Terrace/patio
Check availability

Reviews of Island Life Hostel

1 out of 5
Island Life Hostel
Calle Isabel La Catolica #356, Colonial Zone, Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 37 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 5 out of 67 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 67 reviews" "

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

4/10 Poor

Arjun

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service
Loved the property and the people I met there - just had a big complaint about the owner. I've stayed in dozens of hostels while travelling through over 30 countries but this has been the most incosiderate hostel owner I've ever seen. He likes keeping his dogs on property both of which like barking really loudly at random noises throughout the night which kept me up. He also just brings his friends over on weekdays from out of the hostel to e party right in front of the rooms (they didn't even go to the common area) which also kept me up. Also someone got sick in my dorm and was asking the owner if he could get some medicine or some help from the owner who was on property, but the owner refused to even go to the room to see him. I wouldn't recommend booking this property because I think it's a bad idea to give money/support a bad hostel owner like this one.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Response from Chris on 20 Dec,2023
Hello Arjun, First of all thank you for choosing to stay with us and we are glad you enjoyed the hostel in parts... Id like to respond to each of your points...Our 2 beautiful dogs have lived at our hostel for over 10 years and are very well behaved - this is in our description and the photos... Our dogs are not kept near the rooms so are you sure it wasn't street dogs that you heard - as ours are kept at the front with our security guard and he does not let the, bark as you say... we do understand that some people do not like dogs, but they are part of our hostel family. If you did not like them we would have happily given you a refund and helped you find somewhere else to stay...The guest you mentioned that was sick was of course helped so Im not sure how you can say we did not... I was in constant contact with him, he had my number and I gave him all the information he needed and where to go - we were talking via whastapp so it didn't seen necessary to go to his room as a member of our staff was already there- we also booked him a taxi and made sure he was ok... We are not doctors here... we are not permitted to give out medicine as he didn't know what was wrong... I would like to be clear it wasn't an emergency he was feeling unwell - again we ordered a taxi and he went to the clinic nearby. He returned that night and the next morning was feeling better.I don't remember speaking to you but I personally apologize if I somehow offended you as I didn't see you helping the guest you are talking about... IU would have much preferred maybe you could have came to me with any concerns you had at the time - it would have made more sense then leaving it until after the situation which you weren't even involved in happened... Anyway we hope you enjoy the rest of your trip on this beautiful IslandCheersChris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
La pasé muy bien en el hotel , el personal muy acomedido y las instalaciones en buenas condiciones y sobre todo la ubicación para ir a los diferentes lugares turísticos ... excelente .
Stayed 11 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Know what you are getting
This was my first ever experience in a hostel . At first when I arrived I thought as though I may of made a mistake from the entire environment. Very different from a hotel . I was here on a couples visit . But as I settled in I realized I was getting exactly what I paid for and I got the hostel experience. The owner and manager are really great guys and will do everything within their power to make you feel welcome and feel like a home away from home . Hostels unlike hotels really push for a more social atmosphere and I meet some really great people .Had a lot of fun at the bar and one day had there Nachos (and they are very good ) I ended up loving this place . But know exactly what you are getting .
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leendert

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay, staff was very welcoming and friendly. Great vibe at this location, I’ll definitely stay here again.
Response from Chris on 15 Jan,2023
Thank you for the awesome review! It was great to have you stay with us and we hope to see you again sometime.Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

2/10 Terrible

kurt

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
No hot water. Smelled bad. Dirty mattress. Dogs living on the property barked all night.
Response from Chris on 15 Jan,2023
We are really sorry about your stay. We will look into your points and sort them asap.Thanks, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Christy Victoria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great staff!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2022
Response from Chris on 2 Dec,2022
Thank you for the awesome review! It was great to have you stay with us and we hope to see you again soon.Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

eric

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff is very welcoming, it is a place that makes you feel at home right off the bat! I will recommend this place, for sure!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Response from Chris on 20 Jul,2022
Thank your for the great review! We hope to have you stay with us again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Gaoussou

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice hostel in a great location. Right near the top attractions, restaurants and bars. The staff is absolutely amazing and the nicest people. They are very helpful in giving tips and advice on how to navigate the city and answer any questions. Would highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from Chris on 20 Jul,2022
Thank for for the amazing feedback. It was great having you stay with us and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Magnus

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2022

8/10 Good

Ramon, Santo Domingo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
it couldn't be better located
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021
Response from Chris on 17 Jan,2022
Thank you for the great rating, we are glad you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is like an oasis in a desert of sulking, scowling misery. Pedro is an excellent manager and super helpful. The staff are smiling and extremely pleasant. This has an amazing effect on the travelers mood. The young Frenchman is an amusing character. The Hungarian volunteer who showed me to my room was especially awesome. The small rooms are really all one needs and the colonial character fits in with the zone. All of the important sites are within ten minutes walking distance. Free wi-fi and about 150 pesos for an Uber to the bus station. A little noisy in the courtyard at night but the cacophony of conversation is constant like white noise on the TV so I slept well. Don't waste your money - stay here!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Chris on 17 Dec,2021
Thank you for the awesome review! It was great having you stay with us and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hostel in great condition
Located in an a stuning building, having a great atmosphere with the guests and staff. The breakfast is good and you'll have everything you need. Dont skip this one while travelling around the D.R.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2021
Response from Chris on 3 Dec,2021
Thank you for the great review, it was having you stay with us. Cheers Chris and the island Life Team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Response from Chris on 23 Dec,2020
Thank you for the great rating! Hope to see you again soon

8/10 Good

Theodore

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2020
Response from Chris on 6 Nov,2020
Thank you for the great score - we are glad you enjoyed your stay. We hope to see you again soon Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

6/10 Okay

Gary

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2020
Response from Chris on 1 Sept,2020
Thank you for choosing to stay with us during your time in Santo Domingo. We are always trying to improve and would love to have some feedback from you. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2020
Response from Chris on 1 Sept,2020
Thank you for the great rating. We hope to see you again soon Cheers Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2019
Response from Chris on 4 Dec,2019
Thank you for the awesome rating - we hope to see you again someday. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

ELIEZER, Dajabon

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really liked this hostel. To return to. very nice, hygienic and very good service
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from Chris on 20 Nov,2019
Thanks for the awesome review! It was great having you stay with us and we look forward to seeing you again. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Christopher

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hostel inside the colonial zone.
this place far exceeded any expectations I had. The person who checked me in gave me all the info I needed about the property. All the staff and volunteers were so friendly and helpful. They made me feel really welcome. Having a free buffet breakfast is a treat in a hostel. Also, there is a chef who prepares an evening meal if you want to have it at a fairly reasonable cost. (Though the portions could be a little bigger). The food was very tasty. I was in a private room. Room is very small, but had AC and a private bathroom and was completely serviceable. The bar prices are not bad at all. 100pesos for a cuba libre cocktail. The volunteers took me to see the local dance show on the Sunday night and another took me on a free walking tour of the city on the Monday. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives at this hostel. The amazing volunteers give this place so much credit. The general feeling here is great and it takes only a few minutes to find some new friends for life. A great place for solo travellers to stay. I cannot comment on the dorm rooms as I was in a private one, but can say the communal bathrooms were well maintained. Clean and tidy.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2019
Response from Chris on 24 Oct,2019
Thank you for the great review, it was really nice meeting you. We look forward to have you singing in the bar again ;-) Have a great trip and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2019
Response from Chris on 11 Sept,2019
Thank you for the great rating, we are glad you enjoyed your stay. Come back soon! Cheers Chris and the Island Life team

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property was as expected. The downside is that there is no wifi access in the room rio dd Janeiro. If I knew this before booking, I wouldn't have stayed there. Also the power cuts out at times. It happened in the middle of the night and I woke up because my room was so hot, I could barely breathe.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019
Response from Chris on 15 Jul,2019
Thank you for choosing to stay with us during your stay in Santo Domingo. We have free wifi access in all social areas as advertised. We do not advertise it in all the private rooms as we are in a historical colonial building where the walls are incredibly thick, which interferes with the signal... If you would have asked at the front desk we would have happily moved you to another private room that has a strong wifi signal. We are sorry for the power cuts - it happens sometimes in the Dominican Republic, luckily it was only out for 10 minutes. We do have a backup generator which we start up if the power is to for any longer. We hope you enjoy the rest of your time on this beautiful Island. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hostel with bar
The combination of Hostel and Bar is nice. The have free drinking water and the breakfast is fantastic with eggs, pancakes, juice and coffee. They have lockers in the rooms and the staff is nice and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019
Response from Chris on 7 Jul,2019
Thank you for the awesome review. It was great having you stay with us and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Timm

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Safe and welcoming place
Huge hostel with a pool. The staff was super friendly and help me to plan a Trip to Haiti. They offer free water and an all you can eat breakfast. The owner has traveled the world and we had a nice chat. Kitchen is well equipped and my bed had a fan, light and power plug to charge my phone. Location is good and close to a big supermarket.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2019
Response from Chris on 3 Jul,2019
Thank you for the awesome review - it was really nice to meet you. Enjoy Haiti and hope to see you again some day Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
I loved the feel of the place, the people staying there, the owners and staff, the place in general. I will stay there again. It’s very down to earth and not fancy. And I like that.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2019
Response from Chris on 5 Jun,2019
Thank you for the great review and thank you for choosing to stay with us during your time in Santo Domingo. We hope to see you again soon. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Business traveller
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Well organization, kind employees, good location, very good breakfast, lot of information avalable
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2019
Response from Chris on 19 Apr,2019
Thank you for the great review, we are glad you enjoyed your stay with us. We hope to see you again soon Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

IsisRivero, Havana, Cuba

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We like the hotel is very pretty very casual, clean and very friendly stuff is like being home
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2019
Response from Chris on 26 Jan,2019
Thanks for the great rating - we hope to see you again soon Cheers Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Kristina, Arizona, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
everything was great! Clean dorm rooms and bathroom, friendly staff, nice amentities like individual fan, power outlet, & lamp at each bed, and its own bar and a Pool. Walking distance from historic Colonial Zone & tourist attractions & shops.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2018
Response from Chris on 10 Oct,2018
Thank you for the awesome feedback. It was great to meet you and we hope to see you again soon. Cheers Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I enjoyed the location, the archtecture, the friendly helpful staff, and the atmosphere.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2018
Response from Chris on 28 Aug,2018
Thank you for the awesome review! We hope to see you again some day. Safe travels! Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

KAZUKI

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Courtyard area with hammocks was ideal place for relaxing. Shower drain condition could be better.
Response from Chris on 14 May,2018
Thank you for the great rating! We hope to see you again some day. We will look in to the shower drain. Thank you for letting us know. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Levente, Budapest

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great vibes
Everything was great. The patio and the bar was the best. The streetfront rooms can be noisy, earplugs are highly recommended. Location is perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018
Response from Chris on 26 Mar,2018
Thank you for the awesome rating! It was great having you stay with us. We hope to see you again some day Cheers Chris

6/10 Okay

melik Zourir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2018
Response from Chris on 16 Jan,2018
Hey Melik, Thank you for staying with us - We would love to have some more feedback on how we can improve as you kept coming back to stay with us and never mentioned anything wrong. We are always trying to improve and would love some feedback Thanks again Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Response from Chris on 6 Jan,2018
Thank you for the great rating - we are glad you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again soon! Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

melik Zourir

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2017
Response from Chris on 6 Jan,2018
Thank you for the great rating - we are glad you enjoyed your stay and we hope to see you again soon! Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
My experience at Island Life Backpackers Hostel.
This is probably the best hostel I have ever stayed at. The staff was very helpful, and the location is very close to many activities in the colonial area. Although the room was small, it was very clean and comfortable. I opted for the air conditioned room, but really only needed the fan. I enjoyed the small pool, and the free breakfast was good. The only thing I would ask to improve is the WiFi, which was not very strong in my room. My flight left later in the day, and they stored my luggage for me after the checkout time, so that I could do one last sightseeing tour. I would happily recommend Island Life Backpackers as a not too expensive but comfortable place to stay in Santo Dominigo.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2017
Response from Chris on 2 Sept,2017
Thank you for the amazing review - we are glad you enjoyed your stay. We are looking forward to having you back one day. Regarding the wifi in the rooms - we are in a 400 year old colonial building with really thick walls so it struggle to get the signal in to some of the rooms - however all the social areas have wifi as advertised. Safe travels and thanks! Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The hostel was good, it's just that Santo Domingo didn't meet up to my expectations. This place is in a district where you'll see the most important historical parts of the city so if that's what your Into go for it. You'll probably see it all in about a day. Plan your stay in Santo Domingo accordingly.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2017
Response from Chris on 2 Jul,2017
Thank you for choosing to stay with us during your time in Santo Domingo. We are sad to hear that you did not enjoy Santo Domingo. However this platform is to review our hostel and not the city so we feel it is a slight unfair rating. We hope you enjoy the rest of this beautiful Island. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

David Lamont, Washington, DC

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Old World Charm!
Great hostel for the price. I found the staff extremely helpful, and great location writhin the Colonial Zona. In walking distance to everything!
Response from Chris on 2 Apr,2016
Thank you for choosing tostay with us during your time in Santo Domingo and for the great review. Safe travels! Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

Carissa, Santa Cruz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Liked the hostel, the neighborhood was close to everything
Thank you for choosing to stay with us during your time in Santo Domingo. We are glad you enjoyed your stay. Safe travels! Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

MARIA

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
gracias por el desayuno incluido
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

6/10 Okay

Maria Fernanda

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

2/10 Terrible

Roman

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
La peor experiencia en un hostel
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Esturain

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Exelente.
Rebaso mis expectativas muy buen lugar la ubicacion y la atencion muy amigables y respetuosos . Lo recomiendo al 200 % exelente hostal.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023
Response from Chris on 4 Feb,2023
Muchas Gracias! Hasta pronto :-)

10/10 Excellent

Brigida

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Morgane

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Soleil
Plein de soleil et de repos
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021
Response from Chris on 18 May,2021
Thank you for your review, we are glad you enjoyed your stay. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Disliked: Cleanliness
buen hostal con oportunidades en bioseguridad
muy bonito el hotel y limpio, pero el uso de mascarilla por parte del staff era muy poco, menos en el momento del desayuno, las medidas de bioseguridad no fueron tomadas, se le pidió al personal usarlo, y la respuesta fue aquí no usamos, por lo demás muy buena ubicación.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2021
Response from Chris on 2 Feb,2021
Gracias por estar con nosotros. Analizaremos lo que sucedió con el miembro del personal. Nuestro personal sigue los protocolos, pero hay algunos casos (como al desayunar) en los que se quitan las máscaras para que puedan comer. Gracias y esperamos verte de nuevo en el futuro Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Alisha

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2021
Response from Chris on 7 Jan,2021
Thank you for the awesome rating. We hope to see you again soon Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Jorge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2020
Response from Chris on 23 Dec,2020
Thank you for the awesome rating! It was great to have you stay with us. See you again soon Cheers, Chris and the Island Life hotel

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

No lo recomiendo
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2020
Response from Chris on 18 Sept,2020
We are sorry to hear you did not enjoy your stay. It would be great to hear from you as we are always trying to improve Thanks Chris and the Island Life team

10/10 Excellent

Marius

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
10/10 would recommend
Hostel with soul. two dogs, a cat and a very helpful owner. Made our arrival in the Carribean nice and welcoming. great breakfast buffet.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019
Response from Chris on 20 Nov,2019
Thanks for the great rating! It was really nice meeting you guys and we hope to see you again soon. Safe travels - Chris and the Island Life team.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2019
Response from Chris on 14 May,2019
Thank you for the great review! We hope to see you again some day. Cheers, Chris and the Island Life team