Arenal Hostel Resort

Costa Rica , Northern Mountain Zone / Arenal
LA FORTUNA, South side of the Catholic church
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100 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

Nathalie

L’emplacement était parfait et le personnel très serviable, nous avons adoré notre séjour

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

05 May 2026

Ashley

Photos definitely make it look better than it is, but it’s a good price. They were doing construction when we were there and the beds weren’t super comfortable. Staff was very great.

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

Emma

Good location

8/10

Excellent

18 Apr 2026

Stéphanie

Le bar ou la piscine était vraiment cool. La barmaid agréable. Demander un coco loco qui c'est pas sur le menu. Excellent !
J'ai eu quelque problème avec mes compagnes de chambres.. Une est arrivée à 2h30 du matin pour packeter ses valises. Et elle est venu à 6h30 pour se coucher...bizarre...alors que on se levait... Personnel très agréable et Mia la petite chatte etait trop mignonne.
Point a améliorer : avoir des crochets pour suspendre notre linge. Et il manquait des prises de courant pour chaque lit... Je recommande.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

18 Apr 2026

Victor Y.

Daily cleaning of the room was terrible, no towel changes or new soap, left floor dirty sometimes. Bathroom water handle came off easily. Bar selection ok, drinks are average. Staff is friendly at least. Expected way more.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2026

Penny

The staff was friendly and attentive. The chef was amazing loved the breakfast. Felt like 5star service! The pool and hammock were nice and well kept. We had a private room, it was a little dated, didn't have a fridge or microwave but it was good for the price we paid and clean. Loved the vibes here!!

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2026

David

Comfortable room, convenient location, reasonable price

Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Mar 2026

Jessica

We loved our stay in La Fortuna at Poshtel Arenal!

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

22 Feb 2026

Kayla

Overall th

10/10

Exceptional

20 Feb 2026

Abigail

the staff are absolutely incredible here!

8/10

Excellent

18 Feb 2026

Nichole

Cute place! Outside area was super cute and the private room is big. Fun vibes here, staff was great, bar was fun, showers warm, and close to everything. Welcome drink was a nice touch.

Cons (not super biggies but just note): I could hear the people next door yelling super early in the morning. It would be nice to have a TV in room. Pool is advertised as heated so I guess I expected it to be warmer (it was super cold and rainy during my stay), a provided umbrella would have been nice.

Overall though would stay here again should I ever make it back :)

Self

8/10

Excellent

02 Feb 2026

Kate

Clean room, central location

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

08 Jan 2026

Shelby

Remember this is technically a hostel though it didn't feel like one. I had a private room with a balcony. The ac was lovely but the street was loud. There was no blankets, just a sheet, and the shower did not get hot, not usually a problem after a warm day. But really great considering the cost.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jan 2026

Guylaine

Beautifull for a Hostel.. good wifi..

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jan 2026

Irma Guadalupe

Es un lugar que ofrece más de lo que pagas. La habitación limpia y con aire acondicionado, el bar y restaurante con ricos platillos. Y está localizado en el corazón de la Fortuna. Estuvimos muy cómodos y satisfechos .

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

31 Dec 2025

Hannah

We stayed in poshtel for 3 nights. Room was next to the entrance. Room very basic, no toiletries, nowhere to hang clothes and no hairdryer. Bed sheets very thin but bed and pillows were comfortable. No chair in the room to sit down and get ready. Staff were helpful and polite and we had some nice drinks at the bar. Overall was an ok stay but would not want to stay for more than 2 or 3 nights.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2025

jennifer

I so happy i stayed here. Everything was wonderful clean, all public areas are well maintained.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Dec 2025

Deborah

Such a great little place in the heart of town! Frannie is a fabulous bartender. Loved the little pool too, though it was chilly! Would stay here again, and longer, on next visit. Great bakery next door!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2025

Tyler

Absolutely amazing place. Staff was super helpful and friendly. Amazing experience. Would recommend this place to anyone looking to have a great time right in the center of La Fortuna.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

09 Jul 2025

Nicole

The service at check-in was friendly, but the place was not as advertised. They were doing renovations so the pool was not open, nor was the bar and the courtyard was a mess. I was not informed about this upon booking nor upon check-in, very disappointing. Also, the beds came with one thin sheet, that's it.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jun 2025

Rachel

Staff was short and we had to go back and get towels and also never received our complimentary drink.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2025

Nikita

I enjoyed staying here and would defiantly stay again. However the walls are paper thin. I had to bang on the wall and knock on the door to the people next door multiple times.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2025

Evan

Simple accomodations, air was cold, beds were fine. Nice location in town. Staff was extremely friendly.

Leisure Family

4/10

Poor

27 May 2025

David

We was greeted to the room by a roach(killed it). They would not provide a blanket, hand towels or wash cloths for the room. Pool music was very loud, nightly to10 or 11pm. Very old rooms.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Mar 2025

Rammell

Very Nice staff

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2025

Martha

The place to stay in fortuna.

Great place, very clean, convenient. This was our second visit to Poshtel and we loved it. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Location location, closes to everything in town which we loved it since we didn’t have a car and walking in town was great. We will definitely go back! Thank
You.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2025

Halima

Great location and service!

10/10

Exceptional

12 Feb 2025

Robin

It was a great location. Nice pool, nice garden area. Gated and someone around 24/7. Was a hostel with private rooms and bathrooms ahared kitchen.

AC worked well. Bar at the pool and they played music from early afternoon to 10 pm every day, which I didn't love, but it was okay.

A ton of restaurants nearby!! All good food.

We had birds in the trees every morning and every night so that was cool - they were pretty loud lol.

Leisure Partner

4/10

Poor

02 Feb 2025

Jason

No me gustó, no lo recomiendo.

Self

6/10

Pleasant

10 Jan 2025

Patricia

Great location and courtyard. However, we booked 2 “ Deluxe” rooms. 2 beds and a bathroom. They hand you 2 bath towels. No washcloths or hand towels. We had sheets and one thin blanket but our friends only had a sheet on their bed! They also had one tiny wastebasket in the bathroom, and since you can’t put anything in the toilets here, that’s a problem! Diago ( who checked us in)was terrific. Welcome drink is a four ounce strawberry daiquiri, literally served in a small plastic champagne glass. The grounds are well done, just wish they would put a little effort into the rooms.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

03 Jan 2025

Verified traveler

Diego was very
Helpful. Gave excellent advice and helped us with booking tours and even our trip outside La fortuna.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Dec 2024

Andrea

Food options nearby. Shared dorms were very open.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

16 Aug 2024

Bradley

The private rooms are a good size. The staff are very helpful with organizing excursions and giving travel tips. Eddie’s a great bar tender as well!

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2024

martin

Helpful staff. Beds were comfortable. Music was off by 10pm. Good security. Older bathroom but clean. Would stay there again.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2024

Martha

Cozy and cute!

Very cozy! Definitely we will
Come back. Location location. Since we use the bus from San Jose, it was very convenient. Just a few meters away from the bus station.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2024

Martha

Cozy and cute!

Very cozy! Definitely we will
Come back.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Feb 2024

Jared

Very cute little spot centrally located in La Fortuna, easy to get around and grab what you need.

8/10

Excellent

15 Oct 2023

Jill

Great value for the money! I'm too old for this place and it's bit noisy. The walls aren't insulated. Great Staff. I highly recommend this to those under age 30 !

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Apr 2019

MikeM

The two Michelle’s that work the front and tour desk are absolutely amazing.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

The property was beautiful. It looked better in person then in the pictures. Rooms were decent and the beds were very comfortable. The outside is very nice has about 4 hammocks and chairs outside all the rooms. Very nice mini bar with a cool pool.

Leisure Friends

4/10

Poor

30 Mar 2019

Frederick

When you book on this Hostel, you will ended up in Backpackers Hostel (sister hostel).
I book for a double room and I got room 125 next to the bar, music was off by 10pm and light by 10:20pm but people still around that area playing pool/smoking/loud conversation which didn't end until 11pm, kinda of late if you want to get some rest after a long day.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Lots of rules for a backpackers. No smoking areas and had to go out the front or back which was no trouble but didnt feel too safe after dark outside gates by myself.. very nice staff and great grounds.. nice swim up pool bar.

Leisure Friends

6/10

Pleasant

02 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

They overbooked; we did not get the rooms we reserved; it was a horrible experience to spend a night with 6 people in the same room - totally ruined our vacation spirit, not mentioning if they would refund some of the cost.

8/10

Excellent

06 Dec 2018

Verified traveler

Centrally located in the heart of La Fortuna, this hostel is part of the Costa Rica hostel chain. Big spacious and clean rooms, with pools and bar and hammocks in the courtyard. Cheap prices, friendly staff.

6/10

Pleasant

26 Aug 2018

Bill

Rooms are very small, Staff is not very helpful When I checked in ,No towels in room . I was provided with one bath towel only. Over priced.

8/10

Excellent

16 Aug 2018

Cecilia

Hostel is pretty, housekeeping not very good. They don’t have enough towels and we had to ask for a blanket/comforter. Fabio, the bartender is very nice and welcoming.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

02 Jul 2018

joanne

The hostel has two sides, one that is very standard and the other that is more upper scale depending on price. Social areas are accessible to everyone regardless of what room/side you choose. Great idea if you want a quick place to stay and on a budget but still want to enjoy a more upper scale environment. We choose the standard. Our room looked a bit run down, was noisy and the roof leaked in the bathroom. Told them about the roof and they said someone would come look at it but no one did. Told them the next day again and no one seemed bother by it. One bed had no box spring so uncomfortable. Staff was great tho, very helpful!!

Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

Nice staff but poorly organized

When we got there at 2pm, our room wasn't ready and it took them another hour to clean it. It was also raining (as it often does in La Fortuna), and our room was leaking and our suitcases are wet. The shower was also clogged and the shower head was not working well. We asked to get another room and the other one's shower was also clogged, and we had to get moved to a 3rd room. Also, when they cleaned our room during the day, they took the dirty towels and when we asked them for new ones, they said we had to wait until 6pm. Wifi is also extremely slow in rooms. Positive points: Nice pool bar, friendly staff, close to all restaurants

Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2018

Verified traveler

Rooms were very nice, spacious and comfortable. Staff was helpful and welcoming. Carlos helped us plan all of our adventures, which went seemlessly (and he also helped arrange our transportation to the next town).

4/10

Poor

20 May 2018

Lexsu

poor facilities

Nice environment but I was very disappointed with the room facilities. My friend and I spent three nights here. The shower room drainage was blocked so water everywhere. We requested maintenance first thing in the morning, but apparently nobody came so the room was flooded again on the 2nd night. We requested maintenance again so it was fixed on the third day. The shower system was also working strange. The faucet stopped automatically in the middle of the shower for 10 sec, then only EXTREMELY HOT WATER came out, it was dangerous at the time. On top of that, the shower started working automatically at 5am without anyone touching it. It was so loud that we thought was the pool downstairs. Maybe we just had bad lucks but I hope no one gets something like this again.

Partner

4/10

Poor

25 Feb 2018

Serena

Not impressed at all

Very disappointed, first night had to stay in my friend’s room as they put me in a dorm (Although said no other guests would be in there) which was not what I’d booked or wanted, the room was horrible. I asked to move but they were full. The following day I managed to move to a better room but the shower didn’t work properly, it was scalding hot or freezing cold and intermittent, would start and stop.
Location was good but I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to others.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Feb 2018

jonathan

Great place with beautiful relaxing gardens and friendly staff at front desk. Would definately stay here again.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Feb 2018

Stephanie

Helpful staff

The staff were very helpful and friendly. The room was nice and the hotel is in a convenient location in La Fortuna.

8/10

Excellent

14 Feb 2018

John

OK Place to Stay - But Beware of Noise from Bar

We found this place pleasant enough for our 2 night stay but on 1 night the noise from the Bar kept us awake past midnight. All rooms in the main complex face the courtyard where the bar is, however we were informed they have rooms across the street in a four story building that would be quieter. Overall the hostel presents well - and like all hostels your experience may vary depending on the guests there at any one time.

The property has a small pool and waterfall with a sit down and swim up bar. We did not see much in the way of amenities except for a spa. Breakfast was an extra $7.00 USD per person.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2018

More than excellent staff

Had the best Costa Rican experience over there, a part from the weird showers (didnt get how the hot and cold worked, we all kinda struggled at the dorm actually, also the showers could use some sort of rack in which we can put our shampoo and stuff and a rack to put our towel on) Arenal Hostel Resort has the best staff I've ever seen, they went the extra mile to help me plan and organise my activities and trip, the friendliest I've had so far. Had a lot of fun at the poolbar at as well, funniest bartender. Everything was just so Pura Vida and chill vibes. 100% will come back.

10/10

Exceptional

08 Feb 2018

susan

Great place to stay right in downtown La Fortuna

A clean comfortable convenient place to stay while visiting La Fortuna. Close so all amenities. Great staff. Great food in the Corner restaurant. Will certainly use it again.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jan 2018

Laura

Little tropical escape in downtown La Fortuna

This hostel was great! We stayed in a private room, which had a balcony overlooking downtown. Two pools, a bar, and lots of hammocks for lounging as well. Would definitely stay here again!

2/10

Poor

09 Jan 2018

Prashant

Not for families- Misleading info on Hotels.com

We reserved 5 rooms in the Arenal Hostel Resort from Dec 24-27.
The hotel was located close to shops, restaurants and a park, which was convenient but very loud and noisy. We were woken up every morning at 4 with roosters competeton with each other to see who was louder.

Although the rooms were a good size, none of the rooms had sufficient towels or blankets when we arrived. The overhead light in one room did not work. The hotel had sufficient notice to ensure that our rooms were ready. The staff was very indifferent to our requests. Upon asking for towels, some of us were told that towels and blankets would be requested from a sister property while others were informed that none were available.

Contrary to what the hotel advertised on Hotels.com , most of the rooms had no TV’s and none of the rooms had safes that worked. We were instead asked to use the one common safe at the front desk which was accessible by all guests staying at the property. The Wi-Fi only worked in common areas and not in the rooms.
One of the rooms even had a lizard on the coffee machine ( picture attached). We were quite disappointed.

Family

4/10

Poor

01 Jan 2018

Verified traveler

sent away to a plain sister hotel, no hammocks

We were very disappointed. We saw a picture of hammocks and a courtyard area on Expedia and thought we reserved a room there. When we showed up we were told yes we had a reservation but they needed us to stay at their sister hotel. They put us in a cab and we were dropped off at a plain hotel. I made the reservation because I wanted to spend my down time in the hammocks. Very misleading advertising. We stayed in the hotel la fortuna. Best thing about it was maricky the desk clerk. He was awesome!!!

Family

8/10

Excellent

30 Dec 2017

Lisa

Easy Access

Upon arrival at the main hostel, we were directed to their 2nd location, which then directed us to their 3rd location which was called Arenal Hostel Backpackers. Although it was super close, they were kind to have offered to drop us off for the first time free of charge. It was unfortunate we didn't get a room at the main location as it seems like it has more going on, however, the service at our branch was excellent. You can have access to the main branch if you'd like as well.

8/10

Excellent

28 Dec 2017

Verified traveler

Arenal visit

Great hotel location in downtown Arenal, all shops and restaurants are walking distance. Hostel common area had hammocks, a bar area and a pool which was all nice. Room was a bit of a mess. Very poor lighting inside. Bathroom had no towels, had to put a deposit at reception to borrow towels except they were out of towels for the first day and half. Arenal as a place is awesome - enjoyed all activities and loved the lava trail, zipline, rapelling, hot springs at Baldi’s and Fortuna waterfall

Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Dec 2017

Alex

Great hotel

Great hostel to meet people, very friendly and helpful concierge for activities, events, places to eat and places to visit. Nice bar and pool for budget travelers.

8/10

Excellent

24 Aug 2017

Verified traveler

Nice place, bad room

This is a nice hotel and the staff is always very helpful, but the room was very basic, just two beds and a nightstand, no closet, no table, not even one shelf to put your things on. Also, the curtains didn't keep out the light and we could hear the noise of motorcycles in the street and people outside. They ask for a deposit for your room key and another one for the towel, which they return when you return the item in question. We've had a lot less hustle and were more comfortable in places less expensive.

8/10

Excellent

03 Jul 2017

ivanhoo25

3 hostels in 1

This is a huge chain of hostels in Costa Rica! There are 3 hostels in La Fortuna, one behind the other. You can use the facilities and spaces in any of the 3. I really liked this hostel! Room was clean and comfortable. It had a hammock outside to relax (and dry the clothes after rafting lol) staff was very friendly and helpful.

8/10

Excellent

19 Apr 2017

Julie

Little paradise inside

This place is beautiful and relaxing with the hamac in the center of the hostel. You can cook your own food in the kitchen and the staff is great. The alcohol is very expensive but its great to enjoy a fresh pina colada (6$us) at the side of the bar from the warm pool. The parking is free and we decided to stay one more day as we love this place.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2017

Mish

Great Time!

The staff, and facilities were amazing! They treat you very well and there's security around the clock, so you feel safe. If you are splurging for a private room, try to get room 307 in the towers, it has amazing views!!

BTW, I would recommend the two volcano tour.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2017

Justin

Amazing place!

The staff was an A+, the place was very comfortable outside of the rooms. Two pools, one swim up bar, TVs, tons of hammocks. Made it pleasing to rest and read without many distractions. 2 kitchens too so you can cook your own food. I can't wait to stay here again!!!

8/10

Excellent

02 Apr 2017

Alexandra

Hostel fun!

I had a great time at this hostel. It's well located in La Fortuna with many young travelers. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful.

8/10

Excellent

28 Mar 2017

Verified traveler

Office staff were very friendly. No hot shower water. (We learned that Costa Rica hot is much different than American hot. Costa Rica hot seems to mean "less cold than the other cold"). Bunk beds were not very comfortable. But the rest of the amenities were great! Kitchen was very user friendly. Hammocks and swinging chairs all over, which made it comfy and inviting. Great landscaping. It was in the middle of downtown. We had windows facing the street and it was very noisy. Overall, still a great stay for the price and I would definitely stay there again.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2017

Chris

A good middle of town hostel. Rooms were spacious, airy and clean. The toilet roll holder needed to be replaced and the information in the rooms about the cost of the breakfast buffet was not correct, leading to an embarrassing confrontation at the restaurant the following morning. The communal kitchen was very small and often without crockery, but was fine if only a few people were using it (one or two!) Overall, a good stay here and the guys behind reception did their utmost to get good prices for trips.

Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Mar 2017

Aaron

The room exceed our expectations

The room was large, had a balcony, AC, and a roomy shower that always had hot water. My only complaint was that there was no wifi in the room.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2017

Tyffany

Great Hostel in a good area.

Great hostel. Didn't actually feel like a hostel. We had our own room & bathroom, & the area was very convenient to everything. Room was basic but clean. Hammocks in the common areas, pool & swim up bar. I'd stay here again. They have a $7 US buffet breakfast but there are many other places to eat for less & sufficient enough.

Family

6/10

Pleasant

26 Feb 2017

Rach

Clean, centrally located but noisy

The hostel is in a great position bang in the middle of La Fortuna. Rooms are clean and of a good standard. The hostel is in two sides; we were on the newer side, which had less ambience (less leafy, cold pool vs hot pool on other side, no bar) but did have a kitchen, which was really handy, as restaurants are expensive in Costa Rica. Didn't quite get the 'resort' concept - I've stayed on resorts before, and they are nothing like this! I would rate it as a nice hostel. The big downside, and it's a BIG downside for me, was the noise. The combined noise of cars (with altered engines it would seem, to enable revving engines...why Costa Rica?!), cockerels (??!) etc meant that there was little in the way of sleep for me. The noisiest place I have ever stayed in my many years of travelling. My companion wore earplugs, which seemed to help.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2017

Justin

Great place

Nice place.
We had one of the private rooms on the ground floor. It was clean, only uncomfort was the cold shower. The heated pool with swim up bar was great. The hammocks were a great touch. The breakfast buffet was nothing special but good. To me it was worth it to spend a bit more and try the food around town instead because it's located great for walking around.

8/10

Excellent

14 Feb 2017

Verified traveler

Greatest hostel I've been to.

I have been to many hostels and this one is definitely one of the best ones.

10/10

Exceptional

11 Feb 2017

Verified traveler

Awesome, easy to meet people, great atmosphere

Had a great time, I was a solo traveler and I felt very welcome

8/10

Excellent

25 Jan 2017

Brittany

The place was in a great location downtown and close to alot of shopping and food. The only downfall was that people were very loud until about 1am and then again at 7am. The staff, and facilities were great though!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jan 2017

Joni

Luxury hostel

Beautiful hostel resort. Luxurious room on the 2nd floor with renovated bathroom and view of volcano. Great location in town. Amazing breakfast for $6. Loved our stay here. My only complaint is that even when I reserbed room 8 months in advance and had a confirmation email that I would not be bumped to the sister hostels , they tried to bump me to another one of their hostel. I insisted that I want to only stay here and I emailed them 8 months ago that I didn't want to be bumped. Luckyly we checked in at 1 pm and they bumped someone else. Overall this hostel is amazing.

8/10

Excellent

16 Jan 2017

Katherine

Nice Hotel and clean

I really like the hostel, I was very impressed. All the facilities are very clean. My overall rating is a 4 only because the internet wifi was not great. I only had internet in the reception area. Otherwise, the Arenal Hostel is good. And in good location.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Jan 2017

genevieve

First time backpaking

Had a blast! The staff is wonderfull! Very secure, super clean and very well managed!
I will come back for sure!

8/10

Excellent

27 Jun 2016

Verified traveler

One of the best hostels I ve ever stayed in. Room was big, staff were all very helpful and pleasant and the grounds are very well kept. Would definitely stay again

8/10

Excellent

28 Apr 2016

julio

Awesome location, super nice for a hostel.

We had a great stay. Very helpful staff and nice hostel and a great area. Only complaint was bad wifi.

8/10

Excellent

21 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

THE place to stay!

Great place and super staff-friendly and helpful!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2016

kari

Poshtel. Very nice hostel

Fabio and Christian so much fun. Excellent, clean, fun hostel

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2016

Matt

Awesome hostel in the city center

The entrance to this hostel is a hallway decorated with plants, flowers and lights. It really sets the mood for what to expect. Once you are inside it opens in to a big courtyard which is nicely decorated with more plants, flowers and lights. There are hammocks, a pool and bar area and a kitchen for guest use.

Elena checked us in quickly and showed us our room and then gave us a quick tour of the place. She was polite and friendly. Our room was what we expected and was nice and clean. The water pressure in the shower was not great but everything else was good.

The pool and bar area are very nice. The pool is kept warm which is nice, but a cool pool would have been refreshing at times. We were offered a free welcome drink and the bartender, Fabio, whipped it up for us quickly. He was very friendly and provided excellent service.

Although this place is a hostel, it is way better than many other hostels!

10/10

Exceptional

08 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

Comfortable but very noisy area.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2016

Verified traveler

My favorite hostel I've stayed in! The owners have created a little oasis in the middle of town. Fun, relaxing, good breakfast, gated parking.

2/10

Poor

26 Feb 2016

Diane

Too noisy

Noise! Couldn't sleep. Too bad as it is a really nice place but we had a room next to the bar and kitchen and hardly got any sleep. They turn off the loud music about 10 pm but there is a lot of loud partying after that. Then, the first night, at 4.39 am, we thought we were sleeping in a bottle sorting depot or something with all the banging and clattering. They start preparing for breakfast and the noise is unavoidable although it was less when I mentioned it after the first night. It is a nice place but not much use if you cannot get any sleep.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

21 Feb 2016

Verified traveler

Great courtyard w hammocks & rocking chairs

The private rooms were very nice - flat screen TVs, air conditioning. Wasn't hot, so didn't need to "cool" the room, but the "dry" setting on the air conditioning helps to ensure that any wet clothes dry overnight.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2016

Marlon Jay

Great and friendly staff

The hostel was kind enough to let me know about incapacity to accommodate me and my friend. Upon arriving, they hooked us with free breakfast which was awesome. Great and friendly staff. I truly recommend this hostel

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2016

Michael

Thumbs up!

The place is just simply awesome! Only reason I stayed in arenal so long!

6/10

Pleasant

18 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

Some rooms smelled so bad with fungus… the location is good.

8/10

Excellent

26 Dec 2015

Verified traveler

Do not stay in the all female dorm otherwise great

I love this hotel and have stayed here many times in private rooms and dorms. The facilities are super nice, the staff is great and until this trip I've never been disappointed in the slightest. Unfortunately, I chose to stay in the all female dorm room this time. There is ONE plug in the bathroom for 10 people to recharge their phones, etc. The showers BARELY spit water at you, making it impossible to wash your hair. The walls looks like they've been through some sort of water damage repair and never repainted:( Every other room I've been in was great. Learn from my mistake- Don't choose the female dorm room.
This hostel is miles above the $8 hostel down the road. spend the extra $8

10/10

Exceptional

18 Dec 2015

jenna

You should stay here

The people working at the front desk were very friendly and checking in was easy. My friend and I stayed in a dormitory room and there was one other person in there. It was very clean and the shared attached bathroom was very clean. The second night we were there we came in a bit after midnight and it was a little hard to find/wait for someone to let us in as we had been ringing the bell. The next day my friend and I decided to hike cerra chato and the staff at the hostel kept are bags for us which was very nice of them. After hiking in the jungle for 7 hours all we really wanted was a shower. We returned at the hostel to grab our bags and asked if while we were there we could shower. The ladies in the office said no because the maids had already cleaned the rooms. After we explained our situation and how we had been hiking and still had to drive to San Jose they decided to make an exception. They did not have to do this and it was awesome that they did.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Nov 2015

Isaac

A great place to stay solo or with friends

This hostel was perfect for a solo getaway but would also be great for a getaway with friends. I stayed in a shared dorm with 6 beds (3 sets of bunks). The room itself was very clean and was cleaned every day by housekeeping. The staff was friendly and they provided a complimentary welcome drink at the bar which was a nice touch. The courtyard was well appointed and had hammocks and seating to relax and socialize. The courtyard is fenced in and I never felt unsafe at all during my stay. This is a great place to stay on a budget.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Nov 2015

Megan

Great for solo backpacker

This was a lovely hostel right in the middle of town. Belen was very welcoming, showed me around the hostel, and helped me plan tours- I recommend doing the Arenal Observatory Lodge tour, which is only $35 and a lot of fun with great guides. I also enjoyed the ziplining tour that included use of Los Lagos resort's hot springs, which I had almost to myself. I stayed in the female dorm, which was fine- had AC, the only outlets were in the bathrooms but there are also outlets in the shared kitchen area. The common areas were great-hammocks, a fun pool bar, and a shared outdoor kitchen. I met a lot of great people. Definitely recommended for solo travelers!

8/10

Excellent

17 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

Solo Lady Traveler

Great hostel ro stay in for the solo lady traveler. Went on a trip by myself and it was a great place to stay. The people are nice and helpful.

4/10

Poor

29 Aug 2015

Very disappointing and not what was advertised

Hostel rooms were very damp with huge damp patches on the walls in the dorms. Naturally the dampness resulted in a very unpleasant odor. Mattresses were very poor and left a huge dent in the middle when you slept, so very uncomfortable. The bunks were not stable, so when someone moved in the night you felt like you were in a bouncy castle. Rooms were so cramped that people were bumping into others all night long, which naturally brought it's own disadvantages. Bookings would be made elsewhere instead in future. On the positive side the staff are pretty friendly and helpful and can arrange things quickly.

Family

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

Great little downtown hotel

We had a great time staying at Arenal Hostel, we got a tour of the hotel when we checked in, there's a safe parking lot and the room was very clean. The hostel is right next to all the restaurants and shops, close to grocery stores and ATM machines.

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2015

Brook

Perfect location, great food, and clean rooms.

Joe did an awesome job at helping our group get directions and booking tickets to Baldi always remembering our names, etc... Other staff was awesome too, great breakfast, great drinks from the bar. Rooms and pool were clean. Are group was couples from 25 to 42 in age and all of us want to come back soon! (Our travel agency has put you on our top vendor list)