AZ Hostel & Galeria de Arte

The clean kitchen was well organized, and the double room itself was clean with a comfortable bed and fresh linens. There was just one clean bathroom, though the place has two, and nowhere to hang towels to dry. The biggest problem was the room full of mosquitoes. They didn't offer insect spray, and I couldn't sleep. Breakfast after that sleepless night was awful: no fruit, just cold bread, lukewarm coffee, milk, boxed juice, and a very bad cake. My tastes are simple, and it still wasn't good. The location is excellent for walking to most sights, and street parking is about 200 meters away. I don't recommend it.

It's an average hostel, right in the historic center, though the bars nearby can get noisy at night. The owner is very friendly, but there isn't a 24-hour reception, so depending on the time, you're on your own there. The internet wasn't working during my visit, and I wasn't happy with the cleanliness or the general facilities. My room had no lockers with locks, individual outlets, or reading lights. They charge half a day's rate to store your bags. The microwave was broken when I was there, and one bed had a loose support. There are only two bathrooms for the whole hostel, and there's no cable TV.

I came back for the fair price and the breakfast. Franciele puts care into making the best she can with what guests pay, even though this isn't a big hotel with every luxury. She is attentive and keeps the house running, and the place is always clean. It's a quiet stay, too. Even during the blues festival on the hostel's street, the music stopped at a respectful hour. The location puts you right by the beautiful baroque Igreja do Carmo, close to Taberna Domar for the best chocolate cookies, and not far from Igreja da Matriz, another baroque work of art. If simple rooms and a hot shower are what you're after, it's worth staying. I'd rate it 10.

They welcomed us well, but the prices feel excessive for the fairly ordinary quality. Compared with major hostels in Brazil, including in Rio, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte, the value for money is poor. The house is old and has damp patches. In winter it was unbearable, and I couldn't avoid an allergy attack.