My spouse and I have been staying at various hostels throughout Europe. We spent the 2nd weekend of January at Hostal Alaska and quite enjoyed it. It is located just off of Sol Station/City center and gives you immediate access to the metro, endless shops, restaurants, and attractions. Plenty of nearby bars with good atmosphere, but the hostel is quiet. The staff were quite friendly (as were everyone else in the city) despite not speaking much Spanish. Our room was clean, with the only problem being that the shower curtain fell off the wall once.

The only real annoying thing about this hostel was that it was on the 4th floor, and that the lighting going up the stairs isn't great. It is supposed to be motion sensored, but the 2nd floor doesn't light up at all and the 3rd floor doesn't light up until you are immediately underneath the sensor. However, despite this we didn't feel unsafe or threatened, just annoyed that we couldn't see very well. Would certainly stay here again.

My boyfriend and I backpacked around Andalusia and wrapped up our trip in Madrid. We're both in our mid 20s/early 30s, and we both loved Hostal Alaska. It looks very sketchy from the outside, and remains sketchy looking until you are on the correct floor. However inside the room is spacious and clean, and the owner lives in a room just outside your entrance. Very kind man, two great dogs, and very helpful. Fantastic location--very close to Plaza Puerta Del Sol, close to great shopping, and surrounded by lively bars and restaurants. We were high enough up in the building to not be too bothered by the noise. 10 all the way around for a budget stay for a young traveler.

Having never stayed at a hostal before, it was a great first experience for me & my friend! My other friends forewarned me about the idea of a hostal & I can proudly prove them wrong now. Hostal Alaska is a quaint little place in the most ideal location you can want for a great stay in Madrid. It's literally a block from the hottest walking area in Madrid - Del Sol Plaza. Great food, Metro stop, entertainment & people watching awaits you steps from your door. Okay... you should get the point by now that the location is SUPERB! In addition to the awesome location, Juan & his crew go out of their way to make sure you have a pleasant stay in a clean environment. The rooms are quiet (not any noisier than a hotel room), clean, safe, and they even offer free wifi! This is a lot of bang for your buck.... I'd definitely say if you want an affordable stay in Madrid, this is the place to go. Biggest drawback? Tiny bathrooms (all the rest of the perks make up for this small inconvenience).

For anyone looking for a clean, friendly, safe and convenient place down the street from Plaza del Sol, this IS the place to stay! My friend and I stayed in two different rooms during our trip; both of which were clean and perfect for our needs. Room 3 is a large room that has a window opening to the street and although you could hear people on the street, it did not disrupt our sleep. Juan was very friendly and accomodating; he even stored our bags after checkout before we left for the airport. The hostal is located near many restaurants and shops. The only negative: TINY bathrooms.