HI - Salvador - Laranjeiras Hostel

Beds ok, but dorms are like monkey enclosures, and you may end up sleeping twelve foot off the ground. Bathroom ok, but might be crowded in high season. Staff a mix -- they don't check any bookings made on a Sunday, so book in advance, and they stuffed up our taxi collection. Still, they have a reliable taxi man for connections back to airport. Some staff pretty useless with vacant stares. Atmosphere varies depending on the crowd, but plenty of communal areas -- good creperie downstairs, (but avoid the mushroom crepe!) and two computers with Skype.

Great location in the centre of town, and reception and cafe area are nice. The breakfast included isn't exactly nutritious (bread and cake) but it does fill you up, and the hammock/tv area is great for hanging out in. The dorms could have been nicer though, and there really weren't enough showers for everybody.

The location can't be beat; it's right in the middle of Pelo. There is also a lot of space to just hang out, sit in a hammock and chat. There is also the coffeehouse where you can meet a lot of other backpackers. The reason I only give a 3 in my rating is because: 1) the beds smell something awful, like the sweat of 100s of people who slept there before and 2) reception wasn't very helpful or friendly in helping people navigate the city and the region.