Sampa Hostel

Sampa Hostel is a Hostelling International hostel based in the Vila Madalena area of Sao Paulo, offering all the standard amenities (hot water, clean bathrooms, Wi-Fi, television, kitchen) that you would expect from a hostel while also being located in one of the most burgeoning areas of the largest city in South America.

The Location

Vila Madalena is often described as the 'Soho' of Sao Paulo. It is not hard to understand why. The area offers a plethora of boutique shops, bars, restaurants, and cafes while also ticking all the boxes for organic options, secondhand wares, and exclusivity. The hostel itself is not too far from Vila Madalena subway, which is the easiest way to reach the hostel, except for a taxi obviously. However, it is such a safe and pleasant area to walk through that taking a taxi need not be an option. The roads have names such as Sunflower, Harmony, and Wizard, and although it can be hilly in places, you never know when you might come across that specialist bookstore or seventies retro store you didn't even know you were looking for!

Rooms and Bathrooms

There are plenty of dorms here. They are very tightly packed and can sometimes be very claustrophobic. Unfortunately, some of the beds can also be very noisy (lots of late-night creaking) and this could be a problem when looking to enjoy a good night's sleep. The bathrooms are separate from the rooms but are exceptionally clean and have plenty of space.

Common Spaces

There are a number of common area including plenty of spaces you can find in need of some private time. In addition to the communal kitchen there is a covered outdoor area packed with tables and chairs (perfect for meeting new people as well as dining al fresco), a lounge area below the building with a TV and plenty of movies, and plenty of spaces in between with seats and hammocks.

Summary

This is a more than competent hostel. It lacks anything to make it stand out, but it is clean, has plenty of amenities, opportunities to meet new people, and is an extremely comfortable place to stay.

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
October 2009