Águeda Hostel & Friends

I had a room to myself with two single beds. It was clean, comfortable, and laid out well, and the staff were really kind and friendly. Breakfast was lovely, especially having an individual place setting for each person. I'd happily recommend it.

This was the only bad stay in a month of travelling. After checking in, I went out for the afternoon and came back to find my room wide open, even though I'd kept it locked with the key they'd given me. Cleaners had aired the mattresses, and my earbuds and charging cable were missing from my bag. The hostel was unmanned, so I couldn't report it in person. I've since contacted them four times using the website form and email addresses, but haven't heard back. It's been a month now. The website said breakfast was included, but I was told it wasn't, and that was why I chose this place over others. If the hostel gets in touch, I'll edit this review.

I only stayed one night, and the other guests were incredibly loud and inconsiderate while packing at 5am. That's not the hostel's fault, though. The motion sensor light in the sleeping area was frustrating too, switching on whenever someone moved a little in front of their bed, even when I was trying to sleep at night or in the morning, so I've taken off a star. The hostel itself is lovely, with a great location on the streets of the "Umbrella Sky Project" and really nice design. The hostess was lovely and hardworking. You can get a city map at reception for trails like urban art and nature walks, and there are beautiful walks around the city with lovely flora and fauna.

A generous buffet breakfast is included. This is a beautiful, new and cosy youth hostel, and a handy stop for pilgrims on the Santiago way.