Island Life Hostel

I had a short and brief stay at the hostel. Good location, very friendly staff. Basic breakfast but included. Modern bathrooms, lockers quite neglected. Wifi in the room does not work. Good value for money. Several bars and gastronomic options in the surroundings.

Island Life Hostel is in a perfect spot of Santo Domingo that made it easy to walk around town. The hostel itself is clean, good amenities, and friendly staff!

Excellent location by the Colonial zone, easy check in, nice spacious back garden, bar for drinks, food, large sofa upstairs, excellent wifi connection. superb breakfast for a hostel. beds were ok, safe mix dorms, I would stay here again but in smaller dorm with AC, it gets too hot and humid during the night and the fan is not enough. The receptionists were friendly and happy to answer all questions, free street parking. 2 nice large dogs live there which didn't bother me as I am an animal lover. Small swimming pool at the back, liked the traditional colonial type of house. in the big dorm, no AC, in the smaller dorm you will get AC, small and broken lockers, no privacy curtains, small fan next to my bed was not working, no side tables next to the beds. Only walk towards the colonial zone, the receptionist said if we walk the wrong street away from the Colonial zone, we will get robbed, they will say where is this or you can ask for details, the short walk from the Expresso bavaro bus station to the hostel is not safe, negotiate a good taxi price before getting in and only agree to that, safe to walk around the hostel and the Colonial Zone at night, just make sure to not get lost and go into the wrong street, use google maps, make sure you know where you are going and where is not good to go.

While I just stayed here one night, I enjoyed it. Nice bar and restaurant, great empanadas, cold beer, I stayed in a 4 bed hostel, but I was the only one there. The owner Chris was interesting to chat with, he is a traveler and was pure friendly. The facility is in the Colonial Zone and is a classic hostel. They are creating some private rooms in these days. That was the what made me switch hostels as it is just dormitory beds right now.