Villa Eshta

The people were really friendly, and the location is very good. The hostel is near a busy road with bars, restaurants, and supermarkets, outside Old San Juan. Old San Juan is close, about an eight-minute ride, and there’s also a bus that goes there. But the cleanliness was bad. I was in a mixed dorm for six people, and though the room and bathrooms were supposed to be cleaned every day, I stayed two days and nobody came. Cockroaches were running around the room.

I booked a month ahead through Hostelworld and got a confirmation email from Villa Eshta, but never received entry instructions. Villa Eshta didn’t answer my emails, and the phone number they gave didn’t work. I couldn’t check in at all. Luckily, I was charged only the $35 deposit.

The shared spaces were nice, with a big terrace for events and spacious dorms where you could stay comfortably. I enjoyed my time at the hostel. The organizers and staff help keep a great atmosphere going. It’s also positioned about halfway between the airport and Old San Juan.

I wanted to enjoy this place, but there were too many downsides. My wife and I stayed the night of July 4th, and it was disappointing. We’ve been choosing hostels for about five years because they tend to cost less, feel relaxed, and offer a communal atmosphere. This one didn’t have those things. The communal feeling was the biggest letdown, and a big blue tarp over the bar area made it dark and trapped the heat, even if it was meant to block the sun. The building looked nothing like the pictures. It was dirty, with grime built up in corners, broken items, lots of deferred maintenance, and a noticeable lean. Our private room had a front room with a kitchenette and a bedroom, but the only AC was in the bedroom, leaving the front room unbearable and useless. The bathroom wasn’t much better. The inline shower heater was hard to use and went from hot to burning hot. There was also a sharp edge on the drain that was rough on bare feet. The location was just okay, but everything we needed for travel was within walking distance, which helped.