Hostal New Life Madrid

I paid 90 euros for two nights and wasn’t expecting much, but even so the stay was worse than I’d imagined. The room had no window and had just been renovated and painted. The paint smell made it almost impossible to breathe. The heating was turned all the way up, and it felt around 35-40 degrees. When I asked for help, the employee suggested a fan and said they couldn’t move me because the place was fully booked. I opened Booking.com in front of him and saw a vacant room with a window. He only agreed to move me after I showed him. The WiFi was weak, there was hair on the sheets, and no towels had been provided. When I asked for one, they gave me a wet towel. I looked the hotel up online afterward and it seemed to be listed under three different names. That felt very suspicious, and gave me the impression they might be trying to bury bad reviews. I also saw the normal rate was 90 euros per night, which seems ridiculous for this kind of service, especially with shared bathrooms.

The staff were friendly, and the rooms were small but clean. It’s a fabulous location and good value for money. I felt very safe travelling alone.

This is the first hostel I’ve honestly given five stars to without the owner asking me to. I was travelling while working, and the staff offered to set up a whole table for me. Aside from the entrance, it’s the cleanest hostel I’ve ever seen, more like a hotel. 10/10, I recommend it.

The staff were lovely, and it was quiet with a comfortable bed. The location was okay, and it’s perfect if you’re on a budget. 😇🙏🏻 P.S. The cleanliness could be better, though that’s pretty understandable in a hostal with shared areas. 🫶🏻