The Hostelz.com Review
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!
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
Their Description
Maleku Hostel Details
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Maleku Hostel Reviews on Other WebsitesHostelz.com Guest Reviews
Highly Recommended Stayed here my first and last night in Costa Rica and found it to be one of the best. Staff spoke English and were very helpful and friendly. Maleku Hostel is clean and fairly quiet and includes free internet, lockers and a light breakfast. Close to markets, shops, bus station, and downtown Alajuela. Free transportation to the nearby airport (less than 5 minutes) when you're leaving. So glad that I stayed here instead of going into San Jose on my first and last nights. I would definitely stay here again. Highly recommended. — Kirk , USA (2011-09-16) Thieves This is another typical CR hostel that lets any local through the gate who rings the buzzer. During my stay, they let in a couple locals who said they were passing through town, and needed a place to shower and rest a couple hours. Later that day, everyone staying there had stuff missing from their bags because of the two thieves they let in. — Anonymous , US (2010-08-23) Could have been more pleasant We were told to stay at this hostel by an American girl we met who is friends with the owner, we canceled our reservation at another hostel and made our way here. It was cheap -- $10 a night -- very clean, and they provided free breakfast and shuttle to the airport so long as it was between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. the only issue we had was that the neighbourhood it was in was very busy as it is across from the hospital so there are people outside all through the night and partying in the street in front of the hostel. Luckily we were only there one night but we would love to have had a better night's sleep. — Christy , Canada (2008-12-15)