Porto das Palmeiras Hostel

The breakfast was delicious, most staff were friendly, and the beach is just a six-minute walk away. Those were the only reasons I gave this place two stars. I stayed three nights and won't be back. The all-women dorm was unbearably hot without air conditioning. I saw at least three guests leave during my stay, either for a different dorm or another hostel. WiFi barely worked outside the lobby, and the bathroom constantly smelled of urine. The advertised housekeeping seemed to mean only changing the sheets after someone checked out. There was no sweeping or mopping, and the bathroom was never cleaned. When we asked to switch rooms, we were told we could only do that by cancelling our booking, losing the money we'd paid, and booking again. I wanted to recommend this place to friends, but I can't.

We rented bikes for the day and rode to the beautiful historic centre. Most roads had separate bike lanes. On our last day, the hostel stored our bags while we went to the beach, and even let us shower after we returned before continuing our travels. The staff were friendly and happy to suggest things to do in Salvador, doing their best to help even though my Portuguese is pretty bad. Breakfast was great too, made by a very friendly woman. The hostel is close to the beach, and we had a solid two-night stay. I'd definitely recommend it.

The room was clean and cozy, and the kitchen's water filter was handy in the summer. The location is good, close to the beach and plenty of restaurants. Breakfast was amazing, thanks to the woman who makes it every morning. A few things need attention: the WiFi barely worked in our room, the bathroom furniture was old and falling apart, and the bathroom by reception had no locks. The staff also seemed unmotivated, though maybe they were volunteers, I'm not sure. I'd recommend the hostel if those issues get fixed. Overall, the stay was okay.

Really good stuff, and the prices are fair.