Che Lagarto Hostel Buenos Aires

This hostel did have a great location and does appear to offer the backpacker ideal but it just doesnt quite deliver. The place is massive with a large bar but it is often dirty and the one computer was broken for most of our stay. We were in a eight-bed dorm, (not what we booked) where it was really noisy with peple coming in and out all night and then they slept all day so we had to be quiet. The plughole in the bathroom was always blocked and often didnt get cleaned until early evening. The bar was dead during the week and rammed at weekends but it took ages to get served at any time as the staff always seemed to be eating. The food is great though! Its an ok place but we found another for the rest of our stay.

We found Buenos Aires absolutely amazing and the location of this hostel is pretty damn good to take in all the different sights of the different areas. The subte [subway] is easy to use as well, to get to areas like the Recoletta which are a bit further out. We found the hostel a little daunting. I don't think it helped that it was our first dorm experience. As we went up the stairs the lady said "I have to tell you, this isn't the best dorm"!! Which was a little scary! The building is a converted factory, and the room was huge with about 12 beds in it. Bunk beds dotted around the outer walls of the room so everything felt very spaced out! It wasn't actually that bad, we just had a few freaks in there and so we didn't spend too much time in there during the day. It doesn't really matter, as there is so much to do in BA anyway!! I would recommend this place if you fit in with people easily, especially if you are a guy, as there didn't seem to be that many girls there. In our dorm there were us, 3 girls, 7 guys, 1 girl (in a couple) and one spare bed!!

Still a work in progress. It's in a new location, and not all the rooms are finished. The single rooms are extremely barren and look like converted closets, with residents having to use the bathroom of a shared eight-bed dorm (in addition to the dorm residents — different approach). Twin rooms are ok with full bathrooms but they face onto a very noisy street. Fans would be a good addition. Hot water was nonexistent, but unnecessary in December anyway. Easy access to two Metro lines, and close to the San Telmo action. The restaurant/bar downstairs is well set up, with good coffee, but it is geared to walk-in trade (locals) and not residents. Friendly and helpful reception staff, and very good travel assistance (Emilio's your guy). Can't say the same for the restaurant staff, who seem totally disinterested. Not much in the way of activity other than a list of clubs to get to and a barbecue. Overall very average. Hopefully just teething problems.