15 days to go...

Being as I started the countdown last week I thought I better update each week now...

Almost finished dorm room

There is a hell of a lot of work to be done in such a short space of time. But the good news is the dorm rooms are almost ready and looking good.

Dorm room with balcony

All I have left to do in the dorms is to attach the personal fans and reading lights to each of the beds and paint them - although if I don’t get them painted straight away it wont be the end of the world. Having the high ceilings are great and the vents in the doors keep the rooms really cool, the downside to that is that you do get a bit of street noise but luckily late at night there isn’t that much.

Six bed dorm

The common room is also cleaned up and ready. I have the couch and TV ready to go in, the phone company are coming this week to install the guest phone line and I have built a computer desk and book shelf for the book exchange.

Common Room ready for furniture

I tiled the balcony a couple of weeks ago but did not put the picture up so here it is. I am going to put a little roof over the front balcony as if it rains hard and the wind blows hard water is coming in through the vents.

Tiled front Balcony

I have started work on the dormitory rooms shared bathrooms - a job that I have been putting of on purpose as it needs a lot of work! 

The last piece of the puzzle...

I put the electrics in today along with the ventilation fans which was a horrible job - I thought I was finished with all the dirty jobs... I reckon it will take me about another 6 days to finish it so fingers crossed. 

Door from bar to hostel

Theres been a few jobs that I have been meaning to do for a while that I have also been catching up on - the back up generator for one. I bought it ages ago but have not got around to actually hooking it up - the main reason is that I have to run a 200ft wire from my laundry to the main panel. So I have the wire and will be hooking it up in the next few days. Luckily we only have around one blackout a month which is amazing compared to some other areas. I have also painted the stairway.

Starting the bar late in the evening

Now in my last post I said that we would be ready to open by 1st July 2014, apart from the bar. Well the other evening I decided at around 7pm (after working all day) that I was going to build the bar!

Reception part of the bar

I had picked up all the wood the other day so it was all there waiting for me. So Friday night, music and a few beers I started.

Getting there...

It is not going to be a huge bar - it will mainly be for hostel guests but obviously we will allow public in. I set it up so the hostel is totally separate from the bar - I have installed a door that leads to the stairwell that will open with a guests keycard. It is good for security as no drinkers in the bar can get into the hostel area. 

Finished framework of the bar

I am building the bar in an L shape, the smaller part will be the check in area which will have our check in computer and info. The longer part will be the drinks service area. I didn't really have much of a plan when starting it - it just kind of evolved - obviously I knew the correct height and width etc before hand. I have built the frame of the bar out of pine but I am going to put some of the Caoba that I have from the old roof beams vertically along the front.

Ready for the top and Caoba front

I was going to use it as the bar top but due to the varied sizes of the planks that I cut up it would be difficult to make a bar top. I am hoping it turns out well...

As I said going to be a huge capacity bar, I already have the pool table in one of the bar rooms - that will have a couple of high tables and stools so in the bar I am going to build two 6 seater booths, a couple of tables and have a few bar stools - all in all seating for around 25 - plenty I would say!

Caoba beams ready and waiting...

So that just leaves the room behind the bar - I have a lot to fit in this room - luckily it is pretty big. So out comes the sheet rock... So there are two doorways behind the bar, the smaller one will lead into a small office, and the bigger one will actually be a shelves for all the bottles but with a hatch in I can pass all the glasses through in to the kitchen.

Dividing the bar toilets, office and kitchen

The kitchen will be pretty small and I am not planning to do food at the moment - this will be one the future - but I would rather have the room there then not have it. There are also two bathrooms and a storage closet. Not a bad use of space I think! The storage closet is actually for my motorbike, it is a pain to get it all the way into the back of the property so I have set aside a cupboard just big enough for it.

So, things are really starting to move forward, I have already had a booking and enquires - even though there are no photos on my site yet so its looking good - now all I have to do is finish in time! 15 days and counting...

23 days and counting...

Its getting close to the opening date and the place is still a little way off being ready. I am focusing on upstairs at the moment as thats where all the rooms are so worst case scenario the bar will not be ready by the 1st July but it will be close. I have now finished the wooden floors upstairs, glad that is out the way.

Midway through sanding the floors

I have been meaning to put up a sheetrock wall to divide two of the dormitory rooms upstairs for a while so thought I best get around to it.

Erecting the sheetrock frame

I now know why I was putting it off - with 17 foot ceilings upstairs and being just one person it was a bit tough... I am glad the bunk beds where there as I was able to use those to get up that high. Only took one and a half days to get it all erected - easy I thought, but then came the finishing - I have a new worst job now - mudding the sheetrock - its not that its that difficult but it makes one hell of a mess!

Adding the sheetrock

I have one side complete now and painted just need to finish off the other side. I have also put all the skirting boards in the dorms - so once that wall is finished I only have to paint the bunkbeds and two of the dorms are finished!

Mudding - I hate it!

I have also tiled the front balcony - I would have photos but my phone just decided to die... so unfortunately I lost a few photos but I will add them on the next post. I have also almost finished the common room upstairs - book exchange shelves, computer desk and phone area have all been built. 

Stair railing

I have also built the railing for the landing - nothing fancy but does the job. Once I clean it all up I will get it all set up with the computer, TV and couch. So I only have two more days of work and two dorms and the common room will be finished - very happy with that.

A messy work area!

I think I mentioned in my last post that I was going to put up an electric fence around the perimeter of the property. So 37 posts and 1800 foot of wire the fence is now up!

Electric Fence posts

Everyone was asking why I don’t just use barbed wire - well personally I hate the look of it and second of all the electric fence has an alarm if tampered with so just a bit more added security.

Electric fence

I felt like I had sun stroke after installing it all. It took a day to get all the posts set then another day to connect up all the wire.

Electric perimeter fence

So only 23 days left... a little nervous but at least it is all moving forward. I have a couple days of work to finish the private ensuite rooms and then all it leaves me is two bathrooms upstairs -apart from the bar we will then be ready for business! 

Getting close...

So back to work after letting the cat out of the bag with the property becoming Island Life Backpackers’ Hostel. Its been a couple of weeks of getting lots of little jobs out of the way. Well lets start with something fun. 

I have been looking for a pool table to go in the bar for a while now and I finally found one. It also made me get my ass in gear and connect all the lights up in the pool room.

Pool room

Its pretty tough finding certain things here, prices are very high even for used items so sometimes it takes a while to find what you are looking for. One thing I didnt really think about was actually getting the pool table back to the hostel. Well of 
course the one I bought was on the second floor of someones house. It was a struggle but manage to get it back safely.

You can get everything on the back of a pick up here

The next on the list was the main stairs which I had not anything to since I started the place. It took me a while to decide what to go for but finally decided on granite composite steps and will add some decorative tiles to the front of the steps. 

Finally started on the stairs

Its the only place in the house now that isn’t painted. I also installed it on the front steps as well. Looks pretty good and is strong.

Front steps

Next up was the outdoor kitchen... I had been meaning to tile it for a long time and finally got around to it. I am really starting to dislike tile work and grouting - I am typing this with two fingers due to all the cuts on my finger tips! But hey another job ticked off the list.

Outdoor kitchen tile work

A couple posts ago I had been putting an overflow pipe and drains in the garden. Well the drains are in and its all covered with gravel now so you cannot see them. It works a charm - rainy season has just started and in the last few days we have had ALOT of rain - I cannot remember the last time it rained so it is just as well really. So even after an hour downpour there was no build up of water at the bottom of the garden - task complete!

Garden drainage

I have been tripping over doors that I have been meaning to hang for a while now so while in the mood of finishing of jobs I have started to hang them. I have 15 sitting in a pile but I am about halfway through now...

Starting the doors upstairs

Obviously I still need to paint them but the hard part is out of the way at least. Its not as easy as you would think - in the Colonial house I dont think I have a square wall or door way so theres a bit of adjustment here and there needed.

Sun deck door

It was Katherines birthday last week and I when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday it was to get the outdoor hot tub working - well cold tub, Jacuzzi whatever you want to call it. 

Jacuzzi time

The only problem was that the pump and filter was still in the box, I hadn’t filled the hot tub, bought the blower or even connected power to the pool house yet... 

Pump and filter ready to be installed

So it was a bit of a rush but finally got it all connected and up and running. I have to say I am impressed - all works and looks great. Only problem is that now I have a soak at lunchtime and do not want to get out and get back to work!

Katherines birthday was awesome, we had around 30 people in the hostel and all went well - all good comments even when the place isn’t finished. It gives me that extra bit of motivation to get over the finish line.

Well thats about all for this post, I have set a soft opening date for 1st July 2014 so it is going to be a tough 6 weeks ahead. But I think I can do it. One of my priorities is installing an electric security fence around the perimeter of the property - I have been meaning to do it for a while now so that is next on my list. Until next time...

Island Life Backpackers Hostel

A lot of people have been asking me why I am restoring this Colonial property and what I am going to do with it. Well now is the time to reveal all. It was a dream of mine from a young age to travel, I just wanted to get out and see the world but time was ticking away when I was living in the UK and at the age of 26 I left on what was meant to be a two year around the world trip. Well it has been 5 years, 25 countries and I still have not been back so mission accomplished I guess. Before I left I had travelled in Europe and stayed at backpackers hostels in a few countries and always enjoyed them, by the time I made it through Central and South America I was hooked! 

At that point I realized what I wanted to do... welcome to Island Life Backpackers’ Hostel in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I plan on opening within the next couple of months when I have finished restorations. It has almost been a year of building work - longer than expected but good things come to those who wait!
I am really pleased with the progress. I have been called crazy quite a few times when I started the project and I can understand why - all you need is to look back at the photos at the start of this blog. I still find it hard to believe how far the project has come.

So what is my vision? The decision to open up Island Life Backpackers’ Hostel would have seemed strange to me when I first started my travels - my response would have been “who goes backpacking in the Caribbean?”. 

I had been living here for around three years when I realized that this was the place I wanted to open a hostel. There are so many successful hostels in the world and I have to say the area that is best set up for them is Central and South America. I wanted to replicate this in an area not yet fully set up for backpackers and budget conscious travelers. 

Coming from the United Kingdom a lot of people think that the Caribbean is for the rich and that if you step out of your all inclusive hotel you are going to be in trouble - stereotypes that are there to be proven wrong. Another problem that many people; including myself found when first coming into Santo Domingo was the lack of good quality budget accommodation - my aim is to fulfill those needs.

The Dominican Republic has so much to offer yet people just think of beaches. Don’t get me wrong I am a beach person and love them but the center of this country is amazing too - ATV riding through the hills in Jarabacoa - jumping, swimming and sliding down the 27 waterfalls of Rio Damajagua or trekking to the summit of Pico Duarte the highest peak in the Caribbean. That is just to name a few! This country is ready to explore and we have made our base in the Capital, Santo Domingo.

I have stayed at over a 1000 hostels world wide and each and everyone has their own feel. Some amazing and some not so good but I have learnt something from every single one. So what makes a good hostel? It all depends on the person really. I have had the funnest times at absolute dives, its not always the hostel you stay at its about the people. Ok sometimes you get unlucky in the way that there is no one staying at the hostel that you actually connect with - the hostel might have amazing facilities and perfect in every way but it goes like that at times.

Some hostels have made an impression on my around the world and I thought I would share my two favorites with you...

Cranky Croc Hostel, Bogota - Colombia

Now I have to say I didn’t even plan on staying in Bogota but I had to stop there for a night to wait for a bus. I am so glad I did - Capital cities usually get written off but I absolutely love the hostel and the city. Great nightlife, interesting sites and just generally a good vibe. The hostel had all the facilities you could ask for and the staff were great.

Hanoi Backpackers Hostel, Hanoi - Vietnam

Hanoi was the last stop on my 6 week bike tour of Vietnam and I had heard good reports on this hostel. Usually I tend to stay away from big so called party hostels but these guys had it almost perfect. Amazing place - they had two in the city and they are actually run by the owners which is good to see. They are from New Zealand if I recall correctly - great guys with an awesome place.

Thanks for everyone that has been keeping up with this blog and I will keep you posted over the next couple of months coming up to our opening.

So near yet so far...

Ok, it has been a while since my last post. I realized the other day that it is getting close to a year that I started work on this project - time really does fly. When I started I targeted a very optimistic 6 - 8 months completion time - obviously that was not even close but hey. It did get my ass in gear though, I have set a date of two more months to finish.

Finishing off front rooms

The finishing details take a lot of time to complete - just because a room has walls, plumbing and power does not mean its finished. My mum who has been helping over the last 5 months is leaving tomorrow and she was determined to finish all the painting - which see did!

painted and almost tilied

She has done an awesome job, the walls are one thing but the ceilings were very time consuming!

Downstairs ceilings

It has turned out great, I am so pleased with the final results. I have just one and a half rooms to finish tiling down stairs and that means the downstairs floors will be finished. I realized when looking through my blog the other day that all the photos were of the back part of the property, well finally we have a few here of the main rooms.

A lot of mess - but all painted

There were two rooms in the house that I have been leaving till the end - two upstairs bathrooms. I didnt have any intention of touching these until I had finished everywhere else as I hadn't even finished the plumbing. However I finally got around to finishing them - the plumbing and floors at least. All ready for tiling!

Two of the upstairs bathrooms - plumbing installed

Now, against my preference UNESCO made me install a wooden floor in the main house which has been on my list to finish for a while now. I was having a bit of a dilemma about how to fill the gaps between the boards - ended up going for slivers of wood which you hammer and glue in.

Upstairs front room

Due to not being able to find a floor sander in this country I have completed about half of it just using power tools - a pain and very time consuming but needs to be done. Stain plus oil and they are starting to look good.

oiled floor

I have been completing lots of little jobs in between doing the floors such as the drainage in the garden. When it rained really hard my two inch pipe I installed for the overflow of my infiltration system was just not enough and would start to create a little pond in the garden. It has been one of those little jobs that I kept on saying I would get around to... So I finally started it, new bigger pipe getting installed - I really do not like changing work that has already been completed but this needed to be done. Even Katherine was helping...

A helping hand

I even got around to finishing the laundry - almost. Roof is on and the washing machine and sink are installed.

Laundry

Storage has been a bit of an issue as we have been finishing rooms so as the laundry roof was so high I built in an attic room to store all my building tools and materials.

laundry attic

We have started a sign post tree in the garden for guests and people that have visited so far. Not many up at the moment but it will soon grow.

Sign posts

I havent actually explained on here what I will be doing with the property yet so my next post will explain all! Until next time...