HI - Lagos Hostel (also called Pousada de Juventude de Lagos) is your low-cost choice for spending some time on the wonderful beaches of the Algarve. The laid-back setting will make you never want to leave Lagos! HI membership is officially required, but staff are not picky about it.
The Location
The hostel is conveniently located in the old town of Lagos. It is a twenty-minute walk from the bus and train stations, and about ten minutes from Praia de Batata beach. There is a big sign, making the hostel easy to locate. The bar strip starts only a minute's walk away, convenient for enjoying the famous nightlife of Lagos.
Rooms and Bathrooms
The dorm rooms are small, with areas to store luggage but no lockers. The rooms are all single-gender four-bed dorms. The doors use old-fashioned keys and do not automatically lock. The front entrance is open, and you need to buzz in at night. The rooms are not air-conditioned and are in need of a renovation.
There are two large bathrooms, one for each gender, with many showers and toilets. The bathrooms are cleaned once a day, and get very dirty. There is no soap dish in the shower, and the area tends to accumulate water, but the shower itself is fine. Each shower includes a small area to change with a hook. Paper towels and hand soap are provided at the sinks.
Common Spaces
The hostel has a common area where a decent breakfast is served each morning, including bread, hard-boiled eggs, juice, coffee, yogurt, and a croissant. There is other seating inside, but everyone is usually in the courtyard. The kitchen is a bit dated, but has everything except an oven. The hostel attracts a diverse group of people, young and old, and the kitchen gets quite busy. The hostel itself isn't a party hostel, but it is easy to meet people to party with in the town. Smoking and alcohol are permitted in the courtyard where the night usually begins. There is no TV room or Wi-Fi, and the internet terminal is awkward and expensive. Walk down the street for two minutes to the cultural centre, where there is a free internet terminal, or up the street for an internet café. Laundry machines are available for wash or dry at a price.
Summary
The facilities at this hostel are basic and a bit dated, but the atmosphere is nice and laid-back. For the low price, HI Lagos Youth Hostel is worth it.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
September 2009
Location/Contact
4.3 Average from 6 Ratings
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