Hostel La Ballena Backpacker

The private room was clean and good, with a nice shower, and the volunteers were very friendly and helpful. I couldn't sleep because of music from a disco nearby that went on until very late. They also don't accept card payments. I paid at a supermarket and was charged a commission; the owner there, a long-haired guy, was SUPER RUDE.

The price is the main reason I'd rate this lower. We paid $27/night for two nights, and to me it's more like a $20 a night place, maybe $25 since this town is a little more expensive than more local places and is remote. Most online bookings ask $30, which feels too high. I might give it four stars at a lower price. After two nights we moved to a place for $40/night with private cabins, air conditioning, a fridge, breakfast, a private garden, and a location closer to the main beach. The room was fairly clean when we arrived, the bed was comfortable, the pillows were OK, and the fan was strong, though you can't really change its direction. There's no AC. The lobby has a water cooler, and the kitchen has what you need, although the fridge was very full. WiFi was weak, but that's common around the Dominican Republic, so it wasn't a big deal. Coffee isn't provided, but there's a machinetta and a filter coffee machine. The host was curt at check in, not very helpful, and seemed to have an attitude toward us. I'm not sure why. There are lots of passive-aggressive signs around the complex, telling guests to keep showers under five minutes, turn off electricity when leaving, and not flush toilet paper. Maybe those reminders are needed for some guests, so seeing them everywhere wasn't the end of the world. Still, it's hard for me to believe the hotel is so environmentally friendly when a tiny AC is left running in the lobby all day and barely regulates the air. The room doesn't feel very private. Slats in the door let sound through, and it opens right onto the common area. Most guests were considerate, but noise carries, so people making breakfast or moving around at night could wake you. There's also a smoking area next to the rooms, sort of inside, and smoke sometimes drifts in. Some of the windows have netting against bugs, but the front door doesn't, and a bathroom net was mostly ripped off and hadn't been replaced or fixed. It may get buggy at night. The shower curtain is too short, so water gets all over the bathroom. The ceiling isn't quite finished either. The dorm bathrooms are above the private rooms, and cracks between the wooden planks let dust and debris fall onto the bed and into the room when people walk upstairs. There's no bathroom door, which can make morning bathroom trips awkward unless your partner goes to the common area or you're travelling alone. The host was very firm about quiet time at 10:30pm. I had no problem with that, since I'm old and like quiet, and most guests followed it well. But there's an open-air nightclub next door that doesn't follow the policy. It can get loud when it's open. I like music and can sleep through most noise, but light sleepers may not do well here. The stay wasn't horrible. It's rustic, but comfortable enough, and we've stayed in much worse.

The main problem was the water. Our room with a private bathroom was clean and well kept, but there was no running water. They switched on the water pump, though once it was shut down the pressure was very low. The check in office was closed when we arrived, and the only staff member available was rude. The hostel is very close to the beach, but the water problem makes staying here uncomfortable and unsanitary.

When it's busy, the atmosphere is nice, and the private rooms are cozy and affordable. The kitchen is decent compared with other hostels on the island. Service could be rude at times, though at other times it was very friendly. It needs more local competition to reach its full potential.