Maleku Hostel

Maleku Hostel is very nice, fairly clean, and easy to get to. Most people are here for just a single night, either starting or finishing their trip and the staff is used to that.

The Location

A mere three-minute cab ride from the airport and a short stroll to a large food market, the location is pretty convenient. Although a huge hospital practically across the street can make for a lot of noise. Otherwise, there's not much else in the neighborhood of note.

Rooms and Bathrooms

Fresh, clean, white sheets and soft plaid blankets make the dorm beds very inviting. There are some shelves available and there's a large room with lockers. If you've forgotten your earplugs, ask for a room in the back. The bathrooms, while not immaculate, are not too bad. The towels here are very scratchy, so if that matters to you, pack your own. The baskets of toiletries on the bathroom counter, although probably left by other travelers, are still a nice touch.

Common Spaces

There's an inviting, well-equipped communal kitchen with a big table for sharing meals, and a pleasant sitting room with cable TV and a computer with internet access (with a twenty-minute limit on the internet). Be warned the staff tends to dominate the TV -- hopefully you don't mind watching "Gilligan's Island" in Spanish. Under the stairs is a small, well-lit reading nook along with a good sized book exchange.

Summary

This a great place to begin or end your Costa Rican adventure. The bilingual staff are friendly and helpful, and the place is loaded with guidebooks that departing travelers have left behind. Free coffee and tea are available all day, and a light breakfast snack is offered in the morning. And when you're ready to head to the airport, the hostel pays for your taxi -- sweet!

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
March 2009