Kame House Hostel

I liked the quiet, laid-back atmosphere. It’s a calm hostel rather than a party place, and it’s close to the main spots. The staff were kind and helpful, and my clean, comfortable eight-bed dorm had a typical hostel bed. My only suggestion would be to add a personal reading light at each bed. Breakfast costs 150 pesos and comes with fruit such as banana and melon, bread including whole wheat, two eggs, and a choice of jam.

The pool water was brownish green, and there were dog hairs all over the hostel because stray dogs kept wandering in and out. The place feels moldy and badly maintained: the shower head has to be held, the toilet seats are loose, and the overall cleanliness was gross. Staff were constantly on their phones. When we arrived early, the person at reception barely welcomed us, stayed focused on her phone, and told us to leave our bags in the messy main area without looking up. The central air conditioning itself was fine, but they switch it off overnight. At least that meant I didn’t have to use their disgusting blankets. This may have been a good hostel years ago, but I’d say do not book it.

The pool and common area were nice places to relax and meet other travelers, and the hostel was clean. The price was good, and the lockers were large enough for all our bags, though you need to bring your own lock. The room Wi-Fi was slow or unusable, possibly because too many people were connected, and there’s no cell service nearby. We also had no hot water in the shower. Still, it was a great stay and I’d recommend the place.

The staff were nice, and the hostel was mostly clean, though the drains were a problem. There’s no hot water, the drainage is poor, and the whole place smells like farts from the drains. Brown water comes from the taps, something they don’t mention at check-in, though you find out soon enough. They do provide drinking water by the bathroom for brushing your teeth. The air conditioning was bad too, and the rooms didn’t cool down at night.