Choco Hostel

I’m really glad I stayed only one night. The receptionist, an older man who looked to be in his 60s, gave me a big hug at check-in, then kept finding excuses to grab and hug me during the evening and wouldn’t leave me alone. Even male guests noticed and said they’d seen him act that way with other women too. The next day, he came into my all-female dorm when I was alone, supposedly to tell me about checkout, leaned over my bed, and tried to hug me again. That’s only part of what happened. I do not recommend this place for female travelers.

The kitchen is open to guests as long as you wash your dishes after eating, and fresh food markets are a 5-7-minute walk away, including 5 de Mayo and Mercado de Saborres. There are also grocery chains nearby, like Bodega Aurrera, Tiendas 3B, and Oxxo. Choco has spacious common areas and reliable 500-850Mbps WiFi 7 throughout, which worked well for remote work, even on a longer stay. Jaime and David can store bags, which is handy for international visitors taking lighter trips to nearby places like CDMX, Tlaxcala, Cholula, and Oaxaca. Ask them about early check-in or late checkout, as they may be able to accommodate it. This is more of a place to live in than a party hostel, and it’s my favorite in Puebla after trying a couple of others. It’s a little outside the center of the Centro Historico, about a 15-minute walk to the Zocalo, so it suits travelers who want a quieter spot. The hosts are respectful. It feels much more like a guesthouse than a hostel, and I’d come back on another Puebla trip.

Every bed has a lockbox with a key and an electrical outlet, and WiFi reached all the different parts of the large property. My family stayed a few nights a couple months ago, and when we returned to Puebla this month, my daughter insisted we come back. It’s a happy, safe, peaceful place to stay. I’d definitely recommend this lovely hostel. ❤️

There’s an inexpensive mart nearby, and the bus stop for Cholula is close too. The hostel also has cute cats, which made my stay even better. David and the owner, who I called grandpa, were VERY kind and tried to help when I was sick. I want to thank them.