Lucky Traveler Hostel

Having arrived here from an upmarket All Inclusive Riviera Resort, our group of 5 were a little dubious about a stay at the Lucky Traveler Hostel. However, based on it’s super close proximity to the Tulum Ruins (like, across the street!) and the fact that it is advertised as the only All Inclusive Hostel in the World, our booking was quickly secured. Two days before our arrival we received a message to advise of a name change to the Lucky Traveler PARTY Hostel and they certainly did not disappoint in this regard. The Team here are fantastic and we could not fault the warm welcome from a beautiful Demigod named Raoul. As we soon found out, the party does not start in Tulum Town until much later than expected, so we certainly made use of the hostel bar facilities, with Eddson ensuring our constant hydration via a steady stream of Pina Coladas while we waited. The town itself is filled with perfect little eateries and bars, as well as some vibey clubs that stay open past sunrise. Also, do yourself a favour and get to Batey's to watch funky live bands (like Buena Chaplin) and drink fresh-pressed sugar cane mixed with your choice of booze. All in all, your time here will be what you make it, and we were fortunate enough to spend time with some awesome locals who took us under wing and made absolutely sure that we got the most out of our evenings! The walk into town was a little long for my liking, so we opted instead to jump on the colectivos (mini-bus taxis) that drop you in town for MXN20 per person and are way cheaper than the local taxis (which seemed to range from MXN100 to MXN200 depending on how drunk we were. It was only on our final night that we discovered a fare-sheet which is readily available to anyone making use of the local taxi services. Although the mozzies are a right pain in the arse, it is impossible NOT to relax here, and the hammocks and comfy chairs in the common area are perfect for chilling and socialising. We opted out of the All-Inclusive option, but the restaurant offers a decent menu, and the included brekkie was always welcomed after a night out on the tiles. Yes, we had a couple of cold showers and the humid air soon condensed on our air-conditioned walls and rolled steadily down into our suitcases causing every item of clothing to dampen, but the rooms were a good size and the beds very comfortable. Everything was super-clean and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay here! The Tulum Ruins are an absolute must-see, and being roped in to an unexpected "guided boat tour" ended up being a huge highlight of our stay. The GUIDED portion of the tour involved the words "Ruinas. Foto." followed by the amazing opportunity to swim with turtles and sting rays on the Reef, so it is probably best to keep your expectations low about garnering much factual information from the crew. If you are heading to Tulum, then this is the place to be! I should also mention that we all work for an International Tour Company and are a very well-travelled group. With a few of us being in our 40's, there were also some concerns about our fitting in at this (or any) Hostel. It turned out that this never came into question and I would return in a heartbeat! Thank you to everyone who made for an enjoyable stay!!! …

The Lucky Traveler is honeslty one of the best hostels I have ever stayed in. I first travelled there solo for a week at the begining of Novemebr and then visited two more times throughout the month. The energy here is magical, there is always sweet tunes playing and a nice buzz about the communal areas. The staff are incredible, super friendly and welcoming. Reyes and the kitchen staff make the most delicious food with a great selection to choose from you wont be disappointed. Alex, Eddson and Marco are all fabulous bar staff who make the nicest drinks, are very attentive and keep the party going. Eddson is also a great tour guide during the day and takes you on free tours. Depending on the day it could be a cenote, lagoon or some ancient mayan ruins, Lenka is amainzg, her and maja made my stay unforgetable! Not only are all the staff awesome, the travellers I met at the Lucky traveller hostel were all so kind and friendly. It is a really special place and I can not wait to get back there soon! …