Alpes Lima Kennedy Park — Hotel in Lima Metropolitan Area

I don’t normally write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience with this hostel.

First, there are a lot of stairs up to reception - which was fine for us, but not those with mobility issues / large cases. When we arrived, we were told that our "private room with a private bathroom"—which we had booked—was actually in an apartment building across the street, strange but not a problem. We paid for the room and were shown around the hostel itself, which had an outdoor kitchen, bar, and a hot tub (which was cold).

However, things quickly went downhill once we were taken to our actual room. It turned out to be in an apartment with a shared kitchen and lounge. While our room itself was fine (a double bed and a single), we were then told we couldn’t use the kitchen, despite it being brand new and seemingly stocked. If we wanted to store or cook food, we’d have to go back across the street to the hostel—down four flights of stairs and up another four. We also were told we couldn’t drink alcohol from outside (which I understand in a licenced premises, but we were not) - not a huge issue, but a bit odd.

Then came the biggest issue: security. The front door to the apartment didn’t have a key, but we were told it was fine because our room within it had a lock. However, once the staff left, we realized our "private bathroom" didn’t exist—it was a shared bathroom with the other rooms. But much worse, the balcony door in the communal area opened directly into our room with no ability to be secured. Since the front door was unlocked, anyone in the vast building could access our apartment and walk straight into our room. We noticed multiple other apartments in the block with signs indicating they were also rented by the hostel, meaning anyone aware of the lack of security could easily target them.

When we raised this issue with reception, we were told that the room we had booked was unavailable because "the lock had broken yesterday," which was never mentioned before our check-in. They completely dismissed our video evidence of the security risk, insisting that CCTV in the common area was enough. When we pointed out that our insurance wouldn’t cover an unlocked room and wanted them to take responsibility for any loss, they reluctantly agreed to look into moving us.

After some back and forth, they eventually found another room. However, because we had booked through Booking.com, they wanted me to cancel the reservation first for “system reasons.” I understood this, but when I didn’t have the app, and then when the cancellation wouldn’t work because we had already checked in and paid, they made us feel like it was our fault. I also repeatedly asked if the new room had a private bathroom (which we had paid for), but instead of answering, the man at the desk kept trying to make me shake on the fact I’d be paying “no more, no less” first—something I refused to do.

There was no apology from the man at reception, though the staff member who showed us to our new room did at least say sorry. It was a shame because the new room was actually very nice—I suspect they initially didn’t want to give it to us because it was an upgrade and they wanted to keep it available for new bookings.

We stayed three nights and were given only one small roll of toilet paper and no toiletries. The whole experience was so awkward that we didn’t feel comfortable using the hostel’s facilities, which was disappointing.

Overall, this could have been a great hostel, but poor communication, dishonesty, and a complete lack of customer service ruined it. If they had been upfront from the start, apologetic, and even slightly sympathetic, it would have made a huge difference. Unfortunately, the man at the front desk who handled our check-in soured the entire experience.

If the hostel is too big for the main building, they should just rent out the apartments separately / be honest that they are something different from the hostel experience. They should also add keypads to the apartment doors rather than keep...

I was very disappointed with my stay here.

First off, my room was very clean and comfortable and the lady running the bar upstairs was very friendly and kind.

But now the bad stuff. I booked a private room, for two people. I checked in by myself as my friend was syaying elsewhere on the first night. On the next night she came back with me and was not allowed in despite showing ID and me proving I had paid for two people with my booking confirmation. The guy with glasses on reception said it was the rules yet I have never heard of this when paying for a private room and paying for two people! He then said they could come in if I paid 50 soles. I did not get a receipt and I think he pocketed it. Despite the fact I had already paid Worse still, they kept my friend's ID and then forgot to give it back. Not only that, when we asked for it we found out a staff member had 'accidentally taken it home'. My friend is a lawyer and is quite sure this is illegal and is looking into legal action for this.

Also, as other reviews have mentioned, this place takes you for every penny and cent and sol they can get. There is no free water that you get in most hostels and hotels worldwide.

Despite paying for a private room they did not even give me a towel and said I had to pay for it. There is a gym but it is small and basic and they do not even turn the air conditioning on and have taken away the remote control. There is also a hot tub on the roof which they advertise in all of their marketing but ironically it is not even hot as it is not turned on at night. People are not served in turn at reception. The hostel is up several flights of stairs and there is no elevator. It is also not immediately obvious it is a hostel as it just looks like any old apartment block from the outside.

Staff constantly try to sell you stuff like tours even though I explained I had already booked one with G Adventures (they were also doing this even when they were being cancelled due to the political situation). Laundry is four times more expensive than all the launderettes in the area (there are lots and they are within walking distance). They try to sell you a Bitel SIM which has the worst range and service in Peru, apparently.

The breakfast is quite poor as is the coffee. Some staff seem quite miserable and I found out that the hostel do not provide transport for them late at night and they have to get an Uber back from their wages. I was going to stay here longer but after such a negative experience I checked out and went elsewhere.

Not only that, they seem to have 'cancelled' my booking on Hostelworld so I cannot leave a bad review...

Booked a deluxe double room that ‘sleeps 2’. Arrived to a room with a bunk bed….a double bed on the bottom and a twin bed on top… which technically sleeps 3.

If you get this room, you will be wanting to switch to a different accommodation. The room smelled so bad. Smelled like rotting food to me, and the ‘window’ opens to a mouldy smelling corridor, not the actual outside so you can’t even air out the room. That room should be a storage closet if anything. It shouldn’t be given to paying customers. We voiced our issues and they offered to switch us to a room in the building across the street… however they would only allow one of us to go look at it to decide if it was better. My boyfriend went and then the girl from the front desk wouldn’t even let him take photos to show me so he had to make the decision on his own. He says she made him believe there was no one else staying in that building. And he said out loud multiple times while she was walking us over there that there was no one else and she didn’t chime in or correct him. Not sure if that was a language barrier issue or what…

She told us we couldn’t cook with the stove or oven because it makes the place smell. And then very hushed warned us about the ‘picky’ family staying in the room directly beside us…. Basically just to be aware of them. That’s definitely something you want to hear right?? A warning about the only other people staying in that building of the hostel… especially after we were under the impression no one else was there. The room was nicer but the warning to be aware and careful of the other guests that we would be sharing the bathroom and common area with, made us uncomfortable.

We ended up booking somewhere else last minute because we were not about to spend the end of our trip in a place that was full of weird interactions, situations and red flags from the moment we walked in. Maybe there’s better rooms. The rooftop bar area did look nice. But our experience, even with it being a short one was...