Review: Saman Hostel, Medellin, Colombia****

“Hello! Are you Britany?” was the unexpected greeting I received as my cab pulled away in front of Saman Hostel in Medellin, Colombia.

“That’s me!”

Lots of natural sunlight to get you out of bed in the morning!

“Welcome!”

Saman Hostel was booked solid for the night I arrived and they knew exactly who would be filling the last bed. That familiarity, despite the crowd, would continue for the five nights I slept in my six person dorm room in the popular El Poblado district.

I LOVED this hostel. After a few nights of chilly Bogota and itchy wool blankets, crashing on the crisp sheets and perfectly cushy mattress in much warmer Medellin felt like paradise.  I jumped into the shower as soon as I arrived because (well, let’s not discuss how long it had been since I had showered with the lack of hot water at my Bogota hostel.) Pretty sure I held my breath as I slowly turned the knobs… and the verdict?? HOT. I definitely spent more time in there than my roommates appreciated but I was craving that hot shower like WHOA.

The owner of Saman (the lovely man who welcomed me to his establishment that first night) speaks great English but the two women who run the place do not. Despite that language barrier, they are so incredibly sweet and accommodating,  I barely noticed. They too, learned my name immediately and always greeted me in the morning with a buenos dias, Britany! (Even on that one morning after my adventures with aguardiente when my eyes refused to open all the way.)

A little rock garden with hammock provides a place to chill.

One downside to Saman, which really didn’t both me, is that its not the party hostel that some visitors are looking for.  There is no in-house bar so the atmosphere remains relatively chill. But grab a beer from their fully stocked fridge and head out to the hoppin’ streets of El Poblado. Who wants to stay inside the hostel, anyways??

Also, there is not a ton of outdoor space. But again, get out of the hostel and go find some! There are so many parks in El Poblado, it shouldn’t be difficult.

There are no included meals at Saman but there is always fresh fruit laid out in the morning and amazing coffee is available all day long.

So of course, I drank it — all day.

Saman Hostel is comfortable, relaxed, clean, and friendly. It was everything I needed to begin my love affair with Medellin, Colombia.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ****