Cristianmar 3 - One Bed

I’ve booked here for a month at £18 a night. Given the location and low price, I don’t expect Hilton standards. Outside my room it’s generally quiet after 10 or 11pm. There may be a few people talking, but otherwise I can hear the ocean. The staff do what they can to help. Some people want to pay next to nothing and still expect five-star service. Check out the photos I uploaded.

The room felt safe and comfortable, with a new mattress and fingerprint lockers, and the inside is modern and stylish. The building could use fresh paint outside, but the garden with artificial grass and its little outdoor kitchen was a nice extra. A young guy made fresh cocktails at reasonable prices, was polite, and had great music playing. The cheerful woman who welcomed us clearly enjoyed her job and did it well. She also explained Tenerife’s green agenda and the effect climate change is having on the island. We were told we’d get one towel each to help the hostel reduce its carbon footprint. That’s more towels than I usually get in hostels, and I’ve stayed in plenty. At €29 a night, I wasn’t expecting Ritz-level service, and the staff did a good job. I’d been unsure about staying because of the reviews, but I’m glad I ignored them. This quirky little place left us in a good mood, with money still in our wallet. Five stars from us.

Downstairs, the pub or pubs stay noisy late into the night, with plenty of drunk people shouting. Quiet sleep is out of the question. The place itself was smelly and dirty, below any acceptable standard, and full of vermin. We left after just one night. The hostel “reception” is in a shady booze shop, and the room choices seem to be trashed or infested with cockroaches. I stayed some time ago, but it’s still at the top of my worst places list. Avoid it.

My booking was canceled two weeks before my holiday. Avoid.