Surfers Retreat - Hostel - Adults Only

The layout makes it easy for a solo traveler to meet like-minded people, and the atmosphere was among the best I’ve found in dozens and dozens of hostels around the world. The rooms are spacious and clean, and the setting is quiet and relaxed. The staff are wonderful, and Mario and Luigi will take great care of you. This is what the hostel experience is all about. I’d highly recommend it.

I’ve travelled a lot, and this was the worst hostel experience I’ve ever had. The owner acted like a Godfather and was extremely aggressive. I strongly recommend not staying here.

For a week, the stay itself was perfect. I met some really nice people, and the two volunteers, Angelina and Emilie, did their best to give guests a wonderful vacation. But there’s a serious issue that can’t be overlooked: the owner treated a guest disrespectfully and became violent. He pulled the guest out of his bunk and threw him to the ground. The reviewer says this was because the owner favored another guest who had stayed longer and therefore brought in more money.

This is a calm place to relax, with a peaceful location and a sunny rooftop that’s nice for coffee in the morning or hanging out later. The pool was clean and usable, the fridge was organized, and the facilities were well maintained. Emilie and Angelina kept things spotless and brought a welcoming, positive atmosphere. The beds were comfortable and quiet, and having three bathrooms meant no queues, even when it was busy. The Wi-Fi, though, was so slow I couldn’t check email. It started out fine, then basically stopped working, so I used mobile data the whole time and had extra costs. A few things could be improved: the upstairs bathroom door scrapes loudly along the floor, door seals could help stop wind from slamming doors, and some board or card games like Jenga or Twister would be fun for helping people connect. The frying pans also need replacing, since everything sticks and cleaning them takes ages. Still, I had a great stay and highly recommend the hostel.