Bambuda Castle - Hostel

The most troubling part of our stay was finding out our personal information had been exposed in a phishing attack on the hotel website. Scammers contacted us on WhatsApp, and since then my email has been flooded with junk and scam messages. The hotel knew about the attack but didn’t warn guests. We learned about it only after contacting them ourselves, and they took no responsibility. That felt deeply unprofessional and concerning for guest privacy and trust. We spent two nights in the so-called “hobbit” rooms, which felt overpriced. The bed is only full size, there’s an open bathroom window into the unit where anyone in the room can see inside, and there’s no A/C. It gets very hot in the daytime and is uncomfortable at night if you’re used to a cool room. Parking is two blocks away, which is especially inconvenient in Boquete’s frequent rain and with luggage. The building looks nice and photographs well, and we enjoyed breakfast. But those positives don’t make up for the poor value. You can get better amenities for less elsewhere in Boquete. Nice concept and good breakfast, but I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

The distinctive rooms added something special to our time in Boquete, and the views across the coffee plantations toward Baru were breathtaking. We stayed a couple of nights and left very pleased. Everything we ordered at the restaurant was delicious, and even the tableware was lovely.

We had to book at the last minute after a plumbing problem at our previous place left us without anywhere to stay. We booked quickly and didn’t love the first room we chose, but the staff happily moved us to a better one. They were kind and flexible, which we really appreciated. The view was one of the best parts of the stay. Our room was amazing, though a little humid, and the breakfast was delicious. Service was good throughout, and the $4 shuttle made getting around easy.

I felt like I was part of a community here, and leaving was hard. Ashley, Melanie, Jon Carlos and the rest of the staff made it feel like staying with family. As a solo female traveler, I found it just right. The dorms were clean and comfortable, and there’s much more here than a hostel: a beautiful setting with views, a jacuzzi, a cute reading room, and lots of games and books.