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Reviews of The Barrel Hostel

Popoyo, 47000 Popoyo, Nicaragua

#24 of 26 hotels in Popoyo

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 64 hostel reviews

6.4

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    6.9

  • Comfort

    7.1

  • Location

    8.8

  • Facilities

    6.8

  • Staff

    6.3

  • Value for money

    6.8

  • Free WiFi

    8.1

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 8 January 2025

    6.0
    Private rooms ok, but better off elsewhere
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    No free drinkable water provided. Room was quite expensive. Shared kitchen was very small. Staff were unfriendly and unaccommodating. Heard from others that the dorms were a nightmare as there were 25+ people in there sharing a single bathroom/shower

    Private queen room and ensuite was a good size and clean, no complaints on the room. Decent location in town

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 December 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Couple
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    We payed 15 bucks per bed in a 20 people dorm. The beds were fresh, comfy. The dorm was overall nice. The one bad thing is there is no shower (?!?) only the one outdoors for like rinsing from the beach. Otherwise, the hostal is nice. Don't recommend the food.

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: 22 August 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The kitchen was small and dark, but functional. The beach break infront of the hostel is only surfable at high tides, which was late in the evening when we were there. Otherwise it's a long walk to the surf, on the other side of a river. Restaurant prices were very high, and the nearby shop was expensive too. One bathroom for a lot of dorm beds.

    Fantastic location! Enjoyed some amazing sunsets from the restaurant and small decking area. Ideal for surfing but only at high tides when we were there. Beds were comfy and the hammocks were a great addition.

    Stayed in July 2024

  • Reviewed: 1 July 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The kitchen was filthy,

    Nice location, lots of places to relax

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 May 2024

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The kitchen was always super gross. The fridge was full, only one fridge for the whole hostel is not enough. The power went out in the kitchen for about 15h , so everything in the fridge went bad. At 11pm the power went out in every room and it was impossible to sleep without the fans on. People had to go to either the terrace or the hammax. The staff didnt really seem to care.

    Right in front of the beach, nice areas to chill.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 25 June 2023

    5.0
    Nice from the outside but small things sometimes dont work
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Our toilet was leaking when you flushed it. I was really upset about the one staff who couldnt make it possible to fill up our bottle just after the reception closed (it is only possible to let bottles fill up with drinking water behind the reception) and the next day he kinda scammed us with the taxi. He said it is between 300-350 Cordobas and then called the taxi and said there is a group that wants a taxi for 400. It is not a big deal but that felt like a small scam

    The property is amazing and directly next to the beach. The vibe is really chill and it calms you down a lot

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: 15 May 2023

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The kitchen

    AC

    Stayed in May 2023

  • Reviewed: 9 May 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    it is like being in a restaurant, no social area really. very expensive restaurant as well. also booked a taxi with the hostel but it never turned up, was told it hadn’t actually been booked, waited two more hours but he never arrived.

    rooms were nice, good aircon.

    Stayed in April 2023

  • Reviewed: 2 April 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    vibe and staff

    directly on the beach

    Stayed in March 2023

  • Reviewed: 5 February 2023

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The staff was very unwelcoming The 6-dormitory room was very small and had only one bathroom Only 2 plugs in the room for 6 persons!!

    The location on the beach AC and fans in the room

    Stayed in February 2023

  • Reviewed: 30 July 2022

    6.0
    A busy surf and party hostel. Booked for 4 nights but stayed for only 2 as I wanted something more comfortable.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 4 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    the kitchen unfortunately was tiny, it was difficult for even 2 people to cook there together, and the hostel can sleep a lot of people, so it was always crowded and really dirty, in my experience. Apart from the bar and restaurant, there was nowhere really to chill and be comfortable.

    Great location, fun, laid back and party vibe.

    Stayed in July 2022

  • Reviewed: 29 June 2022

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    There is not many places to sit and relax, the place is more like a restaurant.

    The only hostel with good wifi in the area

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: 23 June 2022

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    All day there is loud music that does not suit the atmosphere

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: 21 June 2022

    7.0
    Amazing location but nothing else going on
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Very poorly equipped kitchen and poor atmosphere for a hostel with no activities or information on offer for guests and tourists. Staff were friendly if spoken to, but offered no extra tourist advice when we arrived/checked in. Food at the hostel was very expensive and drinks not much better (except beer) - a happy hour could go a long way!

    Amazing location - literally right on the beach with incredible views of the ocean, especially at sunset. Lovely communal area with great seating and porch/terrace area for guests and customers to sit in. Our room was clean and well equipped with good-sized lockers to keep our valuables in and a private bathroom for the room which was spacious and clean.

    Stayed in June 2022

  • Reviewed: 6 January 2025

    1.0
    Just awful. Stay clear.
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    This hostel is extremely subpar. I have backpacked over 30 countries and this is the worst I’ve stayed in. There is no atmosphere, the staff are extremely rude and unwelcoming and the hostel was filthy. Furthermore, they advertise the hostel as a 12 person dorm when it’s actually a 24 bed person dorm separated with an open door with no curtains and one bathroom and one shower for the entire room. The hostel overbooked itself over the holidays and had moved a number of single beds into the room so upwards of 28-30 people were sleeping in the dorm. Even though they had overbooked themselves they made it our problem and tried to get my friends to share one bunk bed between the two of them. There were ants in my bed, and the room and bathroom were not cleaned for our entire stay. The kitchen was also dark and filthy. This hostel is awful, stay clear!! Spend a bit more money and stay at the nice hostel down the road.

    The location and the sunset.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 January 2025

    1.0
    Horrible, felt like cattle in that room and no way to relax
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    We were here for new years and a couple days around new years. We arrived to our ‘12 bed dorm’ which was actually a 24 bed dorm as the two rooms were connected and shared one bathroom and toilet. As new years neared the staff added three beds to the dorm, one of which was shared by two girls, making it a dorm of 28 people. There was no place to put your stuff, showering was a disaster, and the personnel did not seem to care one bit. They just kept adding people to increase the income. And don’t get me started on the kitchen; you were in line to cook, everything was disgusting as no one was cleaning the utilities well, and the pots and pans were well outdated.

    The locations was right at the beach so that was very nice.

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 3 January 2025

    3.0
    Not good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    I booked a dorm for 12 people but it was in practice 2 dorms next to each other. In addition to that they had matresses on the floor and asked people to share a single bed. In total there were 27 people with one shared bathroom(!). Also not possible to refill your water bottle

    Location is good, social area is nice and a kitchen

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 2 January 2025

    2.0
    Keep clear
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Worst hostel I have ever stayed at. They overbooked and told us that we would need to share a single bed. They offered us half price (the cost of one bed), even though we were technically getting half a bed each. We declined and they became aggressive when we said we would have to look elsewhere. Magically a second bed became available. Due to this overbooking, 3 additional single beds were bought into the dorm room. The 12 bed dorm that we had booked was actually a 24 man dorm with a door in between- all sharing one bathroom! Which now made it a 27 man dorm… disgustingly dirty, bathroom was always busy and no space for anything. Horrible experience. Staff were so rude and unhelpful for any request, kitchen is gross

    The location was good, nice sunset views

    Stayed in January 2025

  • Reviewed: 8 June 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 5 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Kitchen was pretty grimey and not really big enough for everyone trying to cook. There’s no space in the fridge for groceries so we really have to shove things in. It wasn’t a particularly social hostal but if things were arranged in the evenings it could definitely be!

    Great location for the surf and the deck was lovely

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 20 May 2024

    4.0
    Disappointing staff but good location.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Staff were not helpful and seemed annoyed when I was communicating with them. I was not able to check in on time and had to wait 3 hours more before I could enter my dorm. I had to wait 20 minutes before I could find a staff member to even talk to when initially arriving.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 15 May 2024

    3.0
    Good location, frustrated by hospitality
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    I paid for AC room but because of power cuts on 2 nights AC didn’t work. Had to sleep outside as room was too hot. Not the hostel’s fault but they refused to refund the difference between an AC and non AC room. Kitchen is small and dirty. Don’t eat at the restaurant - very overpriced and not good quality food.

    Good location - beachfront. Approx 10 min walk to main break

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 April 2024

    8.0
    Great place in Guasacate, mainly foreigners looking for surfing
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Beers too expensive, service could be improve a bit

    Clean organized and a beautiful deck to see the sunset

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 8 April 2024

    8.0
    Very good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Pizza wasn't that good.

    It was a very nice location and beach was very peaceful...unfortunately my 2nd day as I did Frisbee a fishing boat pulled up and they had recovered a dead swimmer who had gone missing 5 days ago. This was just bad luck but I guess it doesn't really have anything to do with the hotel.

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: 18 January 2024

    10
    lovely place
    • Leisure trip
    • People with friends
    • 6-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    the whole place was always very clean, the beds were comfy and there was a chilled out vibe throughout the place. also the kitchen has everything you could need

    Stayed in January 2024

Showing 1 – 25

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