Santurcia Hostel & Bar

The private room was spotless, smelled great, and had excellent air conditioning. Everything felt clean, comfortable, and secure, and the staff were welcoming and very helpful. We loved our stay, and it's easy to understand why Hostelworld.com once rated this the best hostel in Puerto Rico. The shower pressure could have been stronger, and cozier blankets would have helped with the cool air from the AC. Those were small things beside an otherwise wonderful experience. We'd gladly return and recommend it to anyone visiting San Juan.

The staff working at the hostel were nice, but the bed was small, there were no plugs, and the rooms faced a noisy street. One night the dorm got so cold from the AC that a guy started hitting the machine in desperation until he managed to adjust the temperature. Santurcia Hostel only makes sense if you're there for Spring Break and don't mind people talking or turning on the lights while you're asleep. It may have had a good reputation in the past, but that isn't my impression now. The owner doesn't provide Wi-Fi to guests, with all sorts of excuses, and isn't reliable when a problem comes up.

The room itself was great, and the common spaces are cool, especially the rooftop terrasse. We were in a private room with shared bathrooms. The Santurce location is great, and I'd come back to this place when I'm in San Juan again. It did get noisy at night, with people being careless about doors and noise. We also barely saw any staff during our stay.

The hot showers were harder to find than I expected, though I don't think that was the establishment's fault. I think it's just a problem Puerto Ricans have to deal with because of government issues. Otherwise, staying here was the best decision of my Puerto Rico trip. It was the cheapest place I found and much nicer than the Airbnbs my friends had used. As a woman traveling alone, I felt very safe and comfortable in the 12-person bunk room. There's a full kitchen, dining room, lounge, and several bathrooms available anytime. You can walk to bars like La Placita, good coffee shops, grocery stores, a yoga studio, a big park, a church, and plenty more. The owner I spoke with was very kind, and the staff were great too.