The Old House Hostel
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About
4.5
#5 of 9 hostels in San IgnacioLocation
4.6
Cleanliness
4.9
Service
4.5
Value
4.4
The Old House Hostel is located in downtown San Ignacio, near the towns Police Station. The old colonial house rest just above the foot of one of the towns main hills. The large balcony and many windows boast great views of the area. The peaceful atmosphere makes for a great place to relax and unwind.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Wifi
Bicycle rental
Baggage storage
Currency exchange
Non-smoking hotel
Room features
Kitchenette
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Charming
Location
3 Buena Vista St., San Ignacio 00501 Belize
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 95 out of 100
95
San Ignacio Town Airstrip
4.3 mi•
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Belmopan Airport
20.4 mi•
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Rental Cars
34 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
72Reviews0Q+A9Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
It's a really chill and laid back hostel, great vibes all around. The location is great. Close to the bus stop, very close to the center, lots of restaurants and shops nearby. There aren't too many guests at a time so it's easy to make friends. Aldo was a great host, he treats you like a friend and not just as a guest. It's an old renovated house, really loved the aesthetics. No AC rooms but that's not a big deal. It was surprisingly breezy at night even during the summer. There are enough bathrooms so I never had to wait in line. Wifi was great too, I was able to work remotely with no problems. Only wish there were more power outlets in the dorm rooms. lots of outlets in the common areas though, so charging my gadgets wasn't that much of a problem.
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Date of stay: July 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Such a lovely hostel. Such homey, good vibes. The kitchen is one of the best I've seen in a hostel in CA, fully equipped with a great spice rack. The decks are beautiful and so comfy to just chill on during the day. The rooms can get slightly warm at night, but very clean and comfortable. The bathrooms are impeccably clean too. Great stay
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Room Tip:Â Hot water in the downstairs showers
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great vibes, comfortable hammocks and friendly staff! This place is everything you could want in a cheap travellers’ hostel. It has some great chill out spaces and it’s close to the centre of the town too. The dorm rooms are comfortable and have fans provided, needed in this heat!
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A really nice hostel with clean rooms and towels. The shared areas are really nice and the kitchen is fully equipped. Clean bathrooms, but there is no hot water. Nice view over the city and walking distance to everything. We stayed in the private room, which were so nice.
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Date of stay: April 2022Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed here back in January, been to lots of hostels, and this one was pretty brutal. The place was super dirty, and the kid running it didn't seem to care about the hostel really at all. The kitchen was unclean bathrooms too.
I would never recommend this place to anyone.
I would never recommend this place to anyone.
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Traveled with friends
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Mar 31, 2017
Hey, Sorry to hear that we did not live up to your expectations. I wish you would have brought this to my attentions while you were here or a little closer to your stay. I would have done my best to fix the issues.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I've stayed in countless hostels, and this was one of the worst. We had reserved (and paid for) two nights, and yet we still double paid the second night so we could leave and sleep at an AirBNB. It was that noisy.
There is a bar below it that literally blasts music and screams into the microphone on Friday nights until ~2am, plus another night of the week I can't remember. It sounds like it's in the room with you. Past that time, one of the guys running the hostel has an electric guitar and amp which he blasts literally at all hours of the day and night. The next door neighbors also have dogs that bark literally all night long. Also, if you choose to stay in the private bedroom, the wall has a 1 foot gap from the ceiling, so sound pours in (and everyone can hear what's inside your room too).
Also, mosquitos get inside because it's an open setup so you will get mosquito bites all night long as well as in the shower. The owners are two 20ish year olds who are barely around and although people at the hostel hung around, no one really spoke to each other much because there isn't a fun hostel atmosphere. The only benefit to the place is that it has a nice, really large porch with chairs outside.
Really, we had extra strength ear plugs and didn't sleep at all at night. Would not recommend.
There is a bar below it that literally blasts music and screams into the microphone on Friday nights until ~2am, plus another night of the week I can't remember. It sounds like it's in the room with you. Past that time, one of the guys running the hostel has an electric guitar and amp which he blasts literally at all hours of the day and night. The next door neighbors also have dogs that bark literally all night long. Also, if you choose to stay in the private bedroom, the wall has a 1 foot gap from the ceiling, so sound pours in (and everyone can hear what's inside your room too).
Also, mosquitos get inside because it's an open setup so you will get mosquito bites all night long as well as in the shower. The owners are two 20ish year olds who are barely around and although people at the hostel hung around, no one really spoke to each other much because there isn't a fun hostel atmosphere. The only benefit to the place is that it has a nice, really large porch with chairs outside.
Really, we had extra strength ear plugs and didn't sleep at all at night. Would not recommend.
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Date of stay: October 2016Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Nov 11, 2016
Hey, Before you left it was brought to my attention that you were not happy about the noise issue. However, in no way did you double pay for your last night, additionally you did not ask for a refund. Had I known you felt this way I would have surely worked something out in both our favor. Soul Project, a great space for the creative arts, opens twice a week and closes promptly at 11. It is illegal to open later than this and also is not practiced. The gap in the wall is 8 inches and this is typical in older colonial homes to allow for ventilation. I am the owner, and yes I am a 23 year old female but this does not change what hours I run my front desk. I apologize if this disrupted your stay. Thanks for the positive feedback on our balcony , we also love it and enjoy playing music and hanging out with our friends and guests alike. I truly hope you can look past this and give our hostel another try one day. Cheers, Davina
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Great location just up from the towns main square (close to bus station & main restaurants)
As it is a conversion from an old colonial style house it has a really homely feeling here, with comfy sofas & a large kitchen and only two dorm rooms means it never feels overcrowded. The veranda has a stunning view over the town & we spent a couple of evening chilling there happily.
Definitely recommend this place & would 100% choose it again if staying in San Ignacio
As it is a conversion from an old colonial style house it has a really homely feeling here, with comfy sofas & a large kitchen and only two dorm rooms means it never feels overcrowded. The veranda has a stunning view over the town & we spent a couple of evening chilling there happily.
Definitely recommend this place & would 100% choose it again if staying in San Ignacio
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Date of stay: March 2016Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Mar 31, 2017
Thanks for the review, always appreciated.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Positives:
1) Location. The Old House is located in a nice old wooden building near downtown San Ignacio. Walking distance to everything.
2) Great vibes and friendly hosts.
3) A mostly clean communal kitchen that you actually would want to use.
4) Nice porch with sofas and a hammock to chill.
Negatives:
1) Noise. This is probably the noisiest place I've ever tried to sleep at. It's right on the Western Highway and you will hear cars/trucks zooming up the hill at full throttle all through the night and especially from early in the morning. Everything in the building is made out of wood, which looks nice and cosy. But every step in the common area, on the porch, turning in your bed, opening the lockers, opening doors, etc... will squeak and creak. Don't expect to sleep much.
2) Only 2 bathrooms (and no separate toilets). This usually means quite a bit of wait in the morning when everyone is trying to get ready for a tour at 8.30.
1) Location. The Old House is located in a nice old wooden building near downtown San Ignacio. Walking distance to everything.
2) Great vibes and friendly hosts.
3) A mostly clean communal kitchen that you actually would want to use.
4) Nice porch with sofas and a hammock to chill.
Negatives:
1) Noise. This is probably the noisiest place I've ever tried to sleep at. It's right on the Western Highway and you will hear cars/trucks zooming up the hill at full throttle all through the night and especially from early in the morning. Everything in the building is made out of wood, which looks nice and cosy. But every step in the common area, on the porch, turning in your bed, opening the lockers, opening doors, etc... will squeak and creak. Don't expect to sleep much.
2) Only 2 bathrooms (and no separate toilets). This usually means quite a bit of wait in the morning when everyone is trying to get ready for a tour at 8.30.
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Date of stay: January 2016Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Jan 22, 2016
Hey, Thanks for the review, we really appreciate it. Was great having you as a guest, hopefully we see you again some day. Sadly, there is not much we can do about the noise issue, but in the centre of town it is a big problem.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed here one night and I loved it!! Cool vibes nice porch with hammocks. Waldo was a great host, definitely stay here. They were overbooked and people kept coming to get a room so definitely book in advance to guarantee your bed in the dorm!
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Date of stay: January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Jan 22, 2016
Hey, Thanks for the excellent review, always appreciated and great to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us. Cheers!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loved the staff and this hostel in general. They owner is amazing and really cares about her visitors. I would recommend this and definitely stay here again. Good atmosphere and people. Nice seating outside and a hammock or two to hang out in. There was a cute little kitten here which really made the place feel like home.
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Date of stay: December 2015Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Davina B, Owner at The Old House Hostel
Responded Jan 22, 2016
Hey, Really happy to hear you enjoyed your stay with us. We always appreciate a great review like this, because we do feel we are inviting each guest to stay at our home with us. Hopefully we will see you again! Cheers, Davina
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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"Ask about the concerts at the bar downstairs. It is really loud if you are there on one of those nights."Read full review
LOCATION
BelizeCayoSan Ignacio
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Old House Hostel
Which popular attractions are close to The Old House Hostel?
Nearby attractions include Green Iguana Conservation Project (0.2 miles), San Ignacio Market (0.2 miles), and Kaj Expressions Cayo (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at The Old House Hostel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free parking, and baggage storage.
What are some restaurants close to The Old House Hostel?
Conveniently located restaurants include The Burnz, Cenaida's Belizean Food, and Pop's Belize Restaurant.
Is The Old House Hostel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.7 miles away from the center of San Ignacio.
Are there any historical sites close to The Old House Hostel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting El Pilar (0.1 miles).