The Container Hostel

This “hostel” has only the basics: a bed, locker, bathroom, and air conditioning that's available only at limited times. There's no kitchen or fridge, and nowhere nearby to get breakfast. The bathroom in the 10-person room was cleaned just once over the weekend. Ridiculous. I'd only recommend it as a last resort.

The place looks lovely, and the concept is great. A few important things let it down, though: you can hear the pub downstairs and noise between rooms, the shower was pretty bad, and check-in at 2 pm with checkout at 11 am feels limiting. There’s no breakfast either. 8/10.

For this price, the facilities are good by Brazilian standards. The rooms only have air conditioning at night, though the shared area is cooled during the day. Hot showers are available during daytime hours, the dorm beds have privacy curtains, and people speak English. It feels like a very Western-style hotel. Be careful with valuables: security isn’t great, so carry little cash, use cards, and don’t leave money in a locker even if it’s locked. Also, this place isn’t a good fit if you’re allergic to cats.

I really liked the idea and the sleeping cabins give you some privacy, but there are a few things to sort out. There’s no outlet or bath mat in the bathroom, and reception isn’t open around the clock, which could be a problem if you need help. The area feels isolated, and with everything shut at night and no security on site, I felt a bit uneasy. There’s no breakfast or nearby food, so getting something to eat is harder if you don’t have a car. For the price, even simple bread and coffee would be fair, like many hostels offer. The mosquitoes are another thing, so bring repellent. Otherwise, I could overlook the issues.