Hostal Koltin Suchitoto

We were very dissatisfied from the start. On arrival, the toilet was clogged, there was no hot water, and breakfast was sparse with no milk for coffee. They also accepted cash only when we tried to pay with MasterCard. The bigger issue came when we asked to shorten our booking from three nights to two. We requested the change through Booking.com, and the hotel confirmed it, but when we asked for a refund for the extra night, staff kept sending us to other employees who said they had no authority. Eventually we were told there would be no refund. Communication was difficult because no one spoke English. When we asked for an English-speaking colleague, we were told we were in a Spanish-speaking country and tourists should speak Spanish. Staff were impolite and kept discussing things in Spanish. They insisted nothing on Booking.com was inaccurate, saying it never promised an English-speaking employee or hot water in the bathroom. I wouldn’t recommend this hostel on Booking.com; they didn’t seem willing to accommodate international guests.

Having a kitchen to use is a real bonus. It’s a simple hostal, but such a pleasant place, with spotless rooms and lovely staff. It felt like a home away from home.

The common area was pleasant and well kept, and the rooms were very clean. They’re on the small side, but fine for a short stay. I wasn’t happy about the extra $15 a day to use the AC, which I think should cost less. We arrived at noon and the rooms were already ready, but still had to wait until exactly 2 p.m. to check in. Letting us in a little earlier would have been a nice gesture.

We really enjoyed the roof terrace in the evenings, and the breakfast was excellent. This lovely little guesthouse has about five rooms, a pretty garden with places to sit and relax, and hammocks outside the rooms. We stayed upstairs, where our room had a small veranda. It’s around a five-minute walk to the central square, market, and bus stop, and the staff were super friendly.