Residencial Avenida Hostel

Cyclists will find this a great base in Tomar, especially with the garage for bikes. We had comfortable private rooms and a well-equipped common room. The owner was pleasant, knew a lot, and did his best to make our stay enjoyable. We’d highly recommend the place to travelers.

António was quick to respond and helpful, and we enjoyed hearing his stories about the city and getting his food tips. My husband and I felt very comfortable here. The rooms are simple but clean and well maintained, the shared area is cozy, and the location worked perfectly for us. A really good hostel stay.

Antonio was the best part of our stay. He loves the history and architecture of his city and shared fascinating details about the Knight's Templar and the convent. We enjoyed our conversations and recommend the hostel if you want to learn about the town and country. My father and I stayed here while on pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella. The building dates from the 1950's, and it’s about a 5 minute walk from the train station. Our room and bathroom were clean, and the beds comfortable. There’s a well-equipped kitchen, a communal basket for pilgrims, and laundry with washing and drying for 6 euros. We especially liked the big shared dining room and its huge window overlooking part of the city.

I stayed for a month but left early, and I can’t recommend this hostel. Once Antonio had my money, things changed. I was moved from my first room to a cold, damp one on the main floor beside his room, with a sewage smell. I felt he kept finding ways to charge me more, depending on his mood. I tried to keep my distance, but that was nearly impossible. There’s very little privacy, and I felt singled out and bullied by him. I like hostels where you can choose how much to socialize, but at Avenida Antonio seemed to appear around every corner. The stay mixed business with the personal in a way I found uncomfortable. I’d heard construction was planned for the coming months. Given the corners already cut, I wonder what they’ll use. Maybe the stale bread served for breakfast could be drywall. And I wonder how many of his “friends” will respond to this review. Good luck!