The Secret Garden Hostel — Hotel in Lima Metropolitan Area

Poor service. The check in time online is 1PM. When I arrived, they said 2PM but even then I could not get my bed. I had to ask every time. While the staff are lovely, service is lacking and poor.

There are only 3 toilets and 4 showers for a hostel of almost 15 rooms, with a few of those being dormitories of an average of 6 people. That’s not enough. You’re gonna run into trouble when you “need to go”.

The dorm room is annoying because if you want to shut the curtains to sleep better, there is no fan to keep you cool. You wake up to sweat and a muggy smell across the room with everyone else sweating. That was extremely unpleasant to be in.

WiFI is abysmal. I don’t mind not having wifi in the room but even the WiFi in common areas was unacceptable. You can’t even make a simple call as it cuts off every minute or so. It’s ridiculous. Even simply being on your laptop, the internet cuts off very often.

Some pros: since it’s new it’s relatively clean with new stuff. Comfortable beds, decent kitchen.

Forgot to mention, their smoking area is right in between the kitchen and dining hall so the building reeks of cigarettes when...

So First I did a reservation to the 24.4 and paid half from the price ahead. Then I had problems with my flight so I had to cancel. I didn’t got the money I paid ahead back (no complaints about it) and the hostel didn’t ask for the rest.

Than, I did another reservation for the 3.5 and again paid half from the price ahead.

When I arrived they told me that I need to pay the other half for the night of 3.5 and the other half for the night of 24.4! I asked them why they didn’t tell it before? Why is it a surprise? And what was happening if I didn’t came there?

I asked these questions several times and the only answer I got was that I have to pay.

Finally they told me that the cancellation policy is to pay the full price. I told them that they charge me only half from the price a head and if they ask to charge the full price when I cancel I will pay, but not more then a week after when I’m there to an other reservation.

I have all the chat from WhatsApp and the papers from the hostel to prove this story.

This is a scam.

In the end I just took my things and...

Perfect location (just at the top of Miraflores and so near to the metro and municipal markets), staff were great (Kenny so friendly and helpful, and the others always welcoming), and the kitchen was clean, quite well equipped and usually no one was using it (good hobs, a kettle and plenty of pans and utensils). The 4 bed dorm was comfortable and the beds are super private with curtains on all sides and the windows. Only issue is the private room next door didn’t have sound proofing 🙉🎧 Oh and the other strange thing was the bathrooms/shower. Just one toilet upstairs for all the dorms and private rooms, and there’s nowhere to change clothes privately, so when you get undressed you have to jump quickly into the shower. Also it would be better if they provided soap in the shower 🧼.

But overall a good litttle hostel with high levels of security (key passes into the gate and front door plus 24 hour staff!). Met some nice travelers there too, even if it’s not a...