Casa Columpio

The terrace was a nice place to meet other guests, and the hostel stayed quiet enough for remote work. As a solo woman, I also appreciated the location. The bed was comfortable, and coffee, tea, and filtered water were free. It was easy to get to know people here. I'd recommend it.

The location was good, and the staff on duty were very friendly. That was the only positive for me. I paid extra for a bed in a women-only shared room, but on the second evening they placed a man in the room with us. The next morning he vomited all over the bathroom. The hostel's apology came late, and there was no other response. We were also meant to have individual keys, but didn't, so we had to coordinate with each other or leave the door unlocked. The free-water tank was mouldy. After drinking the water, I had severe stomach cramps and needed to see a doctor. I'm glad I left and won't book here again.

My friends and I were robbed during this stay: $500 in cash, $1,500 from my friend's card after someone secretly took a picture of it, AirPods, a portable charger, and clothing. The person hadn't paid the Hostal for his stay either. To me, that points to a lack of vetting and even basic check-in rules. We'd been frightened to share a room with this person, whom I considered untrustworthy and a criminal. The three of us told the woman at the front desk, but she showed no empathy and became aggressive with us. I found that terrifying. The listing says IDs are checked and security is provided, but I don't believe they vet guests. Most of the time there was nobody at reception, and the front door was left open, so anyone could walk in. Other things in the listing didn't match my experience either. Breakfast was shown as included, but there was none, and they didn't provide towels. The showers were unusable for me, switching between ice-cold and boiling hot water. I paid $127 and am disputing the charge. I'm still shaken up and don't want anyone else to face the situation my friends and I did. I wouldn't stay here again.

The shower didn't drain, and the water spread across the bathroom floor and into the room, soaking our bags. The place seemed poorly maintained. We'd booked a private room, but it was in an unacceptable, very dirty state. Even with a 5pm check-in, it didn't seem to have been cleaned after the previous guests. There was hair on the sheets, toilet, and basin. I don't expect much, just the basics like a wiped toilet and fresh sheets, but I had to clean the room myself before using it. The rooms need proper cleaning and maintenance.