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Reviews of Selina Bocas del Toro - Hostel

3 out of 5
Selina Bocas del Toro - Hostel
Calle 1 B, Isla Colon, Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 44 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 45 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 19 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 125 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 9 out of 125 reviews" "

7.6/10

Cleanliness

8.2/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Raymond

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
Place is not ideal if you want to have a quiet night
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Macaulli

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice place nice staff
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2024

8/10 Good

Katherine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Convenient location
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Adrian

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed a few times at this property. Its a cool and fun place to stay. My bugged disappoint was the overeall cleanliness.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lukasz

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great!
Great location, quality of accommodation and food! Staff was great too - well informed, super kind and helpful. I sure would like to stay there again.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

James

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Ernest, Anchorage

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Wifi was down when got to hotel. Was unable to get key card until later on the day. Was not give room with balcony as had reserve. Hotel needs upgrade. Town bumbs hung around the hotel not giving guest peace. Begging for money and cigarettes.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Greg

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 10 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Leigh

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean and professional staff. It’s chain hostel so usually get about the same at all locations.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

8/10 Good

John

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

6/10 Okay

Juana, Toronto

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property overall was fine and conveniently located for where we needed to go the next day. Simple and straightforward.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

2/10 Terrible

chad

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2022

4/10 Poor

Michael, Cedar falls

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
This is a youth Hostile , but no mention on Expedia. It was filled with young college students who were there to party. The hotel had a DJ that played from approximately 5pm to at least 2am every night. They left ear plugs on the bed, which should have been our 1st clue. The room was tiny with almost no normal hotel amenities. If you want to spend your days sleeping and be up all night partying than this is the place for you. Otherwise, I would find a different hotel to stay at.
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The coolest hotel in Bocas
Stayed 8 nights in Dec 2021
Response from Selina on 5 Jan 2022
Thank you so much for taking the time to give us this feedback! We're happy to be at your expectations, working hard everyday to receive amazing guests like you!

8/10 Good

Veronica

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great view and good location
Very nice typical building over the water in Isla Colon. Selina has activities for every kind of stay if you want to relax or if you want to have fun. A great advantage is having another Selina in Red Frog Beach so you can take the intern boat and spend the day on the beautiful reserved spot in Bastimentos island. The restaurant La Neta Caribe has a great Menu and every night there’s a DJ hosting.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2021

4/10 Poor

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Noisy, unpleasant private room. Good cowork
I like Selina hostels. However, I found Bocas one dirty, noisy, lack of maintenance. Our four guests private room was dark, filthy, stinky. Bathroom and sheets quite unpleasant. Cowork is good. Service is friendly.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Young-Won

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was my second stay at Selina. The first time I stayed at this hotel I was injured in an ATV accident on my first day on the island. They took very good care of me. I fractured my shoulder, pulled muscles, and I felt like death. They brought my meals to me, gave me a number to call if I needed anything. They wouldn’t even accept tips because they wanted me to get better. I went again to Bocas del Toro to do a redo. This time they greeted me with open arms and celebrated my return with me. While this is not a 5 star hotel, the staff will take care of you like family. They are there for you! I stayed at one 4 star hotel on Bastimento and they were very unpleasant. Stay at a place where
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2021

8/10 Good

Vicki

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
There was a slight problem checking in as they could not find my reservation for several minutes. It seems there was a disconnect between CheapTickets and Selinas. The staff was extremely friendly and professional while they searched for the reservation.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2021

6/10 Okay

Ricardo

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The suite had more good amount of room and the AC worked well. The shower pressure was poor and there was no hot water. Overall the suite was an upgrade from the other hostel rooms, but for the same price there are much better options in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021
Response from Selina on 3 Sept 2021
Thank you for your review and feedback on the room. Indeed we were having issues with the hot water but now it's solved! :)

4/10 Poor

joaquin

Travelled with group
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Party hotel
It’s a party hotel. That means super noisy and not very clean. Shared bathrooms means that even if you have your private bathroom you will hear people talking and running at 3am. Also the rooms are tiny and not very well taken care of. Pillow cases with holes. Dirty floors. And so on.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

2/10 Terrible

Nick

Disliked: Cleanliness
Adults do not stay here
Selinas is close to everything. That’s the positive. The night club blares music until midnight every night. Then the party takes to the porch and gets louder. This was all Outside my window every night until 1:30 Or 2 in the morning. I haven’t slept in 3 days. No one works here at night and there is no security so no one to help make the noise stop either. The shower doesn’t work.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Matias

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
All good so far... Quality pf the food at the restaurant not to good...
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2021

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Bocas
The hostal was great in every way. Easy walk from the airport, very welcoming, knowledgeable, good food, and clean. Juan is a great manager as were all the staff were top notch. Especially Madison !
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2020

10/10 Excellent

Adrian, Lima

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Selina Bocas Del Toro is amazing due mostly to their incredible staff. Rooms are a bit small but were clean and well appointed. They have excellent facilities including a work space for those who need a quite work area with high speed internet to work remotely. However, Juan and the bartender is what makes this place outstanding- attention to guests and their needs but most importantly a fun and friendly atmosphere. I would always stay at Selina on my trips to Isla Colon in the future.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2020
Response from Selina on 3 Dec 2020
Thank you Adrian!! We are happy to receive your comments. Whenever you want to come back to Selina Isla Colón, this is your home! We will send your feedback to our staff! Thank you again.

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Overall, it was an Okay stay. The only great thing was the staff at the front desk, they’re really nice and helpful, but everything else was just, average, and absolutely overpriced (I believe they inflate the price because it is a “cool, hip” place, a party hostel and not because of the service/accommodations they’re providing) since we stayed in nicer places for less $ on the same street. If you decide to stay here (which I do not necessarily recommend) don’t get their breakfast, It tastes overwhelmingly mediocre and service is slow.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

2/10 Terrible

Gil

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Be careful- bait and switch!
Looked at the pictures on line and reserved a room for $20.00 per night for a single room. All the pictures online had all been of single rooms. When I showed up I was told I had reserved a dorm room..... and immediately was offered an “upgrade” to a very small room for $150 more per night. This place is a scam and they don’t care about it.... When I refused the upgrade they did not offer a refund! I paid for 4 nights over $90 never stayed there!!!! Most people end up getting the upgrade and being scammed. Be careful.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good location
Good location .. Ac works , the bar on the property had bands and was lively..
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2020

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with pets, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love it is the fun hotel!! Beautiful clean and great people
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2019

8/10 Good

Sébastien

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Okay stay Selina at Bocas Town
Selina is always a good choice. The one in Bocas town is busy and at a good location. Can be noisy at night due to parties. Overall it is an okay/good stay, but I recommend you to combine it with Selina at Red Frog Beach (10min taxi boat) for more tranquility and nature.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Sébastien

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Selina Bocas
As often, Selina’s is the place to be. Location is good on the main road in the town of Bocas. In the evening there are parties, which is nice (but loud when you want to chill or go to bed earlier). Service is not the best, and depends on who you are talking to. Rooms are smaller compared to other Selina’s.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Roberto

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Buen lugar para dormir. Pero demasiado gringo para mí gusto. Igual que todo BDT en general
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Cool Spot to hang out and enjoy Bocas. Selina offers everything you need to relax and have a great time. You can surf, scuba, paddle or anything in between. Profesional staff that makes you feel welcome. Recommended.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good for a night or two
The Selina in bocas was a good place to stop over as it's close to everything. The private room was nice and the bar downstairs is quite lively. Sometimes it took ages to get to speak to someone at reception which was a tad annoying.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Staff & service
Overall a disappointment
Selina is located in a really good area, full of restaurants, markets and other things to do nearby. It has a nice deck area and some activities and tours (paid apart) through the day. The kitchen could use a renewal since it is always packed, dirty and disorganized. The private bedroom for two is pretty small and the bed was “”curved” in a way that makes it discomfortable. There are night activities every night in the bar, which is great. The only thing is the way the staff will treat you there, with little respect or attention. They have a buffet breakfast for 4$ and water filter (since the tap water in Bocas is not safe to drink) for free, but only until the time the bar opens for the night. They could add another filter to an area only guests could use after the bar opens. Staff rudely turn off the lights in the kitchen without even saying anything, even though there were only guest cleaning the things they used for dinner.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing staff and location. Selina Bocas is one of the best Hostels I have stayed at and I would come back again and again.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff was very accommodating. We started in a room with a shared bath that I gave a bad rating to because it had an overwhelming smell of fresh paint that was hard to live with. We then booked another night in a room with a private bath that worked well for us. We rebooted several times and were able to stay in the same room even though they were quite busy. Private rooms and rooms with a shared bath on the third floor are quiet. Outside can be noisy at night with loud music but there was no noise in the two rooms we were in. They are wellair conditioned and the A/C is a bit loud but it’s gray noise. The breakfast buffet is $4. Scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes or could be rice with some beans, oatmeal with cinnamon, homemade rolls, tzatziki, pico de gallo, coffee, tea and milk for coffee or whatever. We were satisfied. It’s not cheap but compared to a hotel it’s a good value.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The staff, good location and the place itself, nice people everywhere
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2019

10/10 Excellent

Tyson

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Selina is an awesome hostel to stay at, especially if you like to work while you are travelling. The Selina in Bocas del Toro was right on the ocean and the sunrises were amazing. the breakfast was awesome and the whole atmosphere at Selina hostels is very comfortable and relaxing. Would recommend staying at Selina!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2018
Response from Rodrigo on 11 Dec 2018
Hi Tyson! Thank you very much! We appreciate your warm words and we are looking forward to see you here in the future! Safe travels!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good hostel, but a little loud
This is a beautiful and very lively hostel that is located right in the water in Isla Colon. The staff is very kind and acomadating. We had an issue with a trip we booked through the Selina and they ended up giving us a dinner for our troubles. The bar is quite loud until 1am or so, but we kinda enjoyed the music in bed so it wasnt a problem. All in all I would recommend staying here if you can deal with noise from the bar.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2018
Response from Andrea on 14 Nov 2018
Hi! We are happy to know your overall expirience was good, and the staff was at your service when needed! Our bar closes daily at 00:00 except the weekends when we close maximum 2:00 am! Safe travels!

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I enjoyed my stay at the Selina, it's right on the waterfront. There is a good common area with swings and a hammock near the waterfront. Comfy beds and good showers. Just wish there were more plates in the kitchen!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2018
Response from Nicole on 14 Nov 2018
Hey Stephan! Thank you very much for your warm words! We are happy to know you expirience went well, and you enjoyed our facility , and what we offer! Safe travels!

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Good for parties, better environment elsewhere
Room: I stayed in a 6 dorm bed, which had its own bathroom and shower (clean enough, but definitely worn--doors were kinda grimy). The shower had hot water, which was a pleasant surprise. The beds were comfy enough, and the AC made the heat bearable--when it worked (only turned on at night). On Friday night, the AC didn't work, so I was miserably hot and sweaty all night. If the windows are closed, it's not hard to sleep well at night. Bad wifi in the rooms, decent in the bar/lounge areas. Environment: Selina is a great location for parties, it's usually where the Filthy Friday crowd ends up at night. The hostel itself has a nice bar area right on the water, so it's perfect for swimming. There's plenty of lounge space on the ground and second floors. The main drawback IMO is that there's loud music blaring all day and night, so it's not the best place to really soak in the beauty of Bocas or chill by the water. Service: takes forever to check in/check out/get anything done, but the staff is friendly. Food is decent but you might as well get better eats outside the hostel. Convenient transportation to other cities; took the Bocas Transfer to San Jose and didn't have any problems. Overall: if you're staying in Bocas for more than a couple days and want more than loud partying, spend your Friday/Sat night here and maybe go elsewhere for a more chill environment in a quieter location.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2018
Response from Andrea on 7 Sept 2018
Hi, Thank you for your comment! We are happy to know your overall exprience was great. On the other hand, We promise to to our best to improve as possible in all fields! Thanks!

10/10 Excellent

Mia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great hostel for solo travelers, I had a great time renting boards and surfing in the mornings.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2018
Response from Lior on 5 Sept 2018
Hi! Thank you for your warm words! Great travels!

10/10 Excellent

Brandi, Texas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It's a nicer looking party hostel. Bring headphones for when you want it quiet. The staff is friendly and helpful. Breakfast was awesome by the water. I would return when in Bocas.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

Dylan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Would stay again
Clean, comfortable, chilled hostel vibe. Plenty of activities around.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2017
Hi! Thank you and come again!