Casa Irake - Hostel

The most beautiful and cleanest hostel I’ve stayed in, with wall art and large plants in enormous pots. It’s in a good neighborhood, near a large, beautiful Church, a University with lots of college students nearby, and many excellent restaurants within walking distance. There’s a small outdoor patio with tables and chairs on the ground floor, as well as a fully equipped kitchen with dishes and filtered water. The shared toilets and showers downstairs were very clean. There was hot water, though you do have to limit your time so it doesn’t run out. Upstairs, there are private rooms and a covered rooftop entertainment area with a bar and sound system for parties. The hosts sometimes rent out most or all of the place for large parties, so if you want quiet and privacy, check in advance that you aren’t booking during a party week. The residential area feels good, and the building has an outer code lock, extra code locks on the room doors, and small key lockers in each room. Our shared room had working A/C and heat. Most of all, Diana and Jose may have saved my wife’s life. She was visiting Mexico on her own last week and staying at Casa Irake hostel when the brief citywide lockdown happened. One morning they found her on the ground after she’d fallen and couldn’t get up. Diana took her to a nearby hospital and stayed with her all night for xrays and doctor visits, then brought her back to the hostel and called me so I could fly down, take care of her, and get her home. Before I could arrive in Guadalajara, Jose and Diana brought her food and water while she still couldn’t get up or walk on her own. After I arrived, we stayed a few more days until she was mobile enough to return home. That’s the kind of caring service you might not even get in a three star hotel. Thank you again, Diana and Jose. You are the best. If you have some misfortune in Mexico, you couldn’t ask for a better place or more caring hosts.

Guests can drink and party late without restrictions, and if you ask them to turn the volume down, they can get aggressive and threaten you. The staff offered no help, saying a disclaimer meant they couldn’t do anything. The police came but couldn’t help either, leaving you on your own in a risky situation with no protection. Not secure at all. Avoid this place at all costs.

We spent a few days at Casa Irake after our wedding with 20 family members, and loved everything about the stay. The house, staff, communication, and care for us as visitors were outstanding. Jose and Diana were attentive and quick to respond, and we got whatever we needed. Thank you for a wonderful experience. We look forward to coming back!

One of my best finds while traveling in Guadalajara. Casa Irake is a very clean, friendly, comfortable, and safe place to stay in Colonia Americana, and it’s very good value. Staying there gives me good luck!