Archive for November, 2006
Again we found ourselves on route further north of Johannesburg city centre, this time to Dunkled West where the Backpackers Ritz is situated. This unbelievable mansion set upon a wonderful little koppie is just beautiful. With a lovely huge garden and plenty of room and a couple of crazy huge dorms it’s a fantastic place.
Along with these huge circular dorms there is a lovely quaint little bar situated a little underground. It’s a lovely place to escape to for a refreshing drink when the sun gets a bit too warm.
All in all there are a total of 88 beds and in my opinion this would be the most ideal location for any group to stay. With a beautiful blue pool and a breath taking view of the city and all the facilities you could possibly need its perfect. There are plenty of exciting places to visit in this area, including great clubs and bars and some out of this world shopping opportunities such as the Rosebank roof top market.
A little further back up Jan Smuts Avenue is Africa’s Zoo Lodge. This property is a typical old Johannesburg home with wooden floors and some delightful decoration. With a cosy lounge area and pool table and ample room it’s a fine choice.
As mentioned before it is situated on Jan Smuts Avenue which allows one great access to a variety of fantastic clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants, not to mention it’s conveniently located near to two great shopping malls.
This property has a fantastic huge pool with a large patio next to it where you can enjoy the sun and relax while smelling the fantastic scent of the regular braai’s.
Johannesburg is definitely a place one should visit at least once, however when doing so make sure your trip is carefully planned as the city is beautiful and full of character but there is still very much an element of crime within the capital so one should always be aware. There are many great tour operators which can ensure you safety by escorting you from destination to destination with street smart tour guides. One great tour company that is definitely worth a mention is the Baz Bus. Their service allows you to travel all over the country at your own pace but with the knowledge that you are in experienced and safe hands.
Whether you visit Johannesburg whilst en-route to Cape Town or just before you fly back home make sure you visit the Apartheid Museum and the new city centre and see the Nelson Mandela Bridge as well as the beautiful statue of Madiba at Sandton Square in Johannesburg.
After all the visits around the city it was time for me to pack up my things and head to the airport myself to fly back to London. From the beautiful warm weather in South Africa to the now very cold UK it was a bit of shock to the system when I arrived back. More than anything though it was sad to say goodbye to my parents and friends back in Johannesburg but no doubt I will be visiting again in the not too distant future.
Having arrived in Johannesburg just in time to spend the weekend with my friends I awoke on Monday morning feeling a little fragile from all the eating and drinking that happened over the weekend. I had not been back to South Africa for some time and indeed having not been back to Johannesburg I was very excited to spend a few days there catching up with friends and family while visiting a couple of hostels.
So on Monday morning I set off to visit Emerald Backpackers which is conveniently situated directly next to O R Thambo International Airport. This is a lovely typically South African home which was clean and tidy as well as full of character.
With a lovely dinning area and two swimming pools it’s got a lot of space to sit and relax and enjoy a braai and soak up the South African sun.
The next property I needed to visit was in walking distance of the first one. Just around the corner on Mohawk Road. Owned and run by Gerhard this place offers a laid back experience for its visitors.
Airport Backpackers boasts a beautiful big pool, a stunning thatched area where you can sit and enjoy a variety of games and activities as well as a custom made jungle gym/viewing point which overlooks the runway of the airport so you have a perfect spot to watching the aeroplanes come and go.
There are plans to build on to this property as well as create a designated area for those who would prefer to camp. Rooms and spacious and clean and everything you could possibly need during your stay is available. A variety of tours and trips can also be booked at reception.
All in all a fantastic property that is wonderfully well kept and incredibly central.
Heading nothern Johannesburg
Next up we headed to the northern suburbs of Johannesburg. There are a number of properties along Jan Smuts Avenue but to begin with we went to see Sleek Hostel.
This property is undergoing a major overhaul so it was difficult to see its real charm amongst all the building works. With a large number and variety of rooms it caters for all groups however it is very basic. It does however have a lovely outside area with swimming pool and thatched patio so there is plenty of room to lounge around in the warm South African sun.
The staff at Sleek Hostel were warm and friendly and eager to please and very happy to have us visit.
A little further back up Jan Smuts Avenue is Africa’s Zoo Lodge. This property is a typical old Johannesburg home with wooden floors and some delightful decoration. With a cosy lounge area and pool table and ample room it’s a fine choice.
As mentioned before it is situated on Jan Smuts Avenue which allows one great access to a variety of fantastic clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants, not to mention it’s conveniently located near to two great shopping malls.
This property has a fantastic huge pool with a large patio next to it where you can enjoy the sun and relax while smelling the fantastic scent of the regular braai’s.
We headed now to an area called Craighall which is in Sandton. This beautiful little suburb is the ideal spot to stay if you are after a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Among the beautiful homes you will find the Waterfall Cottages.
On our arrival we met with the lovely Sally Hudson who is the owner of the property. Each cottage is really beautiful and unique and very spacious. Tastefully decorated and cosy you can’t help forget you away from home when staying there.
I would highly recommend this property to anyone specifically those travelling with children. With vast and lovely lush gardens surrounding each cottage it is truly a beautiful little place.
Following on from there we visited the area known as Kensington. Very centrally located and with the most incredible view over the city the Diamond Diggers Backpackers is a great choice.
Set in a very hilly and vibrant part of Johannesburg this hostel offers everything you could ever need. Possibly my favourite hostel out of all that I visited. This property boasts an incredible variety of rooms and different sections to the house. There is an awesome bar with a Jacuzzi built right next to it and this entertainment room has tons of character.
The staff are really easy going and loads of fun so it’s a great choice if you are looking to have a bit of fun while visiting.
Again we found ourselves on route further north of Johannesburg city centre, this time to Dunkled West where the Backpackers Ritz is situated. This unbelievable mansion set upon a wonderful little koppie is just beautiful. With a lovely huge garden and plenty of room and a couple of crazy huge dorms it’s a fantastic place.
Along with these huge circular dorms there is a lovely quaint little bar situated a little underground. It’s a lovely place to escape to for a refreshing drink when the sun gets a bit too warm.
All in all there are a total of 88 beds and in my opinion this would be the most ideal location for any group to stay. With a beautiful blue pool and a breath taking view of the city and all the facilities you could possibly need its perfect. There are plenty of exciting places to visit in this area, including great clubs and bars and some out of this world shopping opportunities such as the Rosebank rooftop market.
On our third and final day for hostel visits we started with the delightful Lighthouse Farm Lodge. Situated within the Oude Molen Eco Village. This property also has a special interest in our environment and protecting it.
I met with the lovely Helen who is running the place. She described to me the plans for the future of the place and also the ways in which they are striving to keep this eco friendly.
With a number of light and airy and clean rooms it’s a lovely choice for those seeking budget accommodation, although if I am honest on my arrival I was put off by the rough appearance of the neighbourhood I quickly found that my preconceived ideas of the place had no grounds. The area appears this way because it is a slightly poorer part of the Cape. This does not however have any bearing on the actual quality and safety of the lovely accommodation at the Lighthouse Farm Lodge.
From there we made our way to SaltyCrax Backpackers which is situated in walking distance to Blouberg Beach and Kite Beach. Also in close proximity are a variety of shops, restaurants and bars as well as good transport links.
This property was undergoing some construction so it wasn’t entirely possible to get a proper feel for the place but I can say that the staff and the general easy going atmosphere make it a great choice.
From Blouberg we ventured back to the Table View area. I had organised to meet with Esther Mattle and her partner who own and run the Elements Hostel. This beautiful home is in an idyllic spot and run by the loveliest and most helpful couple.
The house is big and airy and tastefully decorated throughout. The rooms are lovely and clean and bright and there is even a four poster bed situated by the side of the pool to lounge on during those long, hot summer days.
This property is situated just 15kms from the north of Cape Towns City Centre in a safe and quiet area of the Cape but its only minutes away from plenty of fun sporting activities.
With only three hostels left to visit we headed to Somerset West to visit the Lourens River Guesthouse. A family run business this guesthouse caters for any kind of traveller. The owners Elke and Thomas are delightful characters who are more than happy to help with planning your activities whilst in the cape. With all the necessary facilities it’s a lovely choice.
Following that visit we went on to meet with Mario who owns and runs the Le Bay Guest House. This property is just gorgeous, with lovely wooden floors and great little balconies overlooking the street as well as a view of Gordon’s Bay second to none it’s a beautiful property. The guest house also has a lovely restaurant just next to it and a delightful bar.
This is a truly beautiful guest house, one which I will be sure to visit again. The owners are lovely and easy going and dead set on making sure you have a pleasant visit.
The final property due for a visit was the Tip Top Waterfront Lodge. Sadly due to an error in communication I didn’t get to speak to the owners but I did get to have a good look around at what was on offer.
This property boasts lovely clean facilities and lots of space as well as the fact that it’s only a minute walk from the world famous V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
From there we decided to head to Hermanus in the hope that we would spot some Southern Right Whales in the bay. Whale spotting season is generally between July and October however this year even when the festival was on in Hermanus there were very few whales to be seen so I wasn’t going to get my hopes up.
We parked the car and walked up the bay to the best look out point when we heard the crier sound his horn. This signals that whales have been spotted. To my delight when I got around the corner there where a number of these giant beasts playing splashing about.
What a delightful end to a wonderful trip to the Cape. Later that evening I caught a flight to Johannesburg where I would continue my visits to properties in and around the city.
Not such an early start for us on the Thursday morning thankfully. Feeling a little worn out from too much sun earlier on in the week we needed to sleep in a little. Having covered a large part of the Cape the previous day we were a little more confident of where we were headed for day two.
Out the door at 8:30 we drove to the Zebra Crossing Lodge. I met with Karen who gave me the lo-down on the property. A nice quiet hostel that is a little more family orientated than others in the area it’s a perfect choice if you are looking for peace and quiet while enjoying a communal way of living.
With lovely clean and tidy rooms and situated near plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and clubs along with the fact that it’s at the foot of Table Mountain it’s a top choice if you are looking for a peaceful stay.
Next up situated just around the corner is The Backpack. Among my favourite places to stay in the Cape this property boasts the most incredible view of Table Mountain.
Situated in the most beautiful of areas and along with the amazing atmosphere and lively and sometimes crazy staff it’s a very cool place to stay. It’s important to note that at The Backpack they do not accept groups in high season. Groups are accepted only between the months of May and July.
The Backpackers @ 147 on Main is situated in Green Point. This hostel is only 10 minute walk from the V&A waterfront and on route to Camps Bay.
Set in a very old house that is incredibly homely and cosy with lovely clean rooms and right near the bus route is yet another great choice.
This unassuming house looks much like any other house along the road when you drive past however, get through the metal gate and you will find yourself welcomed into the warmest of homes. I met with Sandy who is a family member of the owner of the property. She mans reception and deals with the bookings. She was a delightful character who briefed me on the history of the family run Sunflower Stop hostel.
All rooms are very well kept and remarkably clean. With a lovely pool that greets you at the entrance and a thatched bar area where you can enjoy a good old South African braai it’s a lovely choice for the social backpacker.
Sadly the next property I went to visit is actually closing in February of next year. Aardvark Backpackers has been running for several years however its elderly owners have decided to close up shop in search of new adventures. The property is set to become a language school. Booking can only be made up to and including the 14th of February 2007 when they officially close their doors.
Cape Town Deco Lodge is situated in Woodstock. Here you can enjoy a typically Capetonian atmosphere where plenty of both local and foreign backpackers choose to stay. Set at the family home of Hannes and Robin you are immediately made to feel most welcome when you make it through the massive big gates.
With a lovely garden and swimming pool and plenty of areas to sit around and take in the relaxed atmosphere and mingle with the other visitors it’s the perfect place for the easy going and chilled out traveller.
Last up for the day was the Green Elephant Backpackers, this property is situated in the Observitory area of the Cape. I had a meeting with Jackie who gave me a run down on the property.
There was something really special about this property. To me there was a real “South Africaness” to it. Even more so than any other I had visited so far. Perhaps not the only hostel to do so but the first to advertise the fact that they are very eco friendly I was pleasantly surprised to see the efforts the staff and visitors make to look after the environment. With specially marked dustbins for different litter and special eco friendly washing detergent for their washing machines and the use of washing machine water for all toilets I was amazed at the efforts. The use of solar panels also helps them to keep costs down and take better care of our environment.
All rooms were very individual and tidy and privacy was there should you need it but there is always something going on should you wish to mingle and socialize with other like minded travellers.
Another day of visiting hostels under out belts and I was beginning to get the feeling that Cape Town hostels are among some of the best in the world. The over all standard was incredible and the people of Cape Town incredibly friendly and warm hearted.
That evening we visited a restaurant at the Spier winery which is along the wine route. Another incredible South African experience the Moyo restaurant is well worth a visit.
The day began at six in the morning. Struggling to get out of bed when my alarm sounded I managed to get myself showered and dressed and out the front door by seven. The first property we had to visit was a good two hours drive away from home so we prepared for a beautiful scenic drive from Kleinmond to Simon’s Town. The weather was just perfect for such a journey, not a cloud in the sky and not too hot.
Arriving in Simon’s Town filled me with a great sense of nostalgia, reason for this being that as kids we spent a fair few summer holidays there. The hostel in question was only a few hundred metres from the home we used to frequent so this was familiar territory. The main street is filled with quirky little antique shops as well as lovely places to grab a bit to eat so it’s a really good spot to spend a bit of time shopping and eating and the main street also runs along the beach front so a beautiful view is always on hand.
The Simon’s Town Backpackers is in a beautiful spot. The front entrance is nestled in and amongst all the antique shop windows and at the entrance overlooks the sea.
The hostel itself boasts fantastic views of the ocean on the upper floors and it’s very clean and tidy. The greatest attraction to this property is by far its location. Simon’s Town is steeped in tradition with lots of great things to see, including the likes of Just Nuisance the Navy dog as well as the old Naval Base. This area is best known as the “historical mile”.
Following on from Simon’s Town we made our way to the city centre.
Hostelbookers have a number of properties within Long Street alone so we found ourselves spending the rest of the day there.
Long Street is a must to visit in Cape Town. With a variety of weird and wonderful shops to visit along with some beautiful and unusual restaurants there is plenty to keen one busy for a couple of days. I would highly recommend spending a day or two staying in one of our properties along this street. If you are inclined to enjoy a bit of clubbing or bar hopping again this is the perfect spot.
First up for a visit was the Daddy Long Legs Boutique Hotel, situated at number 134 Long Street is the first property you will find along the road. From all the properties I visited this was by far my favourite. The reason for this being that each room is uniquely decorated. Photographers, artists and designers have decorated previously sterile hotel rooms and transformed each into a unique work of art.
The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and there is a good fun and friendly vibe about the place.
Closely situated just a little further up the road are the Daddy Long Legs Apartments, these apartments are again a great choice for any traveller. The option of having ones own apartment makes it possible to experience complete privacy while still being in a lovely and lively area of the city. These apartments come with everything you may need as well as lovely balconies that overlook the street below.
A little further down Long Street you can find Cat and Moose Backpackers. This property is an 18th Century building which gives it incredible character. With friendly staff and wonderful clean facilities again this property comes highly recommended.
Having met with John is not surprising to know that their slogan is something along the lines of “arrive as a guest – and leave as a friend”.
Blue Mountain Backpackers is at no 208 Long Street. Another beautiful property both because of its location and because of its character it’s a fine choice for anyone wishing to visit the city centre. With very clean rooms and excellent staff and like most other properties along this famous street a view of Table Mountain this is another excellent choice for budget accommodation.
The last property along this stretch of road is Carnival Court, situated at number 255 Long Street. This place had a special feeling about it. A beautifully restored building with its original and restored woodwork it has a majestic feel.
With balconies that boast views of Signal Hill and the ocean it’s a fantastic choice. This property also has a very lively and character filled bar where you will be sure to meet many fellow travellers.
Rooms are clean and tidy and there are many activities offered to keep you busy day and night. Also on hand is a travel desk where staff will help you plan activities throughout your stay in Cape Town.
Cape Town Backpackers is situated on Church Street in the trendy Kloof Street area. This area is buzzing with trendy bars and café’s and many a delightful restaurant.
Rooms range from dorms to honeymoon suites all of which are incredibly clean and tidy. Staff are really fun and social and most importantly very keen on making your stay in the Cape as memorable as possible. With a laid back atmosphere and plenty of activities to keep you occupied within the building it’s a fine choice of accommodation.
After a day of meetings with the hostels it was time to head back to Kleinmond for a traditional South African braai. The sun only sets at around 7:30 so there was the perfect opportunity to watch is disappear behind the majestic mountains that that surround the lovely little town of Kleinmond.
Monday, Nov 13th, 2006
Categories: Lisbon
After breakfast, our first appointment was Lisbon Poets Hostel. Situated in Barrio Alto (Lisbon’s old town, and full of life) it was a great surprise for us. Being in an old building, difficult to recognise at first sight, when you get inside you find a proper Backpackers Hostel full of character and charm. Decoration based on poems by Portuguese authors, a brilliant lounge room with bean bags and books, a kitchen, nice clean bathrooms, and wonderful shared and private rooms make this a unique and special hostel. It is perfect for the single traveller, as it is very easy to meet lots of new people or just chill out. We were speaking long enough with Lilian (co-owner of the place with Ricardo) to realise they love what they’re doing. I’ll be back to this one, as it was probably my favourite of them all.
After that, we moved to visit Hotel VIP, the first one in a big chain of Hotels that started in Lisbon 13 years ago, and now have 3 and 4 stars hotels all over Portugal and even Mozambique. This one, “Hotel VIP”, is the original, and is 3 stars that will turn into a 4 in a few months. It is a big hotel, and we were showed the rooms (obviously all private) and a nice breakfast area. Then we moved to Hotel VIP Diplomatico, a 4 star, with a huge hall, restaurant, bar, and nicely decorated rooms. Our last stop of the day was Hotel VIP Zurique, where we met Bruno and Mohammed, and we spent a good time with them, speaking about Hostelbookers and VIP Hotels, life in Lisbon, London, Spain… We even had time to enjoy a nice meal with them at the Hotel before leaving.
We returned to Lisbon Downtown, to mix with the Portuguese people, to eat some of the best food I’ve had in the last months, and to walk around its streets wearing short sleeves, as there was Spring weather in November. We’ll have to come back, because this city is full of surprises, and we definitely haven’t seen them all yet…
Monday, Nov 13th, 2006
Categories: Lisbon
We woke to another beautiful sunny day in the capital. After having a big breakfast of coffee and toast with olive oil at the coffee shop under the hotel, we visit with Residencial Apolo. This is a very central hotel with all the necessities, and a very convenient place for families.
Nena, the hostel director welcomed us to Residencial Joao XXI, a fantastic and affordable accommodation just in the centre of the city. She showed us some of the best rooms and after that; we took a break to talk about life and business with our hostess. Nena is a very young and qualified lady with a very clear vision of the industry who made us fell very comfortable all the time. Thanks Nena!.
Without leaving the very center of Lisbon we continued on our visits to Residencial Princesa, a very clean and quiet hotel and Residencial Saldanha. Carlos, the owner of both of these is one of the accommodation pioneers in the city, having advertised his property on the net for more than 10 years.
Finally it was LUNCH TIME! We had rice with fish in a fantastic restaurant in the “LaBaixa” area. Portugal is one of the best places in Europe to eat well. For not more than 15 euros per person you can have a big main course of meat or fish, a drink, and dessert and coffee. Good value for sure!
After lunch we had the chance to met Valeria a talented Argentinean painter who knows how to represent Lisbon’s sensuality on all her paintings. And of course we bought some of her art before it becomes unaffordable.
Finishing the day, we visited the newest property Oasis Backpackers Mansion Lisboa, of the Spanish group of hostels Oasis, an amazing hostel on the highest areas of the city with one of the best views. It is a clean hostel, great value for money and lots of fun for guests. This is one of the most successful Hostel companies in Europe and it is easy to understand why when you see it, as they are very good at what they do.
As this second day of visits is finishing, we are becoming more convinced that Portugal is one of the greatest places to visit in Europe. The mix of quality, prices and the friendliness of people is bound to make your visit to Lisbon an unforgettable experience
Monday, Nov 13th, 2006
Categories: Lisbon
On Monday we woke up at 7.30am at Residencia Nazareth, who kindly gave us accommodation for the length of our stay, and made us feel right at home. We had a great breakfast there (coffee, bread and butter, cheese, ham, croissants…) and then we moved to our first appointment:
Dom Sancho I is a Residencial like most of them in Lisbon (a Residencial is kind of like a hotel but based on one floor of a building only). Dom Sancho has a good reception area and good rooms; all of them private. Its location is great as well, located on Avenida Da Liberdade, one of the main roads in Lisbon. We spoke for a while with Paulo, the manager, about Hostelbookers.com, and we left as soon as the Hotel got busy with check ins. Our first impression of a Residencial in Lisbon was really good.
At the other side of the road we went to Danubio Residencial, our next appointment. They have two floors in an antique building close to the centre. All their rooms are private, and they’ve got a lovely patio, that looks like it would be really enjoyable in the summer. When we visited, they were refurbishing and when they are finished it is going to improve it a lot. All in all it is a good cheap option in a good location.
After “Danubio”, we went to Hotel Internacional, also undergoing some renovations and implementing some really interesting changes in the pipeline. Before they were a normal Hotel, but they’re turning into a Design Hotel, with thematic floors (Urban, Zen, Pop Art…). The rooms are decorated to the highest standard, and a modern restaurant will surely be a reason for booking there. Alex talked to us about his exciting project, and we can say that it looks wonderful, and a good alternative to the classic Hotel. This hostel also has a good location in Rossio, the main square of Lisbon.
The last appointments of the day were Pensao Monumental and Pensao Modelo, which belong to the same group as our hosts, Residencia Nazareth. We had a look at both “Pensaos”, with plenty of cheap rooms in great locations (especially “Modelo”). They’re a good choice for a private room with a price of a bed in a dorm. We spoke with all the staff about Hostelbookers, their group of properties, and life in Lisbon. Mahomed (the owner of these properties) and Aboobakar (his son) recently came to London and visited us in our office.
That was it for our first day of visiting. The balance is that Lisbon is one of the most charming cities in Europe, and it’s got a good range of accommodation. A must go!
Monday, Nov 13th, 2006
Categories: Lisbon
We arrived a day earlier than our appointments, on the Sunday, so we could have some free time to visiting the city, and fell in love with its old town style. Even though it is the capital of Portugal, it feels as though it is much smaller, and seems to have a character and vibe which is different to many other European cities. Lisbon has it all; delicious food and coffee, cheap prices, nice weather and there’s always a good welcome.
Sunday, Nov 12th, 2006
Categories: Madrid
The first appointment of the day was set at 10:30 so I decided to stop at Puerta del Sol as it was convenient from where I was staying and walk from there. Before any walking I went to the famous “la Menorquina” patisserie in Madrid, located in the Puerta del Sol (ask anyone if you can not see it ) to get the their most popular pastry “napolitana”. They are always recently made and taste just great, and therefore this place is always packed with people. From Puerta de Sol I took Calle Preciados, a very popular street for its shops and big department stores, reaching plaza Callao another popular meeting point. From there I walked through Gran Via and took Fuencarral street where the popular Fuencarral market is located, and five minutes later I was at the door of Pop Hostel. This hostel is located between Malasaña-Chueca-Tribunal which is a very popular and vibrant area of the city. It is a small hostel and has a nice atmosphere, self catering facilities and colourful decoration, and also provides tourist information. In the same area is also Ole Internatinal Hostel which is also in the same tune as the previous visited property.They have internet facilities and young helpful staff.
From there I headed to Gran via street again to visit United World International Hostel. I really liked that this place is located between Gran Via and Plaza de España which is another emblematic place in Madrid. They have wooden floors and it is almost like a nice private house, although the rooms can be noisy though as the traffic is huge in Gran Via.
It was time to eat something, and going back to Calle Preciados I then went to the popular “Casa Labra“ to try their famous “bacalao rebozao” or battered cod. This is a place of great tradition and it is always so busy be prepared to eat your food in the street, but it is still well worth it if you like cod.
Next stop was Metropol Hostel, located in Calle Montera which is a kind of red district area but is just steps away from Puerta del Sol. Metropol hostel has a very big common area with a TV and plenty of space to stay around and relax and they provide updated daily information with all cultural events.
The last appointment was at Los Amigos Hostel. I walked there and it took less than15 minutes from the Metropol. As you may have realised most of these places are within walking distance to each other which was great for me. I pass through again Puerta del Sol and went to Isabel II square. From there you can see the back part of the rehabilitated Real Theater. Any one of the two streets that surround it take you to Plaza de Oriente where the Royal palace is located. It is a place that is today closed to the traffic, and ideal to walk any Sunday morning, or to enjoy at night in one of the terraces. The hostel is very cosy and welcoming, with plenty of sunlight and colours. They have a TV room with comfortable sofas and have a spacious eating area with kitchen facilities, and I found them as a very good choice in Madrid.
That was all for the hostels in Madrid. I really enjoyed my stay there and I am looking forward to going back soon!
