Pousada de Sao Jorge

There was no Wi-Fi in the rooms, and breakfast was very basic: the simplest bread, milk, and a piece of fruit. The bed was absolutely awful. I booked four nights but had to leave after the second because I'd never had so much pain from sleeping badly. It was the first time I looked for another hotel while already staying somewhere. Avoid at all costs.

The rooms were tidy and clean, and the beds were quite comfy. The kitchen had what you'd need for very basic cooking, though much of the equipment seemed to have been left behind by kind guests. There are only two hotplates, so just one group can cook at a time. Breakfast was satisfying, but nothing special. In the bunk rooms, two people already make a four-bed room feel full. There's one closet for four people and no lockers. Valuables can only go in a locker room, and you need reception staff to help because only they have access. Internet is free and acceptable, though on the slow side, especially on the lower levels.

The rooms were very humid, with black fungus on the walls and a bad smell. We raised it with the staff, and they admitted there was a problem but wouldn't move us to another room. Don't book here unless you have to.

I was pleasantly surprised by this youth hostel's modern architecture and the amenities we needed for our Azores visit. Tourists from abroad gathered in the lobby and reception, giving it a great international feel. It also worked well for our stay and, unexpectedly for a youth hostel, catered to older couples with private rooms and bathrooms.