Homestal California Hostal Tlaquepaque

Best hostel around.

I’d initially have preferred a women-only shared room, but that wasn’t the main problem. The app confirmed my reservation, then the property messaged me saying I had to cancel because of supposed power outages. They wanted me to cancel it myself, even though they were the ones unable to host me. We argued over text, and I couldn’t sort it out because they wouldn’t answer the listed phone number. The app’s call center tried to reach them too, without success. I went to Tlaquepaque hoping to use the confirmed booking and tried contacting the property again, but got nowhere. Eventually, the call center canceled it and refunded me because the accommodation hadn’t contacted either them or me. This last-minute cancellation left me scrambling for somewhere else, wasted my time, and meant I had to come up with more money while waiting for the refund. I’m posting this so others know about the service. I’ve been told this has happened to several guests.

The interior looks very nice, but we paid for a room and had no hot water. There was no WiFi, and nobody answered the phone. There’s no parking, and excavations in the street out front made parking availability even worse. We were given only one blanket despite the cold weather. Were we told about that before renting?

The shared beds were the most comfortable I’ve ever slept in at a hostel. Each has a reading light, an outlet, and a drawer that locks. The bathrooms were modern and very clean, unlike other hostels I’ve stayed in around Guadalajara. There are also lounges with big TVs and comfortable seats, a heated pool, LED lights, and appliances guests can use. The owners have clearly put a lot into making this a distinctive place. Traditional Guadalajara decor greets you at the entrance, paired with a contemporary interior. It’s clean, spacious, and comfortable. I’m surprised it isn’t better known, given that it’s steps from downtown Tlaquepaque and costs quite a bit less than other nearby places. Highly recommended.