La Joya Hostel

The hostel's shared areas have a stylish look and a clear idea behind them, though the original vision seemed to fade over time. The rooms, by contrast, felt basic and worn: minimal, ragged furniture, simple beds, and a bunk that shook with every movement. Our three-bed room on the second floor had just one small window; the first-floor rooms had none. The en-suite had no outside ventilation and felt somewhat moldy. Cleaning wasn't great either, I found hair in the shower. We arrived by car, and having a parking lot was handy. Cars were packed tightly, so guests had to leave their keys. That wasn't a major issue, but there was no valet, and staff or another guest would move a car if needed. Breakfast was basic: milk, yogurt, cereal, fruit, tea or coffee, and bread with butter, two slices each of ham and cheese. The location was good, with strong public transport links and interregional buses, and the value seemed fair for the service.

The restaurant in the hostel serves very good modern food, and breakfast was pleasant. The location is good and the service was nice. The rooms, though, were a bit dirty and unfortunately very dark, so spending time in them felt unpleasant. They're fine if you only need somewhere to sleep, but that's about it. The envelope asking for cleaner tips made me laugh a little when the place was dirty.

Outside the hostel can feel a bit daunting at night, even though it's in a handy location. Once inside, though, it feels like an oasis, almost another world. The rooms are interesting, there's a kitchen and an attached bar and restaurant, and the staff speak English and Spanish. It's inexpensive too. I loved staying here.

Be prepared for a pile of rules and fines from the moment you arrive. They tried to enforce them at every opportunity, and I was “fined” because a small injury left a little blood stain on my sheets. In my view, they use silly rules to overcharge guests, like a low cost airline where the cheap fare ends up costing more. I'd stay at Nomad Eco hostel or somewhere else in town for a better experience and wouldn't give money to what I consider a bunch of scammers.