Planet B Hostel

We stayed two nights in the four-bed women's dorm and had a good time. My friend and I had the room to ourselves, and the private bathroom with a hot shower was fantastic. Best part was the macaw nest right on the property, so cool to wake up to. Breakfast was included, and the free laundry facilities were a lifesaver for backpackers. The kind, attentive staff made our stay really pleasant. I'd recommend it!

The lush forest around the hostel is beautiful, with spots to lounge or hang a hammock. There were friendly travelers and so many cool birds. Facilities were okay, though the kitchen was a bit run down. I stayed in the women's dorm with four beds, a private bathroom, and AC, which was honestly great. The reviews are right that the rooms can smell a little musty and moldy, though it wasn't too bad for me. One heads-up about payment: I knew Booking.com said I had to pay at the property, but hadn't realized they only took cash. You have to scroll quite a way to find that on the site. Mostly my own fault as a clueless tourist, and apparently pretty common for hostels in Costa Rica, so plan ahead. Opening the windows and repainting the rooms to deal with the mold would make the place even better.

The room I got wasn't shown in the listing, and now I can see why. It was full of black mold, disgusting, and reeked of mold. I checked some other rooms and they seemed a little better, but this was the worst hotel I've ever stayed in and the hostel felt like a safety hazard. I left and went to Plinio down the road, which was amazing. If you're thinking of staying here, go to Plinios instead!

The hostel is right next to a bus stop, so getting into Manuel Antonio was really easy. We had a great stay at Planet B, with a roomy, clean dorm and air conditioning. The staff were incredibly helpful, and we loved making friends with Max, the hostel dog. We'd definitely recommend it.