The Venue - Utila has a great location for those looking to get away from the party and have a good night's sleep and then wake up and walk straight down to a sandy beach. The lack of a kitchen and bad Wi-Fi is a bit of a drag, making this place more suited for a few days in the Caribbean sun and sand than a place to stay while getting that PADI/SSI certification.
The Location
The Venue is located pretty far away from the main drag of Utila (at least by the island's standards) but that only means a ten- to twenty-minute walk, depending on which side of the drag you want to go to. This makes the hostel a good option for those wanting to get a good night's sleep, and having one of the only real sandy beaches on the island right outside of the entrance is a big bonus. The lagoon directly behind the hostel is not too shabby either.
Conveniently the hostel and the beach mark the end of the loop that the tuk tuks take looking for customers, so you never have to wait long for a ride into town or to the ferry.
Just down the street is a collection of local food shacks, and the further you walk into town the more dining and drinking options you have; eventually you'll start reaching mini-markets and supermarkets. In the opposite direction of town is the small upmarket enclave of Blue Bayou, which has other options for drinking and dining as well as some excellent snorkeling.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The only rooms available seem to be small dorm rooms with three beds in a single bunk. These rooms are a little small, but there are lockers and some shelving to help with the potential clutter. The doors can lock but keys aren't handed out to guests; there are also lockers in the rooms, so the security of valuables at least isn't an issue. Beds, with their very thin mattresses, are not very comfortable.
There are two showers and two bathrooms that are nice, clean, and spacious; the showers have plenty of space and hanging options for possessions.
Common Spaces
Common spaces are pretty good with a nice shaded dock out the back and a pool area with lounge chairs too. The front of the hostel is a restaurant, but guests are welcome to hang out here as well and it doesn't get too busy, making it a chill place to relax in the evening and interact with the locals and other travelers. There is a lot of information about the island available in the front area and tours can be organised from the hostel.
Summary
This place is a good, all round hostel that will do the trick for a couple of days.