Pensión Virginia by Vivere Stays

I was "lucky" enough to get a room with its own bathroom, but there was no shower gel or anything like that. The receptionist was very friendly, though that didn't make up for the rest. My towel smelled so awful it made me feel sick, and the pillows smelled like decades of sweat. There were stains on the bedspreads, the TV didn't work, and I found a used toothpick in the drawer. Noise was constant, from the bell, doors, bathrooms, and whatever was going on in them, plus a TV blaring from 5 a.m. One star only because I can't give less. The guesthouse of horrors.

The bathroom light kept flickering on and off like a nightclub. There was no privacy at all because you could hear everything, and the owner was rather odd, praying and singing throughout the day. Mattresses were old, and the sheets, towels, and blankets were dirty and smelled disgusting. By far my worst accommodation experience. I wouldn't return even if the place were free.

Being right across from the train station is the only redeeming thing. Otherwise, this is one of the worst places imaginable, like a horror movie location. It's owned by the same person as the guesthouse in Plaça Barcelona, and she doesn't seem to care which room you get. There was no toilet paper or soap, the bathrooms were filthy, and I couldn't find a decent room with a bed that wasn't crawling with bugs or completely dirty. Get out as fast as you can, even if that means losing your money. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but my worst enemy.

The manager helped us with directions downstairs and lent us umbrellas. But she also spent a long time explaining that rock music was the devil's music after learning we were going to the Marea concert with a child. We listened patiently, out of respect for older people and their beliefs, while she warned us about taking my son down that path and its consequences. She recommended documentaries and YouTube videos to back up her theory. She also told us the whole story of my name's origins and its Biblical connotations. I overheard her talking to someone for much of the night, and the decor is very religious. We had the first room by the entrance, and a pleasant neighbor kept communicating through the wall in Morse code. Maybe he was bothered by our breathing or the beds creaking, I'm not sure. The beds weren't comfortable, the mattresses seemed to date back to the 70s or 80s, and the sheets and bedspreads looked as old as the place. It wasn't properly cleaned either. The shower was inside our room, so if you're traveling with someone, be prepared to test the trust level of your friendship. My parents and grandparents used to tell me about the boarding houses they stayed in while working away, and I pictured the ones from Spanish TV shows. Now I've stayed in one. Walking in felt like going back to the 70s or 80s. The price is extremely high for what's offered, so I assume you're paying for the location. I didn't check other prices nearby, but perhaps €10 more would buy a good night's sleep. If you're visiting Salamanca for a day, taking the bus, and don't mind a little discomfort or know the place won't be what you expect, it may work: the bus is right across the street. For a longer stay when you need comfort and rest, I'd look elsewhere.