Boracay My Hostel

Hostelworld stays have always been fun, amazing, and welcoming for me, but this was the first time I didn’t feel that way. A Hostelworld stay should feel like a welcoming retreat, not a confrontation. If basic respect and courtesy matter to you, I strongly recommend booking elsewhere. No amount of comfortable bedding makes up for such a rude, unaccommodating host. I hope the way guests are treated improves. The property was just okay for cleanliness, and it was far from the beaches we planned to explore. From arrival, we felt unwelcome. I didn’t understand why we couldn’t record a video at the front door for social media, but we respected it. There was also a small issue with the charges between Hostelworld and the hostel. The host communicated poorly about them, and we moved on so we could focus on exploring Boracay. We’re still confused about the charges, but didn’t want the situation to affect our trip. At checkout, our flight was very early and we needed our deposit back. We knocked, called, and rang the doorbell, but no one answered. Guests should be able to check whether anything needs to be charged before checkout. When no host is there, that can create problems, especially if the host later accuses guests of something. We made sure everything was in good condition. The host was often late to respond, and when we eventually heard back about the deposit we hadn’t managed to claim, the reply was defensive and accusatory. We’re okay if she has the amount. The host could improve the timing of responses and the way she communicates.

I didn’t feel safe in the area as a woman, coming back alone in a tuc tuc that dropped me in the middle of the road with only my flashlight to guide me, then having to wait for reception to open the door. Finding the hostel was difficult too: the route goes along an unlit path and through the middle of the road, and there’s no sign showing which place is the hostel. The place doesn’t look like the photos. At 6:30pm, music from two houses next to it on the road was extremely loud, and you could still hear it in the shared room. The reception had no fan and was really hot.

The food was delicious, and Staff Uncle was a fun person to chat with. The woman cooking was humble too. The location is very close to the Jetty Terminal, and the new mattress made the bed really comfortable. But the Wi-Fi is dead, and they didn't provide soap, body wash, towels, shampoo, or even a blanket. Packaged food and water cost more than at some other places in Boracay, so I wouldn't recommend buying those there. I also hadn't been told about the key deposit when I booked, which caught me by surprise. Still, the stay itself was really comfortable.

I had a wonderful time meeting people from all sorts of countries here. It's a multicultural place, and the owner is incredibly kind. It's also an exceptional, inexpensive place to stay. What a pleasure!