Casa Oro

San Juan Del Sur

2 of 3

Address	Reparto San Juan CaJa 3, San Juan Del Sur Nicaragua
Price	Beds at 5$, rooms between 14$ and 21$

Location/Contact

Details

Online booking is not offered for this hostel, contact them for availability and reservations (any contact info we have is listed above).

Description

Features

Kitchen
Lockers

Ratings & Comments

3.4 Average from 14 Ratings

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Comment by Mike, USA

July 2009

Like an internment camp
Yes, this Hostel is somewhat like an internment camp. How so you ask? Well, first of all you have to wear a bracelet around your wrist (like if you were going to a concert) the entire time you stay there. It's for your safety of course and you cannot stay there if you don't wear it. Second, the owner of the hotel is some grumpy woman who is like many other appropriating foreigners in third world countries and doesn't seem to hire any locals -- all of whom were wonderful by the way -- for any of the better paid positions, instead choosing to give those jobs to, of course, other totally grumpy girls who act as if you are there to serve them. Our shuttle from the beach was over an hour late one day as we sat in the rain with the option of spending $3 to sit unto the only cover available on the beach (Remanso). Of course since were there to serve the Hostel and not the other way around, such faults of theirs receive no penalty, whereas if you check out an hour late you have to pay them $5 -- $2.5 less than the cost of a room in the dorm. Likewise they will have no problem kicking you out if you try to hang around for a little longer to wait for a friend, and make sure you don't "steal" any of the free internet time reserved for the paying residents, identified, of course, by the wrist band you have to wear and enforced by a roaming security guard. The only benefit to staying here is that there is a somewhat large area to hang out and, given that there is such a buzz around this place, meet people. There are plenty of other hostels for cheaper in the area, particularly if you want a private room. The locals who clean up here and work at the front desk were all wonderful. The foreigners who work here (all but some British woman) are terrible grumps who were rude, pretentious, pompous, who had the customer-client relationship reversed.

Comment by Catharine Bull, USA

January 2009

Terrible
We used the place for board rental and transport. We were left at the beach for two hours after the pickup time with no telephone and no reasons. When they cam to get us, they could not pick everyone up and had no idea how many people or boards were at the location. When confronted, they said "its Nicaragua." I have traveled extensively and never have I run into such a poorly organized facility. No apologies or rebates were offered.

Comment by Chris, Australia

December 2008

No pillow, uncomfortable mattress, dirty
Casa Oro was very disappointing. We were put into a room that was under construction, given an uncomfortable mattress that was too big for the bed, no pillows, and we were not separated from the dorm room next door who were awake until very late. The room we were in seemed to still be in construction, lights didnt work and it was dirty. We stayed twelve days in town but only one night in casa oro and enjoyed the two other places we stayed in. the trips were great though -- daily trips were great, and the turtle trips and turtle guide were great.

Comment by Jenny, Alemana

December 2008

Fantastic people, poor Hostel
I really liked my time in San Juan del Sur. La Casa Oro was a great place to meet lots of nice people, the atmosphere is very good. But the Hostel itself is not very nice. The kitchen is poorly equipped (the pots have holes and there a just about fifteen cups for fifty persons). The sanitary system is bad, there are some toilets just in front of the kitchen, not very nice for the cookers and as well the is only one small washing basin in the kitchen to clean teeth. The dorms are pretty big -- twelve beds, with no door (just a curtain) and an unhealthy old pillow. For 7$ a night not very good. We stayed all the three nights there, because we were too lazy to pack our stuff again. As well very bad is, no "hard" alcohol is allowed, what means no flor de caña and as well you are not allowed to bring your own drinks, you have to buy the beer for a higher price than in the supermarket in the reception.

Comment by Jared, Clare and Ann, France

September 2008

We planned to stay three days, ended up staying for a week. This is a great hostel with a really nice social atmosphere. Recommended surf lessons with Fred -- he's fantastic. Well, everything was really good -- the staff, the facilities, the beach shuttles, and especially the turtle tour. They are so knowledgeable!

Comment by Julie and Byron, quebecer and nica

May 2007

Super, second floor entirely new, room with four double bed and a huge super clean bathroom for 8$ a night is unbeatable. Downstairs dormitory a little more messy but Nothing more comfortable than this little place. Also, Soda Mariel just a corner away is where you can eat the best home-cooked meal away from home for a good price.

Comment by Lencho, USA

March 2007

This place is great! Easy, friendly people from all over the world. Namaste!

Comment by Chelsea and Raol

November 2006

The cheeriest staff that I have encountered in all of central america! They knew our names and we stayed much longer than we anticipated. The only thing was that they were in the midst of a total revamp which meant our room was the converted storage area and the whole place felt like living in a construction site.

Comment by Petra Martensson

May 2006

I was visiting this place back in 2003 so it is a while ago, but I still think it's a cool hangout place with friendly and professional staff. If you compare with some of the other places in Latin America, this is really a place were you feel comfortable and safe at.

Comment by Ariana

December 2004

I was very happy in Casa Oro. Even though I didn't speak Spanish the staff was able to communicate with me and my friends in three languages (French, English and Spanish). Moreover, they were very friendly and gave us the right information.

Comment by Dave Tigar

August 2004

Casa Oro was a pretty damned cool, chilled-out place. It had a nice, friendly atmosphere where you could comfortably spend the day chilling out, reading a book, playing board games, and drinking. Go.

Comment by Anonymous

July 2004

I think I really like this place! New Age surfers practicing yoga until 3 in the morning--now that's a good time!

Comment by Anonymous

January 2004

I had an amazing few days of surf and sun and barbequed shark at this place. The owners are seriously nice and the little "jacuzzi" was a bit of a bonus after a hard day on the beach!!

Comment by Anonymous

September 2003

New age surfers practicing yoga until 3 in the morning, if that's your idea of a good time then you would like this place, if not like me you think this is a load of horsesh*t, don't go!

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