Porto Downtown Hostel

The Porto Downtown Hostel is easy to find and conveniently located in the middle of the old town center and within walking distance from the Sao Bento train station. The reception area has lots of informative brochures and maps about the city and the service-oriented staff takes a personal interest in each guest, to the point of remembering names. During our stay, one receptionist went out of her way to draw up a list of vegetarian restaurants, complete with street addresses.

Rooms and Bathrooms

The dorm rooms are spacious with high ceilings and lots of extra floor space. They are equipped with metallic bunk beds and metal lockers for your belongings. Our room had French windows overlooking a street that seems to attract late-night partiers, so it can be a little noisy in the summer. And regardless of whether the window is open, it is difficult to get a good night's sleep here because of the way the lighting system is set up.

The dorm rooms have a transom (window) over the door, and the light in the foyer just outside the door is on a motion sensor, so that anytime someone gets up to go to the bathroom or otherwise comes or goes from the room, this bright light floods the entire dorm room. A sleeping mask, therefore, and possibly earplugs, are highly recommended when staying here. The bathrooms are outside the dorm rooms and are clean and well functioning, if a little cramped.

Common Spaces

One of the best features of the hostel is its common area. The spacious kitchen, where the free breakfast is laid out, has a bar-like counter that doubles as a table with high stools, and guests can be found here at all hours, using their laptops to access the free Wi-Fi. Just beyond the kitchen is the lounge area with comfy sofas, bean bags, and a large TV with a DVD player. Guests tend to congregate here especially in the mornings and evenings, and the hostel tends to attract a very social crowd.

Summary

In spite of the light and noise problems, a stay at the Porto Downtown Hostel can be quite enjoyable. We would consider staying here again if they get the light situation sorted out.

— Avis exclusif de Hostelz.com
November 2009