Duque Nest Hostel

The house and its location were good, which is what I think the positive reviews are about. But I didn't feel welcome by the receptionist, a dark-haired Peruvian or Bolivian woman. She was rude and had bad manners during my stay. There were also lots of volunteers using the common areas. They work for free and seemed to treat the hostel as their own space, and they were noisy. Luckily, they didn't seem to be allowed in the jacuzzi or swimming pool, the only small areas where I could get away from them. One young Argentine boy was especially loud, with a strong voice, and seemed very comfortable complaining that someone had taken his chair or that everyone couldn't cook together because the lights would go out.

The staff were welcoming, and I had a really good time meeting people and socialising here. It's close to the beach and feels like good value, with plenty going on. The team arranges all sorts of activities, from beach volleyball and quiz nights to salsa lessons, karaoke, and group outings. They also put on dinners for about €10, with food from different cuisines. Shared areas get cleaned several times a day, and there's a laundry service. I'd recommend it if you're hoping to make friends and have things to do.

The beds have curtains, sockets and a light, which gives you a bit more privacy. Some guests were great, including the Finnish girl Laura and the four British people I met, Dave, Sean, James and another whose name I can't recall. Others were really good at being bad. The rules are a lot, and with an 11 o'clock curfew it can feel like an open prison. Everything shuts down then. There is a swimming pool, a jacuzzi and two or three kitchens, though. The toilets are awkward: some have showers together, while others only have a shower, and I found it really hard to get a free one in the morning. It's a long way from Veronicas, Playa del Americas and Los Christianos. A taxi to or from those places can cost €10-€15. Playa de Fenebe, if I got the name right, is closer, and there are shops and bars about 2-5 minutes away. The place isn't cheap, at €35 a night, and I was told it can go up to €50. They organise dinner for €10, but you see staff or volunteers helping themselves to it.

The staff were very sweet and helpful, and the hostel sits in a quiet area near restaurants, markets, shops and buses. The beach is about a 15-minute walk away. We had a private room that was clean and a decent size, with a little balcony shared with the room next door. The shared bathroom was large and clean. It took a bit of effort to understand the check-in instructions for arriving outside regular hours, but we managed. The bed was softer than we like, though we slept fine. The worst part was the strong strawberry scent they used in the room to make it smell nice.