Guest User
December 23, 2021
Here are some things I noticed during my stay at the Tiki Beach Hostel. I stayed at the Tiki Beach Hostel for two nights this December (2021) while visiting a friend on the island. The first thing I noticed when I got to the hostel was the misleading pictures on their website. The rooms are nothing like the pictures and the general area is much more dirty (Lots of bugs, dirt, & grime). The dorms are actually right outside the housing area and should be advertised as a porch with a DIY looking bamboo wall. While this isn't too much of a problem for me, I can imagine how it can be an unwelcoming surprise for someone else. Additionally, after just getting through all the COVID-19 checkpoints and stuff at the airport, I was surprised to see there was no care or attention to mask mandates or safety guidelines. It was as if covid-19 did NOT exist. The owner, Martin, did not seem to care about any safety precautions nor did he seem to care about the risks of spreading the illness as he let his 2 year old son run around the hostel as well. Again, all subjective to the person who is staying, but good to know before planning to stay here. I will say the beach is literally seconds from the hostel which is awesome...But it also means, that you can hear all the beach parties at night, which according to locals, happens quite often. Tiki Beach Hostel has a reputation for partying on the beach and is actually quite frowned upon by the nearby residents. During my stay, I was able to hear shouting and screaming til about 2am. There is a lights out policy at 10pm which means people have to be quiet, although most people just go to the beach and continue screaming from 30 feet away. Being an outdoor person, I also noticed that the tents they have are the cheap $20 Coleman tents from Walmart. Don't get me wrong, it is a place to sleep–but the truth is, those tents will NOT keep the rain or bugs out. Prior to my stay, there was rainy weather and ultimately led to people's tents getting flooded and were forced to sleep elsewhere. Luckily, that wasn't the case for me, but I wouldn't be surprised if that has happened more than once. These are just some of the things you should consider before staying here. If you're coming to the island to make friends, just come to the hostel during the day because they really don't care who hangs out. If you want to stay the night, you might be better off sleeping in the rainforest where you can get bugs, dirt, and rain for free. I do not recommend spending your money here.