Columbus Rooftop Hostels

Even in low season, there was a friendly, sociable feel at the hostel, and the rooms were tidy. The kitchen worked well, as did the fridges. Grace, one of the volunteers while I was there, was especially kind and helpful, with suggestions for places to visit in Gran Canaria. Thanks so much, I highly recommend staying here!

The rooftop terrace was a lovely place to relax and meet people. The hostel is in a nice spot in the old town of las Palmas, and the rooms were good, with large lockers for storing everything. I'd definitely recommend it and would love to return someday ✌🏼

I met lots of people and really enjoyed the hostel's atmosphere. David and Emanuel were especially friendly and helpful, even giving me a hand during their time off. They also shared plenty of recommendations. Had a really nice stay.

The front door code was changed once without warning. If you're coming back late, you could be locked out for the night if you can't get to your phone or check your email. Volunteers were friendly and sociable, but seemed disorganized. I overheard complaints at reception about clothes going missing in the laundry service. Wi-Fi was unstable at the two tables meant for working, and everyone working near me complained about it. In the kitchen, I saw insects crawling across the counter every time I went in. The old building seems prone to hygiene problems. After moving from a nine- or twelve-person dorm to a room for three to sleep better, I spent several nights smelling cooking through what I assume was the ventilation system. It might have been shrimp burned in the depths of hell. The air was so bad I thought it was toxic. The beds were badly built, with wide gaps between them and the walls where things could fall to the floor or onto the person below, as happened to my stuff. Even small movements caused loud, explosive crackling. Once I thought the person below me was setting off firecrackers or hitting the wall to kill a fly, so I looked down ready to confront them, only to see they were just shifting to get comfortable. Privacy also seemed like an afterthought. There were no bed curtains, and the beds were positioned so poorly that bright hallway light shone in people's faces when the door opened. Some guests draped towels to block it. The only real privacy seemed to be on the top third bunk, which many people might find inconvenient or scary because it's so high. Dorm door keypads beeped loudly with each press in most rooms, then played a little melody when the door unlocked. Wrong codes, which happened more often than you'd think, set off a series of harsh tones that woke people. Those needless, unpleasant noises felt like a sign that management didn't care about the effect on guests sharing a dorm. I did meet nice people, but the crowd seemed unusually old for a hostel. I shared with solo travelers in their 50s, some who didn't speak English and had little interest or ability to socialize. It gave me the feeling that people were there out of necessity more than choice. I stayed two weeks and wish I'd read a review like this before booking. I question the hostel's average rating, especially since other guests mentioned the same problems. The only positive thing I heard from another guest was, "At least it’s not as bad as Jungle House."