When my girlfriend and I first arrived in Lima we needed affordable accommodation during our apartment hunt. A brief search on hostelbookers led us to the Happy Up Here Guesthouse (HH). The reviews were positive, and the price was right, so we booked a room at HH. We didn’t know at the time, but we had stumbled upon the friendliest guesthouse/hostel in Lima. We give the title ‘Friendliest Guesthouse in Lima’ to HH not only because of its style, location, and value, but also because of the wonderful woman who runs the place.
Ana Maria Alarcon Gutierrez owns and operates HH, and has since 2011. To call Ana friendly is an understatement. Ana is a prime embodiment of hospitality. Along with her dog, Paco, she has created an atmosphere that gives travelers a sense of staying with an old relative, rather than at a hostel. Sitting on a sofa in the HH common room and chatting with Ana reminded us less of introductions with a new acquaintance, and more of catching up with family.
Ana left such a lasting impression on us, that we decided she needed a piece here in YoungPat Perú. Recently I returned to HH in order to interview Ana, and learn her secret for running a great hostel.
Ana, with her dog, Paco
HH opened in 2010, in the neighborhood of San Borja. Ana assumed responsibility of HH in 2011. Originally, Ana’s son and his girlfriend opened and ran the hostel, however the two pursued other work opportunities abroad after one year. Since the hostel is located directly over Ana’s house, it made sense for her to take over. Ana and her dog Paco, live on the first two floors, while HH occupies the third and top floor of the same building. Ana is never far from the common room, which she cherishes.
Ana describes a typical day as a hostel owner as such;
“I wake up early and get breakfast ready for all the guests. Everybody has breakfast and then they go out into the city to explore. I clean up the rooms and common area, make sure everything is tidy. So in the middle of the day I am here for people just arriving to the hostel, or to help out when guests have any problems. Then the rest of the day I like to be around the hostel and chat with my guests.”
These guests tend to primarily come from Europe, and North America. The timing of the seasons also affects guest trends at HH.
“There is no most common nationality, we see them all. French, English, American, Canadians, and Asians, a lot, you know? Our summer to your summer is many Europeans and Asians. From autumn to winter in the north I have Americans, Canadians, and, well, Asians all year round. From South America, I don’t have many guests. Chile, Colombia, and some from Argentina.”
With so many nationalities temporarily calling HH home, most owners could be tempted to stereotype, perhaps even develop a tendency for guest ‘genres’. However, HH has remained open and embracing of any guest. At HH no guest is too odd, too strange or too difficult. Ana’s only preference is extroverts over introverts, mostly so she has a conversation partner. When asked to recall a bizarre or funny story about running a hostel, she struggled to come up with a response. It’s as if her patience and sense of family prevented her from seeing any guests as unusual. All guests at HH are part of a judgement-free family. Quirks, atypical behavior, and personality differences are what Ana loves about running a guesthouse. In our interview, Ana chose ‘Family’ as the best word to describe HH.
“It’s family. I think it’s familial because it’s close. From the table through the living room to the kitchen, everybody can talk. I really love to be with, and talk to everybody here. It’s not like you are my son, I don’t feel like the guests are my children, but it’s similar to a maternal sense. I want to have a nice home.”
Friendships forged on the road while traveling are inevitable, and the trend is no different at HH. When asked, one of Ana’s fondest memories of managing a hostel came when she helped a young woman break out of her comfort zone. A young American woman had been staying at HH for nearly a week without leaving her bunk bed, other than for the bathroom and kitchen. Remaining in bed for days on end is worrisome behavior for anyone. At other hostels, this lonesome behavior would be disregarded, but not at HH. Ana wanted a plan to get this woman upright and social, after all, she was staying at HH. During her check-in this young woman had briefly mentioned enjoying a day at a beach several weeks prior. Using this tip, Ana called on a local friend with a beach house in Lima to take a few HH guests to his residence for a day trip, the reclusive lady included. Luckily, the woman agreed, joining three other HH guests for a day trip to a beach house. Sure enough, after a day with fellow travelers and beach lovers, the young woman escaped her bed, and her comfort zone. In the following weeks, the woman explored Lima with her new friends, and even continued traveling north into Ecuador with her pals.
“The best part of running a hostel is being able to talk with many people from around the world, having a place with a strong family feel, helping travelers with questions about Lima, and just having conversations about myself or others”
So what is her secret? What makes HH not only a great place to stay, but also encourages a website to interview the owner? Projecting a sense of family is important, but Ana says patience is the most important aspect.
“Well you have to be patient, I think that’s most important. Not often, but sometimes some people will test your patience. I feel lucky that I have only ever had three difficult guests.”
Let Ana and HH serve as a lesson for anyone interested in opening a guesthouse or hostel. The trick for customer satisfaction isn’t always the most stylish decor, the most high tech rooms and common areas, or even the best bar specials. Patience and a communal spirit are prerequisites for a successful guesthouse.
See a photo gallery of Happy Up Here Guesthouse