Selina Venao Beach West

Returning next year!!

Nothing

Spacious area with a pool, kitchen, cafe (although overpriced) and 2 minutes away from beach. Also they have a second similar location (10min away) right on the beach where you can base during the day.

Dorm is dark, few lamps which are very weak, so good luck doing anything in the room other than sleeping. Shower is fine, but mostly dirty and with mold around. Breakfast is 2 eggs, 2 piece of bread and coffee - far from exceptional as booking advertises.

Everything

I liked all

The pool and bar area are absolutely beautiful and set in a stunning jungle environment with relaxed beach vibes. Although the river was dry during our stay because it wasn’t the rainy season, the setting was still lovely. The hostel is also very dog-friendly, and all of the dogs were friendly and well-behaved. A special mention goes to the young cleaner, who was an absolute lifesaver. Our room was extremely dirty when we arrived, but she did an amazing job cleaning it on the third day of our stay, so we were at least able to enjoy one clean night. She was hardworking, thorough, and deserves recognition for her efforts and she should train the other staff. There are many wild animals here which was definitely a highlight to our stay at Selina.

Unfortunately, it saddens me to leave such a negative review because I usually try to find something positive about every place I stay. This hostel has real potential. It’s in a great location, just a short walk from the beach and town, and surrounded by beautiful jungle. Unfortunately, the cleanliness, management, and overall condition were a real letdown. The photos on Booking.com did not reflect the reality of the property. It was difficult to find anyone to help, and communication through Booking.com and WhatsApp was very poor. The shared kitchen was filthy, with dirty fridges (the top especially), old food left inside, and a terrible smell. Our room was also very dirty on arrival. Before asking for it to be cleaned, I ended up cleaning the bathroom myself. Thankfully, the cleaner on our last day did an excellent job. The biggest issue was that construction was taking place on the rooms we had originally booked. While we were “upgraded,” we should have been told before check-in so we could decide whether to stay. Instead, construction started at 7 a.m. each morning. With no staff usually available at reception, it was hard to kind of know who could assist us at any point during our stay. The staff does not seem very coordinated. If you’re looking for a cheap stay with leaking walls and bathrooms that smell, then this is the place for you. Otherwise, I’d recommend one of the many other places in town that are close to the beach and perhaps better maintained.