Treffpunkt 5300 Hostel

The house felt cozy, the staff were friendly, and the coffee was great. Booking a private room is very cheap, but you give up AC and a private bathroom. Mine was hot even with the windows open and the fan turned all the way up. The power also went out in the middle of the night. I left the next day, so I can’t say how often that happens.

It’s easy to settle in here, with comfortable places to sit, free breakfast, and a great collection of Lonely Planet books. The staff and owner were friendly and happy to share local suggestions and tour advice, and there’s a real community feel. Everything was very clean and pest-free. The showers only had cold water, and you need to bring your own soap and shampoo, but towels and blankets were provided.

During my longer stay at treffpunkt, I never once saw a flea on any of the dogs around the hostel. The rooms and common areas were cleaned every day and kept in good shape, and the staff were consistently welcoming and understanding. I’m writing this because a guest who was belligerent, apparently drunk, slammed doors and yelled at people, then left a negative review that was simply untrue. The staff handled him fairly and diplomatically, asking him politely to go back to his room instead of calling the police. It’s one of the best hostels I stayed at in the Philippines, clean and well cared for, with friendly staff and great value. I’d recommend it.

People often cook together here, and the staff are super friendly. It’s a clean, relaxed, welcoming place in Puerto that’s very affordable.