Casa Grande Surf Hostel

The rooms were okay, but cramped, with the cheapest furniture and a strange feel to the place. The hostel itself and the breakfast are both very basic. I'd suggest booking somewhere else in el Médano.

The rooftop is a nice place to sit and read, and the location is hard to beat, just 15 seconds from the beach. Getting in with a number code makes it easy to pop out with only your towel. But better management and more consistent house rules would improve the stay. I'd happily pay another 5 euros for proper cleaning and staff to make sure the rules are followed. A lot of the hostel seemed neglected, even though the areas that need daily attention were cleaned. The courtyard, for example, was covered in bird droppings, where guests often hang clothes to dry, sometimes barefoot. It was clear there wasn't a professional cleaning team doing a thorough job. The mattresses were a gamble. Some were so worn out they were uncomfortable, and while you could ask to move beds, the bad ones were just handed to the next guest. That could make someone's first night miserable. Quiet hours weren't enforced either. The rooftop stayed open, and noise carried into the rooms as late as 2 a.m. I expected a bigger hostel. It's small, so there are fewer chances to meet people, especially if you don't speak Spanish. There also didn't seem to be many new travelers coming through, which can make the social side of staying in a hostel harder.

I really liked that we could use the surfboards, snorkels, masks and other gear for free, and I made use of them. They also run surf lessons and morning yoga for an extra charge. It's a nice hostel close to the sea. The bathrooms could use a bit more cleaning, but otherwise I have no complaints.

I spent a couple of weeks here and found it really pleasant. It's a hostel, but feels like more, with a large dining room, a spacious living room, and a rooftop terrace. The owners are nice people too.