Hostel Carvalho

We came to the area for the water park near Amarante, about a half-hour drive away. The stay itself wasn't the main event, but it added nothing to our trip except good things. Google Maps missed the hostel at first, though one quick call got us there: they told us they were by the Galp petrol station, and someone was already waiting outside. We'd asked ahead for one room for all four of us, since Booking had only shown two-person rooms. They rearranged things so we got a roomy four-person room, and charged us the price of one of those smaller rooms. The room also opened onto a back garden that felt almost private. Other rooms seemed to have terraces, so they each have their own little advantages. Ours had an en-suite bathroom set up for four, including towels and glasses, plus a hydromassage tub. It was late, so we just went to bed. Arrival time was flexible, and although reception wasn't staffed around the clock, we had keys that let us come and go freely. There was live music in the town square that night. We paid when we arrived, at the lower price, and checkout was just handing the keys back. We even found a free parking space right by the door. They helped us out with toothpaste after 11 pm, when both pharmacies were closed. Breakfast was a treat: simple home-style food, but tasty, including the coffee from a standard machine. It wasn't that harsh, overly strong coffee some people love. And I couldn't resist a Nutella bun after so long without one. We also left a couple of jackets behind. They mailed them to us and wouldn't let us reimburse the postage. The only real downside was the drive to the water park. Even if Google Maps sends you toward what looks like a private backyard, that is apparently the right way.