Arenal Backpackers Resort Reviews

We were extremely disappointed with this "Resort." It is entirely not worth the money. While the room was clean, the staff was uninterested, unhelpful, and unapproachable. They play loud obnoxious music (popular American music) starting from 8am to 10pm-there is no quiet, tranquil place on the grounds. This was not what we thought a resort would be and spent our time away from the grounds as much as we could. Save your money and stay at a real hostel!

The bar/restaurant staff were sour and unfriendly

What makes this hostel so great is the guys in the front. They are so helpful and hysterical. They really want you to enjoy your trip and La Fortuna. The owner is lucky to have them because they are key to the hostel's success. If you are on a bit of a tighter budget, try to ask Freddy about what to do (all of them give great advice, but he really knows what is worth the money and won't lead you astray). It is super clean and a great place to chill after hiking or whatever in the morning.

The bathroom for the dorm style room was dirtier than most other hostels I've been too. The staff was not especially friendly or even availible to talk to late in the evening.

Allen at the front desk is awesome!

This hostel provided information for easy booking of tours and transfers. The pool area is really relaxing and the food in the restaurant was good. I stayed in tent which was ripped on the bottom therefore I was unable to fully close and lock the tent itself. The mattresses in the tent were directly on the somewhat open platform- would have been nicer if the three single bed tent mattresses were elevated like the beds in the other tents.

This was the best hostel I have ever stayed at! It truly is a 5 star hostel! I would give it 10! The staff was great and the place was clean and just amazing! I would recommend this hostel to anyone!!

Wish there was a communal kitchen. We asked the "restaurant" staff if we could put some of our leftover food from dinner in one of the fridges and he was not very friendly. His answer was the fridge "is full" though we could see it clearly wasn't. I had to throw away all of my lefover food so I was disappointed at that one aspect. If there was a fridge everyone could use it would be much better.

Super clean and very helpful staff. Loved having the pool. Does not have kitchen facilities for guests, but hostel serves good food. Would definitely stay here again.

No refrigerator of kitchen access.

Lovely setting, pool, facilities good, but no comfortable chairs to sit in when raining, nowhere to make a hot drink or do laundry. Noisy at night from across the road, and noisy at hostel after 11pm with people swimming in the pool at 4am.

Clean basic bedrooms. Staff was friendly and super helpful with directions and helping us book a hiking tour to Arenal volcano. Short walk to the town center with lots of options for restaurants. There is also a pool and a front yard with hammock to chill and relax. Wifi was spotty depending on how many people are logged on.

Stayed in tents which was neat. However, the tents did not shield the loud music that went on until midnight from the neighboring bar and the hostel restaurant/bar. Excellent location near the city center of La Fortuna. Booked our tours outside of the hostel at La Herrera with Norman since the hostel did not discount any of the prices.

The restaurant across the street plays music well into the night, and you can hear it com every room in the hostel. I know because I stayed in a tent, a single room and a dorm, and I had the "pleasure" of hearing it every night. The staff was nice and helpful. The restaurant has pretty decent food.

This hostel was definitely the cleanest hostel we stayed at in Costa Rica! And the only one with A/C (which is only turned on 10 p.m.-10 a.m.). We stayed in an all female dorm, and both the dorm and the ensuite bathroom were very clean. The pool was great, and the internet was fast. The restaurant was a little expensive, but it's only a couple blocks to town to get more affordable meals. The staff was helpful with booking/confirming tours and giving directions. I highly recommend this hostel!

Unique, cool, crazy hostel. Very nice! Very nice Staff.

Thanks again, you guys were great!

Very nice hostel with great places to hangout, nice pool, many shwers and restrooms and the place was sooo freakin clean. Only problem was that there was no kitchen and the restaurant was a bit expensive.

Even though we didn't get the tent we reserved and pretty sure they messed up the reservations they help us out so much that day and I hope to stay at this hostel some other time. I just wish there was a better way to contact the hostel directly.

I was with a friend for 2 days- we stayed in one of permanent tents of the hostel; it was a nice experience; the tents are covered so while it was raining we could hear the rain but the whole tent stays completely dry. The bar/restaurant within the hostel is also nice- the food was very good.