Casa Pepe

“A Gem with Outstanding Design, Location, and Amenities (But Staff Needs Improvement)”

Casa Pepe Boutique Hostel is undoubtedly one of the best-designed and most aesthetically pleasing hostels I’ve stayed at. It offers a fantastic location, great amenities, and engaging activities. However, the staff, particularly the front desk team and supervisor, marred my experience. From the mo… more

Casa Pepe Boutique Hostel is undoubtedly one of the best-designed and most aesthetically pleasing hostels I’ve stayed at. It offers a fantastic location, great amenities, and engaging activities. However, the staff, particularly the front desk team and supervisor, marred my experience. From the moment I arrived, I was struck by the modern and stylish design of the hostel. The dorm rooms were comfortable and well-maintained and featured a charming Juliette balcony that added a touch of fresh air and natural light—perfect for unwinding after a day out. The dorm was street-facing; I advise earplugs if you have noise sensitivity. The property is well-located, and there are ample networking opportunities with a more professional, mature crowd of guests, making it a great place to meet new people. On top of that, the activities and amenities, such as the rooftop bar and mezcal tasting, were excellent. However, things quickly took a turn when it came to the staff. I arrived two hours early and asked if I could check-in, but the front desk staff was unwilling to accommodate me, citing that the room wasn’t ready. I could see that several staff members were around chatting, but none were focused on assisting me as a guest. I decided to wait and went up to the rooftop to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately, the bartender was inattentive, and after waiting for a while, I napped at the table. This wasn’t a great first impression of the hospitality. Eventually, at 3 pm, I returned to check in, but the staff insisted the room wasn’t ready. At this point, I expressed frustration and requested a refund, prompting the front desk to call the supervisor. Instead of addressing my concerns, the supervisor and the front desk staff recorded an unrelated video about my experience in Mexico despite my simply asking to get checked in. They spent more time filming the video and rewarding a staff member with a complimentary drink and an upgraded room for participating, all while I was still waiting. It was baffling. I finally got to my room and noticed it had been ready. I had walked the halls earlier and saw that the cleaning staff had already completed cleaning other rooms, including mine. The front desk had lied about the room’s availability, which seemed to be a recurring theme at this hostel. I had encountered this dishonesty elsewhere in Mexico, where staff members often lied about room availability even when rooms were prepared. To make matters worse, the co-working space wasn’t as accessible as advertised. When I went downstairs early in the morning to work, I found the evening staff had occupied the space. The room, which had a TV, small table, and game area, also had a bed set up, which made it uncomfortable to use. Adding to the disappointment, the staff had a child with them. Initially, I was impressed that this property provided lodging for its staff, but I was dismayed because I felt like I was intruding on a paid amenity. When I asked for coffee, I was made to feel like I was bothersome, which only further showcased their lack of professionalism. Nonetheless, I got a lot of work done in the main office area. They have a great co-working space in terms of furniture but lack office essentials such as a printer and office supplies. Despite all these frustrating encounters with the staff, the hostel is a gem. The location, design, and amenities—particularly the rooftop, bar, and social areas—are fantastic. I thoroughly enjoyed the mezcal tasting, even though there was a language barrier with the bartender (which was awkward, as the guest had to translate). The rooftop evening staff was much more attentive than the day staff. They were younger and seemed to keep the vibes going. However, the front desk staff's lack of professionalism and customer service is a significant downside to an otherwise incredible property. Casa Pepe would be an excellent place to stay if the management could address these staff-related issues. The hostel has so much potential, but the front desk staff and supervisor need to step up their game and prioritize guest service to match the high standards the property sets. I hope future guests get the experience this place truly deserves.

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“Mexico City Hostel: Bedbugs but I would stay there again?”

This hostel is in the heart of Mexico City. Everyday they have free walking tours (that were great) and also they have planned excursions for an additional price. There were a lot of solo travelers and the activities and daily "power hour" [5-6 pm $100 pesos (approx $5 USD) for unlimited margaritas… more

This hostel is in the heart of Mexico City. Everyday they have free walking tours (that were great) and also they have planned excursions for an additional price. There were a lot of solo travelers and the activities and daily "power hour" [5-6 pm $100 pesos (approx $5 USD) for unlimited margaritas/beer)] on the rooftop bar make it a great way to meet really awesome people. (People so dope we all got tattoos together!) The sleeping pods/bunks were great. You get a private locker for your bag, and also a smaller locker in the pod for your smaller things. I would suggest bringing TWO LOCKS! (I think you can rent if you don't have). The rooms do not have AC, we kept the window open. The temperature was fine, but it was loud. I would suggest earplugs. The "key" for your room is a bracelet with an electronic charm on it that opens the door which is fantastic for backpackers and travelers not having to worry about losing/carrying around a bulky key. Now, all of that being said. I found 2 bedbugs on my mattress. It was not an infestation (I picked up the mattress, checked the sheets etc. One was on the curtain and the other crawling across the sheets. It is not uncommon for a place to get bedbugs, and I was impressed with the way they handled it. They completely cleaned the dorm I was in that day, both with fumigation and changing all linens. They also closed off the common areas with fabric couches/chairs (I was on the same floor as reception) for the day). HOWEVER, they did not offer any type of refund or discount, which I did not agree with (I only had one more night so I chose to stay after they had cleaned and remediated). Additionally, they did not tell any of the other guests. I didn't agree with them not being transparent. I would think it would have been helpful to have other guests check their bunks etc, but they probably would have lost some business and it seems that was the reason they didn't. All that being said, it was one of the nicer hostels (amenity, staff, furniture, etc) that I have stayed at. I booked in advance and it was approx $45 a night (which in comparison to other places around the same area, was middle of the road and for what it was, seemed affordable. Bring your own towel, bring your own locks, I would not pay for the breakfast, as there are many food options on the same street that are much cheaper.

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