Hostel San Juan

Don't book here. The hostel is permanently closed. I had reserved a weekend getaway, but no one was there when we arrived. My call went straight to voicemail, and after about an hour and a half of trying to reach the owner with another person who'd come to check in, we still had no answer. I emailed too and heard nothing. The other guest eventually got a reply saying the hostel was closed for good. It was a waste of time and left us in a bad spot when most nearby places were fully booked. Be careful, and don't get caught out like we did.

The rooms were average and smelled a bit odd. There were lots of mosquitoes, the WiFi was bad, and the shared bathroom door wouldn't lock. It barely meets the standard for a hostel. I'd avoid it unless it's a lot cheaper than the other options.

I've had my best stay at 1802 at San Juan. It's always extremely clean, and volunteers usually run the place, though the owner checks in now and then. Check-in is easy, and it's in a nice, easy-to-find neighborhood. The locks seem well equipped, and the rooms are good. Some of the mixed rooms have their own shower.

For $30 a night, this is the cheapest hostel in San Juan. The beds are comfortable, the facility is clean, and the kitchen, WiFi, and showers are good. All the doors use codes. The location is okay, about a 30-minute walk to the beach and near the train station. My low rating is mainly about security. They'd been using the same codes for months. I saw a former guest come in at 3 a.m., use a code he already knew, sleep in an empty dorm bed, then leave early without a reservation. With past guests who've been on the island for months knowing room codes, it seems easy to break a locker lock or take your phone while you're asleep. The outdoor seating is limited, fully covered, and dark. There's green carpet all over the outdoor areas, and I never saw it cleaned. When it rains, it leaks, leaving the carpet wet for days and attracting mosquitoes. They were terrible, worse than at other hostels. The manager, Carlos, walks around every day but doesn't smile or make eye contact. The young women volunteering for a free bed, some from Europe, were a mixed bag. A few were hospitable, while others didn't show basic courtesy when speaking to guests. If you're only there for a night or two, you might not notice much, but the security problem is concerning.