Miguel Ángel is a very clean but quiet hostel. The recently-renovated facilities are pristine. Each four-bed dorm room has its own private bathroom of such high quality that you could mistake it for a hotel’s rather than a hostel’s. The bunk beds are nice and sturdy, and bedside lockers are provided for hostellers for free. Each bed has its own lamp, which is a nice addition for people to read without keeping others in the room awake. But it is placed a little low, so one must take care not to bump his or her head against it when lying down. Each room has its own balcony, although they only overlook the insignificant sidestreet the hostel is located on, and, sadly, are in use as storage space for extra tiles and materials from the hostel’s recent renovation.
The kitchen is equally impressive modern, with very new appliances. Sadly, though, coffee is only available from a vending machine. There is also a washer and dryer for laundry, but the owners tend to charge exorbitant prices to use them. Also, be warned that the kitchen is very small, so if trying to make it for the last-minute rush for the free breakfast, there is a risk of no space or sitting room in the kitchen. There is no common room, and the small size of the kitchen makes socialising difficult.
The atmosphere in the hostel is very quiet; the owners even have a sign up stating that while hostellers are encouraged to have fun outside, the hostel itself is meant as a quiet space for sleeping. “Quiet time” starts at ten p.m., but hostellers can come and go from the hostel at any time. The quiet atmosphere can either be frustrating for the partying type or a welcome relief for tired hostellers looking to get some shuteye. The on-site owners are extremely helpful and friendly, though. They give a relatively ample tourist guide to all hostellers and have a bulletin board filled with useful tips, visit ideas, and train and bus information to nearby towns of interest.
The location is the hostel’s biggest plus. It is only a three-minute walk from Puerta del Sol and the Sol Metro station, and two minutes from El Corte Inglés department store and supermarket. The Royal Palace is less than a ten-minute walk away.
Overall, this hostel is among the cleanest and most modern anywhere. The quiet atmosphere can either be a huge plus for those who want to sleep, or a frustrating feature for those who want to party hard. This hostel will be a dream if you want new, hotel-like facilities and some peace and quiet, but stay away if you’re looking to party.
— Exklusive Hostelz.com Übersicht
June 2006
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