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Reviews of Balea Hostel

Camino de la hípica 8, bajo Camino de la hípica 8, bajo, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain

#78 of 81 hotels in San Sebastián

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 154 hostel reviews

6.8

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    7.1

  • Comfort

    7.0

  • Location

    6.2

  • Facilities

    7.0

  • Staff

    8.5

  • Value for money

    6.8

  • Free Wifi

    8.3

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: August 5, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No AC

    One of the most affordable accommodation in San Sebastian, Laid back vibe, nice staff, free tea and coffee. Enough showers and bathrooms.

    Stayed in August 2025

  • Reviewed: July 1, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    My roommate was so noisy. He slept during the day and was awake at night. I wish everyone would respect the silence at night.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 23, 2025

    6.0
    Basic hostel
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The hostel is very overpriced. The beds are very cheap and squeaky.

    The stuff was nice. Toilets are clean.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 11, 2025

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Bathroom sensor light turned off multiple times while I was in showering. Not overly close to the centre

    Was pleasant

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: November 2, 2024

    8.0
    Peaceful
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The staff ignored us for a while. Explanations were insufficient. But nothing serious ever happened. How much explanation is needed for a hostel anyway :) The only shortcoming is that I think this hostel is a bit out of town. But you can still go everywhere on foot and it is a good reason to explore the city.

    The hostel was very spacious. The rooms were very big. The ventilation was very good. Entry and exit procedures were comfortable. In a clean part of the city. The beds were comfortable. Toilets were clean. In brief, I left very satisfied and happy.

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: September 28, 2024

    7.0
    Good hostel
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Kitchen was a mess

    It was available

    Stayed in September 2024

  • Reviewed: August 20, 2024

    8.0
    Cosy, creative and clearly chill
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The after hours key was on a stupid chain. 40 minute walk from town

    Very cosy, hippie vibes. As we a walked in another traveller was noodling on a guitar. Great green space. Beautiful whale painting on wall. Dark dormitory. The hostel worker did my washing for me.

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: August 2, 2024

    8.0
    Very pleasant, but the location didn’t really work out for me
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The location wasn’t the best and I didn’t feel the safest walking back at night. It’s also 40 minutes walk from the old town and the buses don’t run at night

    It was clean and nice

    Stayed in August 2024

  • Reviewed: June 7, 2024

    6.0
    Decent accommodation for pilgrims when other places along the Camino are full.
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Far from the Camino. Crowded rooms with folks mostly going to work using snooze and leaving the room with alarms on. Few pilgrims. Few places to eat close by.

    They had beds available when the albergue in Passajes was full. Good showers. Escalators taking us up the hill on the way to the hostel.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: May 5, 2024

    8.0
    all good 👌I can recommend it!
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No good possibilities to storage larger bags save...

    Everything nice, everyone friendly! Beds and Bathroom's were clean, kitchen has everything one needs.

    Stayed in May 2024

  • Reviewed: April 6, 2024

    8.0
    Calm Hostel, everything nice
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    I was greeted very warmly and could park my car next to the hostel

    Stayed in April 2024

  • Reviewed: March 15, 2024

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It’s a fair walk, 30-40min to the centre

    The staff were really friendly and helpful I arrived on the weekend and obviously they can’t control who stays in the hostel but for the weekend it was very busy, I asked to be moved into a room that had less people and they where happy to let me move in the morning into a room that happened to be empty They also have a washer and dryer for clothes.

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: October 26, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Staff was so nice

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: October 9, 2023

    6.0
    Ok but could be better
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The room was dusty and dusty fans everywhere working. The security is non existent...everyone has access to everyone's room. No reception after 8 and although we are informed the door should be closed someone left a vase so the door would always be open. The fridge was not cleaned for a while. The room was supposed to have its own bathroom but the door was not working so we could not use. There were two people sleeping in the reception in the morning.Not sure why as there were available beds.

    It was tidy.

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: October 7, 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    People kept partying later than they were meant to in common areas and smoking by the bedroom windows on a hot summer night, so I didn't get to rest as well as I would have liked.

    They were flexible with late night arrivals. The atmosphere seemed lively and friendly.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: September 20, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    It was overpriced for the conditions.

    Nice and friendly staff.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: September 2, 2023

    7.0
    Nice Hostel
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Only down side was some of the other people...

    Reception was amazingly friendly and helpful. Gave great tips for getting around. Made me feel welcome and safe as a woman traveling alone.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: August 20, 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The room Is really hot

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: August 2, 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    There was no airconditioning in the rooms, so it was very hot.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: July 16, 2023

    7.0
    Great stuff!
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The ventilation in the room was very bad and the price too high

    The friendly staff who helped us all the time and kept the vibe of the place high

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: June 12, 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The kitchen war quiet poorly equipped and dirty.

    One guy of staff was really friendly, the women were a bit reserved. It's not very central but it is easy to reach by bus.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: June 12, 2023

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The showers are on a timer, so you have to continuously hold the tap in or press the button every 5-15 seconds (depending on which cubicle you’re in). My preference also would be to stay closer to the beaches and the old town. But, it was still easy to get there with some extra time.

    The staff were very nice and the facilities are good. It was also quite easy to catch a bus into the city or away from the city with a bus stop directly outside.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: November 23, 2022

    8.0
    Highly recommend.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Bed in 8-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    The stove is working, a lot of stuff for cooking, free coffe and cakes. Very nice.

    Stayed in October 2022

  • Reviewed: November 14, 2022

    8.0
    Very Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    room too crowd and toilette very dirty

    The common space was very nice

    Stayed in November 2022

Showing 1 - 25

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