Hostel Neon Tenerife

I booked five nights for a hiking trip to explore the south of Tenerife, fairly shortly beforehand, so my options were limited. Neon seemed the best fit for location, price, and privacy. The staff clearly mean well, but several issues got on my nerves enough that I was relieved to leave. The room lacked some basics: somewhere to sit besides the bed, a drinking glass even though there’s a fridge, and a bedside light. The balcony “stool,” or what was left of it, looked like something found on the street. I borrowed a glass from breakfast, but cleaning staff removed it after two nights. The only light was a very bright, unpleasant ceiling light. I’d rather see those basics provided than the useless room decorations. The other big problem was the automatic room “odorizer” on every hallway floor, spraying every five minutes or so. Whatever the source of a bad smell, it should be removed first, then ventilated, and only masked if those steps don’t work. Instead, the devices pumped a disgusting scent into the hallways day and night, and it crept into my room through the gaps around the flimsy door. Opening my window was the only escape, but then street noise woke me early. With fresh air plentiful in the Canary Islands, more ventilation upstairs and downstairs would make more sense than filling trapped air with chemicals. It didn’t freshen anything, just polluted it further. I complained, but was told they couldn’t turn the sprays off or reduce them. Each floor had a different smell, so the hallway had a lingering cocktail. The cleaning staff may not notice because windows and doors are open while they clean upstairs and the stench gets cleared out. Breakfast was acceptable but very basic and the same every day. The coffee was good. The bathroom was small but acceptable for me, though a tall person simply wouldn’t be able to sit properly on the toilet. I’d suggest the owners or manager stay there for a few days and see what could be improved. These are basic things that wouldn’t cost much, and would bring their good intentions closer to reality. I might stay again, but only if I knew the scent sprays had been removed or significantly reduced.