Nice Way Cascais & SurfCamp

We spent a week at Nice Way hostel in Cascais as a couple, aged 29 and 30, and had a lovely time. Our private room and bathroom were at the back, so we didn’t hear much of the downstairs parties when we wanted to sleep. Most of the time, though, we joined in and had a lot of fun. The atmosphere was great, and we enjoyed the hostel BBQs. The yoga and surfing packages were nice too. They picked us up for surf lessons, and yoga was scheduled around them. Carlota is an amazing yoga teacher. The location was nice, though a little far from the city centre and beaches.

I stayed six days and loved the atmosphere. The staff were really nice, and the bathrooms get cleaned every day. The breakfast and toast were good, and the WiFi worked well throughout the hostel. There are enough places to work, so getting work done from here should be fine. If you’re travelling solo and want to meet people, definitely stay here. I met so many nice people.

I volunteered at Nice Way Hostel, and the way we were treated was unacceptable. I’m grateful they gave me the opportunity, and my first weeks there were nice, but I hope they treat volunteers better in future. When the hostel is busy with guests and volunteers, there’s a party every night, which makes the bad parts easier to put up with. Most volunteers stay 4-6 weeks, so they may feel it’s not worth confronting the employers. I think the employers know volunteers are easy to replace. The volunteers’ rooms are moldy and have bedbugs. Several of us told them we didn’t feel safe in one of those rooms, but they still put us there, despite having a perfectly fine empty room. The hostel also attracts some really weird, creepy people. They were unkind to volunteers, and several were harassed. We were expected to smile through those uncomfortable situations, then scolded if we didn’t. The main staff seem free to act however they want and treat volunteers as they please. One volunteer spent more than 100€ on pharmacy products for mosquito bites. The volunteers’ room also had a broken window for months. After I’d been there a few weeks, my luggage was covered in mold, but the hostel never apologized or paid for the damage.

The cat was a highlight, and there were plenty of activities and dinners during our stay. I loved having a big kitchen for making snacks, too. Our six-bed dorm was comfortable and quiet at night. There are loads of cozy places to hang out, and the staff were really helpful. Best hostel I’ve stayed in, I’d happily recommend it.