Ospitalia Del Mare Hostel

The setting is beautiful, but the cleanliness, service, and noise made for a disappointing stay at Ospitalia Del Mare. My room had several bugs and what looked like mold. I shared photos and concerns with management, but got little acknowledgment. The front desk staff were unexpectedly rude and dismissive throughout. They seemed not to care much, and were only there for short periods in the morning and afternoon, so weren’t much help. Security is also a concern. Guests get ordinary keys for the front gate and their rooms, but the gate was usually open. If someone leaves a room without locking it, it stays open all day, which happened often while we were there. Lock up your things if you stay. The beds squeaked loudly, making for a restless night, though thankfully our roommates had a sense of humor and we could laugh about it afterward. The walls are paper thin, so you hear everything day and night. Light sleepers should bring earplugs. At check-in, sheets and towels are sealed in plastic bags and you make the bed yourself. It’s not the end of the world, but opening everything can be noisy when you arrive late and others are asleep. The supposed towel was actually another flat sheet, thin and non-absorbent, and we were confused at first. There’s only one bathroom in the room, with no separation between shower, toilet, and sink, so only one person can really use it at a time. The property is at the far end of the city area. Nothing is terribly far, but it’s the longest walk back to the trains for the other Cinque Terre towns. I don’t usually leave negative reviews, but I hope this helps people make an informed choice. Cinque is beautiful, so stay somewhere nicer and enjoy your trip.

It’s a simple place, but comfortable and very affordable. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and it’s only a few minutes from the beach and delicious food. Levanto’s beach was less crowded than elsewhere, with soft sand, and catching the train from here to Cinque Terra was easy. If I were traveling on a budget, I’d happily come back without hesitation. Five stars for the price and location.

The whole place felt very safe, with locks on all the doors and keys given to us. Our lockers were large enough for our bags, though they didn’t fit our lock. We felt comfortable leaving them unlocked anyway. The rooms were clean, and the fresh sheets and towels came packaged, which was more than we expected. The woman at reception was quite snappy with us while we were tired and checking in, which was unfortunate, but we didn’t have to see her again. The WiFi didn’t work at all, and we couldn’t be bothered to chase it up. Still, a great experience overall. I’d definitely recommend it.

The hostel was difficult to get comfortable in because there’s no A/C. We were there the second weekend in June, and without the portable battery-powered fans we packed, I don’t think we’d have slept. The room and en suite were clean, and there’s laundry in the basement. Everyone gets a large locker, but bring your own lock since they don’t sell them. The terrace was comfortable and had a great view. The location is fantastic, though it’s about a 15-minute uphill walk from the train station. We loved our time in Levanto. We spent a day visiting all five Cinque Terre towns and enjoyed it a lot, but were glad to come back to Levanto’s quiet, homely feel. The town even had an impromptu rave on Saturday night, and everyone seemed to be there. It was so much fun.