HI Oeiras - Pousada de Juventude - Hostel

The location is the one thing going for this place. The room smelled, the walls were dirty and stained, the curtains had mold, and the beds felt unstable. I found bed bugs too. The bathroom was seriously unclean, with cracks, peeling paint, and a bad smell. The shower setup left the whole floor wet. There was noise for most of the night, then doors slamming at 7am. Some guests had no consideration for anyone else, so there was no peace. I’d rather have slept in my car. This is a hostel, but it needs major maintenance and better cleaning. Guests pay to stay, even at a basic place, so they should get somewhere decent and clean with better facilities. The online room photos are misleading.

I stayed for a week in April 2022. The building is solid concrete, but there was white, acidic-looking powder coming through the walls, probably from moisture. It can’t be good to breathe in, and the walls need a second lining. There were noisy young people around at times, though it wasn’t always loud. The bigger problems were poor maintenance and hygiene. It’s a shame for a charity-run hostel to be this disgusting. Someone at head office needs to hear about it. Be aware.

The parking is hard to find because it doesn’t show up on maps. You have to ask hostel employees to help, and they apologize and say they know about the problem but can’t fix it. Inside, the room and toilet floors were sticky, the bed linen was dirty, and I found black mold on the window. The pillow had synthetic filling and was uncomfortable. After the night, my neck was very sore. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The riverfront location is lovely, with a walking path right outside for a long stroll or a run, and there’s free parking if you’re driving. The facilities are good and it’s a good place for the price. Breakfast starting at 8:30 was a bit late for me, though. There was also mold around the window seals and on the shower curtains. You need to ask for a key to use the kitchen, which feels inflexible.