personality. She made the stay feel like home. It’s relaxed and low-key, with free salsa classes you can ask Monica about. This isn’t a party hostel and the social scene is small, but there’s plenty else going on in Cali. The balcony has a great view of the city, and I made a lot of incredible memories here. If you want a clean, affordable place with a relaxed vibe and a great host, I highly recommend it.

The rooms and facilities are clean and decent. I’d steer clear on weekends, though. You have to ring a loud doorbell to get into the hostel at night, and you can hear it from the dorms. I was woken twice when it rang over and over for at least 15 minutes, once around 3 AM and again around 4 AM. I imagine people were stuck outside that whole time, and I barely slept.

I stayed here in July. A couple runs the hostel, and you have to buzz to get in. Often neither of them was around. Hansel was great and friendly, but his partner was rude and mocked our Spanish to our faces. She made no effort to speak English, and when we asked for recommendations, she told us to ask other guests instead of offering any herself.

Breakfast was delicious, and the room, kitchen, and bathroom were clean. The staff were super friendly too! Thank you 🤗