HI Faro – Pousada de Juventude — Hotel in Faro

This is definitely one of, if not the worst hostel I've stayed in. While no one thing was absolutely terrible the fact that they had so many annoyances put me off. To start the staff are not that helpful. I got there and they didn't show me where my room was (I had to ask for directions) nor did they give me any info on the city. When I asked for a map they gave me the worst map of a city I've ever seen. You couldn't even read any of the street names, i had to go the tourist centre to get a decent one and some proper information on the city. The staff at the reception also told me to go to the worst grocery store in a sketchy part of town when there was a much better one closer by I looked up on my own after. The dorm rooms all share one key which is extremely annoying and you risk having the door left open all day for anyone to come in and go through your things. As a solo traveller the atmosphere was terrible. Really there was no atmosphere and it didn't provide any sort of opportunity to meet people. The hostel is also family friendly which is necessarily a bad thing but not something I like in a hostel as it definitely changes the atmosphere. The bunk beds are the oldest and noisiest bunk beds I've ever slept in. I thought it was going to break every night. There is no way to lock the cupboards in the room so you have to use lockers down the hall from your room to lock up your valuables which is rather annoying. The kitchen is really more of a closet with two hot plates. Only one person can really he cooking at a time and your cooking options are pretty limited. The freezer was also broken. Check in time isn't until 5pm which is ridiculous. They also don't have a proper storage room for your things while you wait until five, they just tell you to leave your luggage in a hallway and take your valuables with you. The worst thing about this hostel though is the lack of air conditioning. Maybe in the winter it would be ok but in the summer its is unbearable. They don't even provide fans anywhere in the hostel. While their prices are cheap all of this is not worth it, you are much better off spending a few extra euros and staying...

Booked in advance via HI website, working out at £9 per night including breakfast (paid small deposit, then balance in Euros on arrival). Room 14 had 6 bunks. Lockers without locks. One key per room. Lockers in corridor need own padlock.||I arrived early but could only leave rucksack in corridor unseen from office, so didn't risk it. This was a shame. Why couldn't they keep it in the office?||I avoided a disturbed night (snoring, doors, lights) with eye mask and white noise playing on a loop through iPod earphones. Socket by bed.||Bit nippy without heating in evidence. Take a hot water bottle?||Sunny roof terrace has washing lines - take some pegs.||Good wifi even in rooms (a pain if your roomies don't mute their devices).||Nice breakfast included, and good chat with other hostellers.||TV and small selection of books in common/dining room.||Miniscule kitchen - fridge chocka and freezer broken - but always clean.||Good clean toilets and showers - don't forget to put TP in the bin, not the pan!!||||CHEAP dish of the day for €3 in canteen next door.||Park next door is nice - shade and fountain. Loads of screechy peacocks.||||Lidl wasn't as cheap as the UK (apart from booze) and is 10 mins walk up deserted road by Sao Joao station, where you can pay on the train, instead of schlepping to town. (€3 single to Tavira for nice day trip to town or the next HI hostel or Praia do Barril ANCHOR CEMETERY!!)||||There doesn't seem to be a city day ticket for the buses, so I got rather footsore.||Great trip on ferry to Ilha Deserta and the MOST SOUTHERLY POINT OF PORTUGAL!...

What to like:

Housekeeping and breakfast lady was amazing nice and friendly - it felt as she was your auntie that you were visiting always up for chat and spoke very good English. Location - walking distance to the center, flix bus stop, big supermarket, nice park etc. Facilities - many people complain about outdated things and yes some things are old but they are still well maintained and it is all its charm about it - it feels like one of those summer camps when you were young in 2000s Breakfast - it is actually better than in some of the hostels that I stayed in. Rooms have desks so you can actually work from your room! Professional cleaning and breakfast staff - no abusive behaviors with "volunteers". What can bother: The only outdated thing that might bother some people are beds they are worsen so they are sturdy but at the same time some of them...