Hostel A Casa da Árvore

Centralish location, not far from local amenities. Nice park nearby. Quiet enough that you didn’t wake from street noise. The local ferry to other beaches/ islands is only a short walk away too. The host Rui was also really affable and was always on hand if I needed anything.

The whole place was great. The only minor thing I encountered was because of the automatic light in the corridor and the fact that the rooms have a window above the door with a sheer curtain that lets light in, I was awoken when other guests were checking out very early in the morning.

The owner was incredibly helpful and kind. We had a lovely stay. The location is superb - 15min by walk to city centre. We loved the hostels’ atmosphere, we could rest, play cards, cook and just chill. Beds were comfortable, bathroom clean, kitchen well equipped.

We we were staying there in October so the weather was perfect. But there is no AC and I can imagine that it can get hot during summer time. There is a fan though. The only thing that we can point is the shower curtain which could be changed and the salt signs on the walls near headrest.

There was a bath mat and hand towel which is appreciated, along with shampoo and hand soap. The little kitchen had everything we needed and we were able to purchase coffee and beer for a small price. For the most part it was a good place to stay and good value, also easy to walk to downtown with lots of cafes, shops, grocery store, etc. outdoor area to sit and eat and a little room next to the kitchen where people left books and other travel items that were giveaway. We liked that things are recycled this way. I was able to paint my toenails😊 we enjoyed our stay.

Back area could have been swept. I watered the plants and they perked right up.

The host was very responsive. It's a charming place, though the walls are paper-thin, so noise from the hallway and neighboring rooms can be heard.

The pricing policy lacks transparency. A €10 cleaning fee was added to the final price that had already been confirmed through Booking.com, where all taxes and charges were supposedly included. This extra charge was only communicated after the booking was confirmed (with no possibility of cancellation) and after payment had been made. This approach feels neither transparent nor fair. I shared this feedback with the owner and suggested either clearly stating the fee before booking or simply including it in the room price. While he showed empathy, he still insisted on the additional payment. Also, it would have been helpful to have some shelf space in the bathroom to place toiletries.