Hostal Kaleidoscopio

Martha is an incredibly kind host who makes the hostel feel like a home away from home. It’s near the Chipre neighborhood, which is a great place to catch the sunset over the city.

I don’t usually leave negative reviews, and gave three out of five because I didn’t actually get to stay here. The owner asked me to leave after I asked for a small discount as a walk-in. To me, negotiating on arrival is normal in this business. I own a hostel in Italy and value walk-in guests. Without a portal commission, you can offer them a discount and still earn more. The owner seemed like a nice person, but I didn’t like being made to feel like a bad customer for asking something so ordinary. The hostel looked nice, but I couldn’t enjoy it. I ended up at a nearby hostel where they understood negotiating on arrival. You could book through Hostelworld or another portal, or hopefully management will understand this simple idea. I’m posting this in case they handle the situation better next time.

Kaleidoscope hostel has magical decor and is right in the center of Manizales. I stayed for just one night on my way to Pereira. Enrique was very friendly and gave me suggestions for the city when I asked.

The staff were exceptionally kind and helpful, and the facilities were clean. It’s a good hostel overall, though being on a busy street made it pretty noisy at night.