Black Hostel

The air conditioning barely works, and I can't give this place any stars. It's an old house turned into a hotel, and there was nobody around to answer the door or hand over our room key. Getting in requires a keypad code for both the gate and the hotel entrance. The lock wouldn't open, so we had to call them, the only way to reach anyone, and spent about 20 minutes standing in the sun trying to get inside. We were told breakfast would be at 6, but a notice inside said 7. We had to leave early to continue our trip, so we missed breakfast after being given the wrong time. We got up at 5:30 to leave, and the electronic lock wouldn't open again. We were stuck inside and called. They told us to wait for the breakfast worker to arrive and open the door. What an absurd situation. Luckily, a side door opened without an electronic lock, and the gate worked on the way out. It felt like an abandoned house in a horror movie. I really can't give it any stars, and I don't recommend it.

The shared spaces were really nice, with a pool, places to hang out, and a shared kitchen. Edna, who works there, was very attentive, and breakfast was served individually with care. The house is old but pleasant, and my simple room was comfortable and very clean. I arrived at 7 pm and had to use a code to unlock the gate. There were no staff members around, which made me feel a little unsafe.

The house is interesting and the room is large, but the stay was horrible. We paid for a room for five and told them we'd arrive in the early hours of the morning after traveling from Rio de Janeiro. There wasn't a hostel employee there when we arrived, so another guest let us in. Our room had only four beds, not the five we'd paid for. That guest helped us look for an extra mattress around the house, and lent us their own bed linen for the fifth person. The next day, when we spoke to the employee, we paid the full remaining balance because she got upset and said she'd have to pay it herself if I didn't. That didn't seem fair when one of us had slept on a floor mat. We couldn't reach the owner. She hung up, saying she'd call back in five minutes, but we carried on with our trip very unhappy. I had a lawyer with us, and this seemed like a case for legal action. The owner sent me a WhatsApp message saying she couldn't do anything and had charged the correct amount. Unreal. Never again, and I absolutely don't recommend it.

The place isn't clean. The shower gives you a shock when you turn it on, and the microwave was filthy. When I complained, I was told guests are responsible for cleaning it. The air conditioner filter had never been changed, and there was hair in the pool, so the pump seemed like it was just for show.