We were aware the Selina was a hostel on booking so opted for a suite room with a private bathroom. We’re seasoned travellers and have realistic expectations of ‘you get what you pay for’. It also has a pool which at the time of booking swayed the decision. We thought the comparatively high cost indicated a high quality accommodation with a more laid back and boho vibe than a standard hotel. Positives… Great location, central to La Fortuna and many excellent eateries. Less than 10 dollars in an Uber to most of the local attractions in the area. Good facilities in the room - arty decor, fridge, coffee machine, mirrors, 65 inch TV with Netflix, large bed, nice toiletries, good WiFi and a powerful shower. The not so great… The whole place didn’t feel as clean as it should be and a little shabby for the cost which was very expensive relative to the other accommodation in the area. No outlook at all with grubby fly screens and old rusty caged windows; located next to a building site. Nowhere to hang clothes and just little inconveniences like the bedside lights switches located at the opposite end of the room. The awful… Noise - when the air conditioning wasn’t rattling like mad, it was the industrial sized washing machines in the laundry below from the early hours that felt like a plane was continually taking off under our room. After three nights, we left exhausted and ready for a quieter space. Looking at reviews, mechanical noise seems to be a regular issue. For a hostel, I would just have put up and shut up but after paying a premium hotel price, the noise was not acceptable. We’ve also got loads of random small charges on our invoice for coworking and well-being which I queried and received no response. It all looks great on the website and the funky branding lures you in but the reality is, we got ****** in by clever photos and copy - there is a gap between what they promise and what you get for the cost. I think they need to maybe stay in their lane and focus on delivering a great hostel experience rather than trying to dress up overpriced and mediocre rooms as a hotel offer at hotel prices. We’ve stayed in four other places to date and the Selina by far offered the least value for money (and we got a ‘deal’ at £115 per night without breakfast). We were excited to stay somewhere a little different - and left tired, disappointed and a little ripped off. Unfortunately we fell for the slick marketing.
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