Hostal Meson de San Fernando

We'd been traveling for six weeks and were pretty worn out, so we spent a lot of time relaxing at this quiet hostel. The friendly host was helpful, and the basic rooms did the job. It was one of the cheaper places in Ataco, which made it worthwhile for us. The garden has lots of plants and a big outdoor seating area. It's about a five-minute walk to the main park and restaurants. Fernando welcomed us, gave us activity tips, and shared his WhatsApp in case we needed anything. His mum, an adorable elderly Salvadoran woman, potters around outside and in the kitchen. She doesn't speak English, but she's willing to help. Filtered cold and hot water and a kitchen were available. We had keys for both our room and the locked front gate, so we could come and go, and felt safe and secure. The price was reasonable, too. A few things didn't work so well. The shower's warm water was hit and miss, the small outdoor pool wasn't working, and the rooms had fans but no air conditioning. The room felt dark because its window was a shutter, so there wasn't much natural light unless it was open. Free breakfast was advertised from 8 to 10, but when we asked at 9:45, we were told the chef had already left. There were no other guests while we were there, so it may not suit a solo traveler looking for much of a social scene.