Zé Caramujo Hostel

I’ve traveled around South America and Europe staying in hostels, which I like because I get to meet people from different places. My first impression of Zé Caramujo in Santos was really good, with a nice atmosphere and friendly service. That didn’t last. Breakfast was supposed to start at 6:30, but even at 7:15 all I saw was water heating on the stove. I had to leave early, so I never got breakfast on any of the days. Then I found out there’d be a graduation party that night, and parts of the hostel were reserved for it. The private party went on until the early morning with live music and lots of noise, and the owners even brought people upstairs to see the floor where the rooms are. In the morning, I was woken by a fight between friends of the owners, who weren’t guests and had stayed up drinking there all night. Honestly, one of the worst places I’ve stayed. What a shame.

The hostel atmosphere was really nice, and this kind of accommodation should suit people who are used to it. The room itself was basic and smelled a little musty, which is common on the coast, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone with allergies.

For the price, the place is comfortable and quite affordable. It has Wi-Fi and breakfast, and the area feels safe and quiet. The bathrooms are very cramped, though, and there aren’t enough lockers for personal belongings.

It wasn’t what my daughter expected, and it was also far from the event she was attending. She paid at check-in, then asked to cancel. They said they’d refund the amount minus the debit card fee, but they haven’t deposited it and aren’t replying to my email. It’s a shame, because the people seemed very helpful when we asked for information.