Pension Cibeles

This was my worst hostel experience. There were ants everywhere, and the bathroom had broken fixtures, including the lights, shower head, and towel racks. They don’t take credit cards, despite what booking sites advertise. There’s a sign saying the card reader is broken, but from my online research, it seems to have been there for years. I’ve stayed in plenty of hostels and know they aren’t hotels, but the owners seem to be making no effort while the place falls apart. The receptionist is only there for a few hours a day, so be prepared to use your phone roaming minutes to call and work out how to get the keys.

The place was clean, the shower got hot, and the beds were okay, if a bit wobbly. It was reasonably priced, and the location right in the centre was perfect. The free parking offer was disappointing, though: you have to cross the bridge out of the centre and find a spot yourself, like everyone else going to or living in Cordoba, so finding one can be hard. WiFi wasn’t very stable, and there usually wasn’t anyone at reception except at check-in to collect payment.

The location is superb, but the accommodation is much too basic. The sound insulation is so poor that sleeping was quite difficult. You can hear people next door snoring and talking. They should do more to soundproof the place.

It’s generally a nice place, but the host is an angry person who leaves random bad reviews when they feel they’ve been treated unfairly.