Oasis Backpackers Hostel Granada

There’s a free shared kitchen with an oven, microwave, fridge, and kettle, and luggage storage is free before check-in or after check-out. Bring your own lock for your luggage and for the large locker at your bed, which can fit a backpack of 60 liters or more. Each bed also has a bedside lamp and power outlet. There are no towels, and the dorm beds have no curtains, so privacy is limited, though the blanket is very warm. The toilet and shower are together, with just one shared bathroom, but hot water is plentiful. Wi-Fi works great upstairs and poorly downstairs. The location is convenient, about a 5-minute walk to Granada Cathedral and the Royal Chapel, and about 20 minutes on foot to the Justice Gate of the Alhambra. There’s also a Carrefour nearby.

We came expecting the activities advertised on the website, but the BBQ and paella nights had been canceled, and the Sierra Nevada hike had been moved to a day we couldn’t attend because of other bookings. We had booked some activities directly too, and the email address we used to ask about them after no booking confirmation came was no help. Reception staff said he knew about the changes and had tried for over a year to get management to update things. It felt like false advertising. The hostel seemed to be running at minimum capacity due to COVID, with no group activities, only beer at the bar, and reception often opening two hours late. My girlfriend had stayed before COVID, when it was lively and people got together for activities. It wasn’t like that anymore. Our double room was clean and simple, though the shower was tiny. The staff there were friendly and helpful, and as a basic hostel it’s okay if you don’t expect much. We were still very disappointed by what felt like deliberately false promises, and wouldn’t recommend it.

The location is handy for getting to almost everything, and the air-conditioned rooms were easy to sleep in. The staff were really friendly and available to help 24/7. There’s a pool, lots of fun activities, free breakfast, and three free drinks each day. As a solo woman traveler, though, I didn’t feel safe at night because it’s close to the market.

The rooms and location were fine, but the social side wasn’t great. Not many people spent time together in the main room, and there weren’t many daily events to help guests get to know each other. I also wish reception were open all day. I arrived at 6 am and waited a long time to get in and put my things away, then a volunteer arrived and said there was no receptionist. Around that time, someone needed a towel, but the volunteer he could ask didn’t really know what she was doing. I’ve stayed at better hostels.