Hostal Martinez

We paid €72 per night, which felt excessive for a hostel in a small town, especially given the smell and lack of rest. As soon as we entered the room, a sewage odor hit us and stayed unbearable. It was present in the elevator and hallways too, so we figured it was a building-wide problem and didn’t ask to switch rooms, though we were only there for one night. The building has been renovated, but there seems to be a serious issue with whoever did the work, since there’s no drain trap in the sink. The owners also run the bar in the same building, and the noise went on late into the night. Our room faced the back and the window was shut, but we could still hear the racket. I can’t imagine what it’s like in the front rooms, especially in summer. When we left, the owners weren’t there, so we left the keys with the bar’s cleaning staff and expressed our dissatisfaction. The gentleman who welcomed us had been very friendly, but we won’t return or recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable room and somewhere to relax.

We arrived at 8:00 p.m. one evening without a reservation, and the ground-floor bar gave us a warm welcome. We don’t speak Spanish and the hotel owner doesn’t speak French, but we managed to understand each other. He showed us to the room and helped us along the way. It was small, nice, clean, and inexpensive, with very good service. There’s no private parking. The bar serves food, nothing gourmet, but he made a real effort to help us, so we had dinner there. It works for a night or more, not far from the Bardenas desert.

The location is the only thing I liked. A strong sewage smell filled the room from the moment I walked in and lasted all weekend. I’d ordered breakfast, but the bar was closed and no staff were around, so it wasn’t available. €48 a night for a hostel like this without breakfast is outrageously expensive. I definitely will NOT be back.

The town is pretty and has a great atmosphere, and the hostel is right in the center of the old town next to the main square. My room was modern and clean, the service very attentive, and the value for money excellent. An ideal place to stay.