Hostel Bambu

Hostel Bambu is a friendly hostel where you will be sure to receive help and advice on activities available and assistance with your arrangements for onward travel.

The Location

Once downtown the hostel can be reached fairly easily as it is only a few blocks from the main downtown streets. If arriving via bus from Argentina, you will need to look out for McDonalds and get off here, walk one block until you reach Rua Edmundo de Barros, turn right and you should see the hostel before long. From the main bus station you need to catch a bus to the Urban Terminal (TTU). Once you arrive at the TTU, it is possible to walk to the hostel but it will take around twenty minutes. Alternatively, you could catch a local bus from the TTU (get off the bus at McDonalds as above) or you could take a taxi for a reasonable fare. When you arrive at the hostel you will need to be buzzed in through the front gate.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The dorms are clean, a good size, and are air-conditioned; the bed-linen has perhaps seen better days but it is a welcome change to have a towel provided. The dorm doors do not lock and unfortunately there are no in-room lockers -- those lockers that are available (in common areas) are small. This hostel is something of a rabbit-warren with dorms and bathrooms or various shapes and sizes dotted all over. The bathrooms are nicely decorated with roomy shower-cubicles, good showers, and plenty of hooks for clothes and in-shower shelving for toiletries. The hostel does offer private rooms for higher rates if desired.

Common Spaces

There is a book exchange, but the rate of exchange is not in favour of the traveler -- you need to leave two books in exchange for one. There are a couple of common areas for guests to use at this hostel. Next to the reception area is a TV and DVD player with sofa seating (a selection of DVDs are available), a pool table, and two computer terminals available for guest use at a small hourly rate; the hostel also provides free Wi-Fi for those with laptops. There is also a small swimming pool and a bar area situated outside next to the kitchen, there are a number of tables and chairs here. Guests are welcome to use the kitchen facilities for self-catering if desired. The hostel description also mentions a gym although this is something of an embellishment -- there is a bench, a few weights (a little worse for wear), and a broken multi-gym outside next to the pool.

Summary

Overall, this is an extremely pleasant hostel with a nice, relaxed atmosphere.

Warning: It has been reported that this hostel may be infested with bed bugs. If you stayed there, you should disinfect your clothing and all travel gear before moving to another hostel to avoid carrying bed bugs or their eggs with you and potentially spreading them to other hostels. Moderately hot water will kill them, and gear that can't be washed can be disinfected by putting it in a freezer for a few hours.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2009