Friday, November 13, 2009

THE CLAN Hostel...

You are about to get a hotel (hostel) review.
If you are visiting Buenos Aires and want to find an inexpensive place to stay...
Kirk & I found the perfect place... Oct. 10th...we were looking on the Internet for a place for Kirk and I to stay after Kira's wedding.


I didn't care what the place was like as long as it had a bed and bathroom. Antonella was busily scanning different hotels...most were booked that night. She called "The Clan" located in DOWNTOWN Buenos Aires and they had beds available. The person on the phone told her it can be a "bit" noisy at night because of the night club located near by.
I knew I was tired enough that I could sleep through anything.
So, we booked our room.
I wasn't expecting anything AMAZING because it was only $10.00 (USD) a night.
Let alone all that came with it:

Facilities
Kitchen/Kitchenette
Communal area - Indoor
Wi-fi available
24 hour reception
Linen included
Airport transportation
Internet available
Security facilities
In-House bar
Breakfast
BBQ Area
Bicycle Hire
Bike Parking
Luggage Storage
Telephone/Fax Facilities
Towels
Travel Desk/Travel Info

AND it came with breakfast!


We took a taxi with Kira and Sergio into Buenos Aires. Told them good-bye and rang the buzzer to check in.
As Kirk and I climbed the marble stair case to the check in desk, a nice young man came and helped with our suitcases. (not bad...$10.00!)

The staff was awesome and the ALL spoke English!

They told us the room
(Ant. had asked for a private room...how would we know...neither of us speak Spanish)
we had booked still had someone in it, but that there was a room on the main floor if we would like it. Worked for me...
We walked into our room and it was HUGE! With 4 twin beds and an upstairs balcony.
Kirk and I pushed our beds together...no big deal. Remember $10.00 a night...
Kirk was looking around and went up the stairs to see what was all in the balcony floor.
He comes back down with an odd look on his face and says, " there are 4 more beds and there are things on them" Somebody else has already been given this room.
So, he goes to the front desk and mentions something about it
and remembers we were never given a room key...

Our nice, fun, young, English speaking front desk person says
...we do not have locks on the doors.
and the people upstairs yea it is THEIR room TOO!!!!
Kirk knows when he comes into tell me...I will freak out...
"Kirk, I have been living in a pench with 4 other people. I have shared the same bathroom for the past 3 months....it is fine"
Kirk's only response was..."You have really changed".

I walked down the hall with all the fun "art work" sometimes referred to as graffiti, around the corner to where the bathroom was, brushed my teeth and went to bed.
yep...that is me sound asleep...noise what noise...the blanket over my head must have been sound proof !
Kirk on the other hand did not sleep as well as I did.
Especially when the 2 other beds in our room got their guests.
No...not up on the balcony...in the same ROOM!
( I did not hear a thing)

When Kira and Sergio came to take us to the airport...they walked into our room...They were both about to have a heart attack...Boy, was I glad they did not walk into the hostel with us.
BECAUSE I loved it!

The other guest IE: kids were awesome, very polite and I am sure in shock to see Grandpa and Grandma hanging out the same place they were. (average guest age: 18-21)
Remember $10.00 a night WITH BREAKFAST!

though I am sure if I had read this review...I may have missed out on one great memory!

Lonely Planet review
Danny Palmerlee
Lonely Planet author
Friendly, fun, disheveled, active and intimate, Hostel Clan is like one of those good-time party buddies you can always rely on for a laugh. With about 60 beds, a great rooftop terrace, ping pong and pool tables, as well as an on-site Spanish school, it's got it all.
One of Hotel Clan's finest features is its lack of bunk beds, meaning (a) you're not stuck on a top bunk, (b) there's no one threatening to bounce bed springs into your face as you sleep, and (c) all the rooms have a spacious feel. There's lots of light in both the lobby area and the 2nd-floor common room. The latter doubles as a 'backpacker museum', with all sorts of backpacker paraphernalia hanging from the walls. There's an on-site travel agency, free bicycle rentals, weekly asados (barbecues) and even weekly soccer matches. It's a great place for meeting other travelers, and quite comfortable, but you'll have to accept a little disorderliness - it's all part of the vibe. There are several private rooms with shared baths, and the biggest dorm room has nine beds on two levels. If you need more privacy, head across the street to their B&B, the Clan House.


Remember for only $10.00 a night
and the night club near by...more like located on the 2nd floor!
glad that room was already taken. hehehheheheheeheee


next time...we might have to check out the Clan House:

Single room: U $ D 39.
Special promotion
Four nights accommodation + two activities (city tour, or tango show, etc.)
= the fifth night for FREE!

3 comments:

Lene said...

HOLY CRAP...I don't even like sharing my room with MY kids!

I will have to remember the B&B across the street!

Mindy H. said...

I am loving living your adventures with you via your blog. You are so much braver than I will ever be! I don't even want a roommate in my appartment, let alone stranger roommates in my bedroom! I bow to you, oh queen of go-with-the-flow-world-travelers!

MaryRC said...

life is all about experiences. as long as i have earplugs, i can pretty much sleep anywhere.