The Color Hostel

I paid for a booking but never got check-in details from the hostel. When I tried contacting them the night before, I couldn’t reach anyone. The following day I got a WhatsApp message saying there was no reservation in my name and that I’d need to find somewhere else. Since it was February, finding another place wasn’t a problem, but the whole thing was stressful. My refund arrived a week and a half later. If you’re unsure whether your booking went through, I’d contact the staff well ahead of time to check.

The room and facilities were okay, but for the price I expected more. I’ve travelled alone in many countries and been to Lisbon twice before, yet this was the first time I felt very unsafe coming and going from a hostel. At night, there were what seemed like strange people around the entrance and on the street. Even my Uber driver told me to avoid going alone to nearby places. As a solo traveller, I wouldn’t recommend it.

I’ve travelled to over 52 countries and spend five months of the year staying in hotels, AB&Bs, and hostels. From that experience, I can say this is a safe and secure place to stay. The street has a very high concentration of migrants, and about 90 percent of the people there are men. I understand why that can make travellers feel uneasy, especially if they don’t travel much and are nervous seeing people smoking and talking outside. But this is their neighborhood, where they shop and meet up with friends. I actually felt safer here because people watch out for each other, and it’s harder for anyone to cause harm when so many eyes are around. That’s my perspective as a bold traveller, for what it’s worth. My only downside was hauling heavy luggage up four floors. That was my exercise for the day! Lol

I don’t get the bad reviews. I had a really nice stay and felt comfortable in both the room and the common area. The bathrooms and showers were nice, there was good natural light, the bed was comfortable, and the staff were nice. Great value too. I’d definitely stay again next time I’m in Lisbon.