Hotel Residencia Alce

Friendly staff and a 24-hour bar, plus A/C, which was a huge relief after our usual daily heat strokes in Berlin without it. The location is unbeatable for the price, just 200m from the beach, and it’s recommended for people on a budget who still want access to the sea. There are four things you need to be okay with to enjoy this hostel. First, it has a party atmosphere, though it’s a toned-down version of a party hostel. Second, don’t expect the rooms to be especially nice or anything like a five star experience. Still, without me mentioning one minor room issue, staff came up, cleaned, and replaced the pieces in the WC that needed attention. That was admirable service. Third, you really need to understand Spanish or German. It’s a very German-based hostel and area. We’re Berliners, so that was no problem for us, but without either language, I don’t think it would be enjoyable. Finally, there’s 80s German dance club music playing from sunrise to sunset. That was actually the thing I liked most.