Hostal Tilos

The location is really convenient, two minutes from the bus station and five from the train station. Rooms were clean, well equipped, and had comfortable mattresses, with an easy check-in and check-out and lovely staff. No fridge, no dogs, and not suitable for wheelchairs.

We were a little nervous about booking somewhere cheaper than the other hotels, but Hostal Tilos turned out clean, simple, and tidy. The shower was so powerful it felt like it could blast you through the walls, and hot enough to turn you into salami, so be warned! The owners or staff are around, though they may be doing cleaning instead of sitting at reception, and you can usually find them somewhere. It's handy for the main train station and about 15-20 minutes from the city centre drag. There are plenty of good local bars, cafes, and restaurants nearby. The street looks a bit edgy, but even on Saturday night it was quiet and the neighbourhood felt respectful. No flash, luxury, or beach, but the price is keen, it's clean and convenient, and the area is interesting.

We arrived late at night and found it easy to get into our room after hours. The location is central and close to the train station, so it's handy if you're just passing through.

The staff member on site was friendly, and this was the only hostel or hotel in central malaga that let me check in after midnight. But they required a passport or ID copy by WhatsApp, which is a data security nightmare. The rest of the stay was awful. Hot water was rarely available, the room smelled really bad, and the emergency number didn't answer when I tested it. Once staff had gone home, getting into the building meant opening a key safe outside to get the access card. Every guest had to use it, so if someone left it open, anyone could get in. People rang the bell day and night, loud enough to hear clearly from bed. There were cigarette burns on the bedclothes, people tried to enter my room in the middle of the night, and the written Wi-Fi password was wrong. It seems the place won an award a few years ago, but if so, those awards mean nothing. It's better than sleeping outside, sure, but at 75€ a night I'd expect at least a clean room.