Carving Surf Hostel

We’ll definitely return. The views and location were lovely, everything was clean, and breakfast was unbelievably tasty. The staff were exceptionally friendly, especially the lovely woman serving breakfast. She even made us some tortilla to take along for our drive to Madrid on our last day.

The included breakfast was amazing, with croissants, fresh bread, juice, fruit, and cereal, and we got such a warm welcome. The hostel was super clean, and our room, while not large, was enough for our family and had its own bathroom. We had a great stay, though the room was a bit hot. The bar runs until 11 pm, and we could hear noise until midnight, so an early start might be tough. Our neighbors came back late and talked and laughed loudly for ages. That wasn’t the venue’s fault, but it would help to remind guests to be considerate.

The views and surrounding nature are stunning, and Chris, who handles breakfast, is a real sweetheart. She made us feel as well looked after as we might be in a posh hotel, and was always happy to chat. My issue was the room and the management. I stayed three nights and never found the desk manager there at check-in. You have to call and wait for him to arrive, though sometimes he comes quickly. Roberto seems like a good guy, but managing the place doesn’t seem suited to him. Checking in felt like I was a relative being allowed to stay for free, even though I was paying above average for what I got. The place felt overpriced. Be careful when booking a double room: room 66 has a double bed, private bathroom, and private terrace, while room 60 has a bunk bed, meaning two singles stacked on top of each other, and hardly enough room to open a suitcase. The bunk bed was uncomfortable, and the shower was so cramped that even as a size S woman I had to stand outside the stall to wash my hair. There was no hairdryer, and getting one was difficult because the manager is hardly ever there. He usually comes if you call, depending on how far away he is. I paid over 60 euros for room 60, though I don’t think it was worth even 30. Room 66 might be worth 40-50 euros. I’d found decent, more spacious hotel rooms in central Avilés and Pravia for much less. This might suit backpackers. If you’re booking a double room and want some comfort, check which one you’ll get first.

The room was cozy, even if small, and the bed was really comfortable. We also had hot water in the bath and shower, and breakfast was generous and delicious. This Albergue/Hostel was much better than most places we’ve stayed, despite being about a mile from the official Camino trail.