Loving Strangers Hostel — Hotel in Madalena

All the loving you feel as soon as you enter this hostel will definitely light up your whole trip and you will leave Pico with even nicer memories .

This is a one of a kind hostel, where the hosts and volunteers care as much about the welcome you get as the beauty , cleanliness and uniqueness of the place , they really have it all. The typical loving stranger welcome in a big kind hug and two or three cats at the door. Stefan and Pedro are loving owners of the hostel and always make sure everyone is comfortable and having a good time. We also had the chance to meet some of the volunteers , like Marieke ,who have a big attentive heart and brighten the morning with a smile and really good pancakes ;)

My sister and I stayed in the bunk beds rooms , specifically the one with the hammock and the big windows. It was homely, clean, welcoming and we adored the nice curtains to have our privacy when we're sleeping. There are lockers but don't forget your own lock. Everyone have their personal plug and night light. You will see that everything is really well organised and that's really helpful for everyone to stay together harmoniously and connect. The bathrooms are clean and the kitchen amenities are good. Everyone has their identified box in the kitchen to store their thing.

Our stay was wonderful especially because of the people we met in that hostel , which remained in our hearts even after our stay . The ambience of "loving strangers" is what truly allows you to bond with everyone. We even traveled with some of the other guests and spent hours talking in the different pretty spaces : garden , office/ art room, hammocks, kitchen , backyard,etc.

Every few nights , Stefan cooks comforting and flavorful food ,worthy of the fanciest restaurants with three services (appetizer, meal, dessert + drink all unlimited for 20 euros) and it is quite the experience to eat with all these people around a big table and share a delicious meal along with some good music and a fire.

The breakfasts are tasty and fresh , usually includes fruits , cereals, many many jams, pancakes , tea/coffee cheese and toasts, etc.

The location is central and barely 10 minutes walk to the port of Madalena + the center of town. We were barely five minutes away from a supermarket. We also walk to the wine museum and a few natural pools from there If you need any advice on tours or rentals, you can always ask the staff and they are really helpful. They also have a lot of your /activity suggestions in the breakfast area.

So, to sum it up if you ever have the chance to stay at loving strangers, do it without hesitation right now and with an open heart, you will adore it! We surely did and it was one of the best parts of our 3 weeks vacation...

As already said by others, there is nothing comparable to The Loving Strangers Hostel, in the way the place is organized (dormitory, kitchen, music room, fitness room still in development, gallery of paintings as a working area, terrasse, garden) and the services offered (breakfast, dinner-party, concert, lifts to the airport, luggage storage) and even the presence of 3 adorable but insisting cats ! I hope they will keep that way in the long-term. Pedro and Stefan opened their hostel just 2 years ago and they were joined by Sophie later on. It requires a lot of engagement and energy from them, I guess, to maintain the standards of the concept of hosting they developed ! Highly recommended but better off season when the place is not too crowded -it will also help them to balance the sheets and make a financial success of their enterprise. Be also aware that the place is not for everybody (Thanks God !), especially if you are not too sociable (and you can't endure other's opinion or personality or their political incorrectness !) or if you feel a bit grumpy in the morning at breakfast time, or when they organize a special dinner-party (these will be the two highlights of your stay) and you'll have to share the same table than the others guests and the hosts them-selves, or if you do not appreciate Stefan's jokes, joy, hugs and exuberance ! You will find in this hostel what in the past was hosteling in an inn with "table d'hôtes" with the presence of the hosts themselves, at a reasonable price (but not cheap) and a sociability which implies some tolerance and a certain promiscuity. The only critic I would have concerns the bath rooms: not enough of them and too close from the dormitory or the kitchen (nobody aspires at that kind of promiscuity). But they will probably fix in the future that little problem. The location is also a bit off-center and...

"Loving strangers" is not just a name - it is the way, how Stefan and Pedro live their life! 💛 These two sympatic guys wanted to create a place, where people can connect and have a joyful time together - and they are doing a great job so far! I'm sure this hostel will become even more special once the renovation is completely finished... 🤩 For every inconvenience in the meantime they will make up multiple times with being warm-hearted and taking every effort to help you with planning and booking your activities around Pico island. 🤗

It is possible that once in a while one of the lovely cats finds its way into your room - if that's a problem, just communicate it and I'm sure they will instantly take care. 🐈 These furry staff-members just really like the comfortable and stable bunk beds too, of which each has its own light and power outlet and a curtain for private space.

The shared bathrooms might be not overdimensioned but the nice hot water (especially after diving lessons in November 😅) and the strong water pressure really makes up for it!

I felt really spoiled getting pancakes every morning for breakfast - made with love by Stefan! ❤️

It's a pity that I couldn't experience the often mentioned campfires, as I was there in quite stormy off saison. But cooking dinner together inside, doing movie nights and playing cards was a good alternative. 😊 (A little side note here: Pedro can get a little bit impatient if you think about your next move too long... 😘)

I extended my stay twice, but spending more time there, just made it even harder to leave finally! "Muito obrigada" for...