La Zona Hostel

If I could give them -5 stars I would in a heart beat!!! My friends and I had a very concerning experience here and ended up leaving immediately after check-in. We booked a **6-person mixed dorm through Hostelworld**, but when we arrived we were placed in an **8-person dorm located under the stairs**. The room looked nothing like the photos shown when we booked. It was extremely cramped, had a strong odor that smelled like dog urine, and overall felt very unsanitary and poorly maintained. When I asked the front desk about the discrepancy between the room we were shown online and the one we were given, we were told that the room “needs renovation” and that there were supposedly no photos of the specific room we booked. This explanation did not make sense given the photos we saw during the booking process. After sitting in the room for a few minutes, we checked recent Google reviews (many were written in German, so we translated them). Several reviews specifically warned about **bed bugs** and also mentioned **the exact room under the stairs**, including one person saying their sheets had blood stains when they were given to them. At that point we no longer felt safe or comfortable staying. We immediately packed our belongings and returned to the front desk to request a refund due to the misleading photos and unacceptable room conditions. Unfortunately, we had to go back and forth with staff and the manager for **over three hours** just to receive a full refund. This wasted a significant portion of our day and caused unnecessary stress while we were trying to find alternative accommodation. I strongly recommend that future travelers **be very cautious when booking here**. The room we were given did not match the advertised photos, the conditions were concerning, and the process of resolving the issue with management was extremely difficult.

Completely misleading listing. We booked a 6-person dorm and got an 8-person room under the stairs that smelled awful and looked nothing like the photos. Reviews mentioned bed bugs, so we left immediately. Staff made us argue for 3 hours just to get a refund. Do not stay here.

First time visiting El Salvador as a solo traveler. Staff is always in front desk. However, they lack knowledge almost on anything you ask them. Barely had any info on the tour besides the location and price. Hostel has no activities unless you plan them elsewhere. No warm water when taking a shower only on the 2nd floor. No fans in the 2nd floor aside from the air-conditioning that takes forever to cool the room. Got bit by a mosquitoes or bed bugs (unclear which one it was). Location is good.

This is a beautiful property, with a convenient location, right in la zona Rosa. The facilities are all quite shiny, but not thought out. I cut my hand, putting my backpack into one of the lockers. There are signs everywhere. Remarking that guests are not allowed to put their bags, clothes or shoes near the beds. Which is giving they’ve had bedbug problems enough to put signs everywhere. The beds fine, but extremely loud location next to the road.earplugs do nothing. Much better options 4 price.

This has been the worst hostel experience I’ve had in El Salvador. The rooms were dirty, my sheets had stains, and the amenities were poor. It’s obvious the staff doesn’t care about their guests, only about money. We paid for two nights in advance, but after a terrible night’s sleep (two people snoring loudly in the same room, and bunk beds that squeak and move with every turn), we decided we couldn’t stay another night. When we politely asked the staff to cancel the second night, they refused any kind of refund, even for $15, hiding behind a “no-refund policy.” We weren’t even asking to be reimbursed for the first night, only to cancel the one ahead, since they told us the snorer would stay several more nights. The beds are uncomfortable, the rooms feel unclean, and after reading other reviews mentioning bed bugs, I completely believe it. This place clearly does not care about its clients or their comfort. I would not recommend La Zona Hostel to anyone, save yourself the trouble and stay somewhere that actually values guests.

I unfortunately had a very bad experience at this hostel. They were spraying very strong chemicals on the beds and around the rooms to fumigate the hostel because there was some sort of bug (or maybe even bed bug) problem in the past. The hostel did not seem to have any proper protocol in place for this. They didn’t close down the hostel or move people into any different rooms. They simply started spraying all around the beds and living quarters.

The chemicals began making me very congested, I couldn’t breathe properly through my nose at all.

I tried to speak to the staff about how badly this was being managed but they didn’t seem to care. Not recommended!

I unfortunately had a very bad experience at this hostel. 

They were spraying very strong chemicals on the beds and around the rooms to fumigate the hostel because there was some sort of bug (or maybe even bed bug) problem in the past. The hostel did not seem to have any proper protocol in place for this. They didn’t close down the hostel or move people into any different rooms. They simply started spraying all around the beds and living quarters.

 The chemicals began making me very congested, I coul

First thing I noticed is the hostel takes the threat of bed bugs very seriously, with posters advising guests how not to spread them. The mattresses and bedding were fresh. "Capsules" had lights and power sockets, very comfortable. Big luggage lockers per bed too. Social area has plenty of seating and games. Staff helpful and English-speaking. Location great for the bus terminal, and reasonably close to shopping centres in what's supposedly the safest neighborhood in the city.

Advertised as an airbnb... turns out it'is a Hostel. The unit was decent. However, there is black mold on the ceilings of the bathroom, and at the bottom of a wall between dining table and TV. Charlie was nice. Price was right, however it appears the beds have bed bugs as myself and my 2 year-old child woke up with strange bigger-than-a-quarter-size bites that do not ressemble mosquito bites. 😑 I travel world-wide and I know what mosquito bites feel and look like... The parking is outside, unprotected street-side. The neighborhood is actually great, as there are a lot of restaurants and other amenities walking distance. The entrance is tricky, as there is always a car parked on the pathway, which makes it extremely difficult to walk through with a suitcase and other bags... Although is a great location, I don't think I can ever come back. If you're ok staying in a pseudo-airbnb/hostel shared with others, all in one for cheap, this may be your place. If you're looking for a more decent accommodation, perhaps there are multiple other options.