Socialtel Bocas Del Toro

Selina is so fun! I went here on a solo trip with the intention of making friends at the hostel. There is a party vibe all the time and Friday nights were the wildest. I didn't feel like they were really trying to build community there. I actually spent most of my free time at Bambudas where they always had chill activities like a singer/guitarist or family dinners. Keep in mind, I am approaching 50, so maybe my vibe is just a little more mellow than it used to be. It was nice to have breakfast on the patio/dock each morning before starting my day. The restaurant, La Neta, had really great healthy food available and a full bar, which was convenient. My room really wasn't that clean and there was a lot of water damage and a little bit of mold, but for the price I paid for a single private room, I kind of get it.

The most unpleasant place I have stayed at. The beds are not placed on a safe proximity to the roof, I couldn’t get it properly. The rooms were very disgusting and people leave their huge bags opened because they don’t have any lockers or options to keep their luggage. If you’re on the island pick anywhere else but this place. Poorly managed, I got checked in and no one bothered to show me to my bed or the facilities, the staff simply didn’t care.. If you need to pay a few extra dollars for a better place, please do. This is literally the worst place I have ever been to in the past 4 months of travelling.

Rarely do i feel compelled enough to leave a bad review but socialtel at bocas is the worst hostel i have ever stayed in. This comes from someone who has been travelling for 4 years and stayed at dozens of hostels. It's not fit to take guests! The rooms are not fit for purpose, there is no social atmosphere at the hostel and you have constant noise 24 hours a day. Firstly, they had downgraded me to a smaller room, which was only rectified after i complained. I was told to feel lucky that i could still have the room which i initially reserved. The room itself was old, worn and lacking space. The balcony was nice and overlooked the bay. Unfortunately, due to there being a club a few doord doors down which plays deafening music till 5am, i was not able to sleep most nights. I am used to noise but even with earplugs i could easily sing along to the lyrics at 3am. The common area is under construction so there is no social area or activities. When the club finishes, the construction workers start their own playlist of drill and saw noises, making it impossible to get any rest. It's clear they should have closed to the public during this period with such poor conditions and maintenance. Overall this was a poor experience and hope this review helps anyone else avoid socialtel.

No facilities, under heavy construction with noise starting early in the morning. Staff incompetent/ no hospitality experience. Book a bed in a 4 dorm, only top bunk available with barely enough space to sit before hitting the ceiling and it's impossible to put valuable in the locker that can barely fit more than 1 laptop. Socket next to my head was very dangerous. They sent my to an 8 person dorms without any refund. Only after check-in I learn that there's no kitchen, no common area, no activities and they also wanted to charge me to access to co-working area. Their "smart key" system was down, so we had to reach out to security/staff every time we needed access to our room. Staff is very rude and is not making any effort to accommodate customer while nothing from the advertised offer is available. If you stay there expect to only have a simple bed, low water pressure and that's it. Expect to go eat out everyday at your own charge.

Socialtel in Bocas del Toro was an amazing experience, has too much fun. The staff provided excellent service, always friendly and helpful. The location is unbeatable.

I came there with high expectations but it was just a bad experience. I stayed in a 6 bed dorm. Cons: There was black mold under the beds - literally unsuitable for people to sleep there. Not enough lockers for everyone in the room. Not a single hanger in the room to hang a towel or your clothes. The beds ceiling is so low that you can’t sit in the bed. Overall a very bad experience in the room. Pros: The staff were very friendly and helped me out with questions and things I needed. The location is also good and close to many restaurants. Overall I highly suggest not to stay in the 6 people dorm there, at least until they renovate it. You can find a decent private hotel room in this island for the same price per night, and without risking your health with the mold

My boyfriend and I stayed here for two nights. ***Strong points*** friendly and helpful reception staff, clean and tidy place. ***Weaknesses***: there is a lot of noise around the “hotel” due to the bars that surround the place. So for those who like to go to bed early and do activities during the day, this can be quite detrimental! Points for improvement: the hotel should invest in better soundproofing.

It‘s a nice hostel. If you just wanna sleep there it is too expensive in my opinion. The room was clean and the beds were also neat. The sink is not closed off by a door or something so thats little bit uncomfortable. Also the room in general is very small. The lockers also could be better (some would only close if you used a lot of force). Also the hostel has no real chill/social area so that‘s kind of a bummer. The staff was really friendly and helpful though. Would I go there again as a student solo traveler. Probably not.