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It is so rare that I get the chance to ever feel at home in a hostel. The reason being that I spend to little time in each one. So when I find this ‘home away from home’, it is only right to shout about it. Lisbon has a reputation for having some of the best hostels, not only in Europe but in the world. With so many hostels having high reviews, it was hard to choose. Eventually, I found Travellers House and I instantly knew this was where I wanted to stay. It turned out to be the best hostel I have stayed in, in Western Europe.
Address – Rua Augusta 89, 1100-048 Lisboa
What Made Travellers House So Great?
The Location
My hostel is often the last thing I organise before any trip. First, I decide which restaurants I want to eat in, then what I want to see. This gives me a good idea of what part of the city I want to stay in. Lisbon, as I said previously, is known for having great hostels. However, most seemed to be just a little bit out of the city centre. This meant spending a lot of time walking or constantly using public transport. Luckily, I found Travellers House. It was right in the heart of everything I had planned. Located on Rua Augusta, the main pedestrian street in Lisbon, the hostel couldn’t have been any more central if they tried.
The hostel had fantastic views of Comercio Square from the balcony. This made it a fantastic place to watch the locals and tourists go about their day. Metro stations, Baixa-Chiado and Terriero Do Paco, were within a few minutes walking distance. The tram to Belem went from less than a hundred metres away. Rossio Train Station was also just under five minutes away, perfect for my early start when heading to Sintra for the day. The location of Travellers House was what originally sold it to me, and I was not left disappointed. I can only think of a handful of hostels that I have stayed in where the location has been as good.
Daily Activities
It is always good when a hostel puts on extra activities. It shows the staff care about the guests and wants them to have a good time. Travellers House does a nightly event, sometimes inside the hostel and other times out in the city. On my first night, there was a Portuguese wine tasting night. 10 bottles of wine were shared between guests in the hostel common area. It proved to be a great night, as you might imagine, and a fantastic way to meet and interact with other guests. During my stay, there was a stroll to the hills of Alfama. This included a fado show and some food. Each activity seemed to cost €6.50 but that represents great value considering it’s all you will probably spend that night.
The Staff
It was the staff that ran each of the nightly activities. This was a great way for them to meet the guests and for the guests to get more comfortable with the workers. They always greeted guests with a “hello” or “good morning”. They were ever present to answer any questions I had, whether it was about the trams or directions, etc. Having good staff in a hostel can make your stay so much more comfortable. There is nothing worse than feeling like you have to walk on eggshells around staff who close themselves off from guests.
The Amazing Free Breakfast
It happens way too often, a hostel advertises a free breakfast and you arrive at something slightly different than what you imagined. I have stayed in hostels where their idea of a free breakfast was stale bread and mouldy jam. Travellers House is a long way from that though. Each morning, guests get to choose from one of three breakfast items. Crepes with chocolate, scrambled eggs, bacon and toast or yoghurt, fruit and cereal. Your choice is then prepared fresh by the two women working in the kitchen and brought to you in the dining room. Tea and coffee are also provided. All they ask guests to do is return their dirty dishes to the kitchen when finished. It is not often I look forward to a hostel breakfast like I did in Lisbon.
The Perfect Layout
A hostel can try their hardest for guests but without the right layout, it just doesn’t work. Every hostel needs a good common room. This is vital for guests to interact with each other. Travellers House has three areas for guests to chill. One is the main common area, which has a couch, a few bean bags, chairs and music playing throughout the day. There is a dining room with one big table for groups to gather around and a few others that sit approximately six people on each. Finally, there is a tv room, holding a couple of seats and a tv to unwind and maybe watch a movie. Having multiple common rooms also meant that if guests don’t want to take part in activities they are not forced into their dorm rooms.
The Other Positives of Staying at Travellers House
Travellers House has plenty of other plus points. There is a fully-equipped kitchen that is free for use once breakfast has finished. They provide free towels and locks for each guest upon checking in. The lock is for the under-bed lockers which also have a safe in them. At the reception, there is a fridge containing beer, water and soda for guests to take. Each cost €1.50 and the balance is paid at check-out. This also encouraged people to mix, as they could sit and have a beer together. The showers and bathrooms are divided by gender and there are plenty to go around. The beds are comfortable. Computers are free to use, as well as having the option of printing. Luggage storage is also available to guests.
A big priority seemed to be the safety of the guests. Each room, whether it was a dorm or private, needed a card to enter and staff had to buzz you into the hostel every time. It makes sense, especially given how busy the street was outside the hostel.
What Travellers House Could Improve On
Maybe one slight improvement could be the beds, or more accurately, my bed. The bed itself was very comfortable but made a lot of noise every time I moved. This didn’t seem to happen with anyone else. It can get annoying when you are trying to be quiet in the mornings or when other guests are asleep. Apart from that though, it was an excellent hostel to stay in. I wouldn’t have to think twice about returning if I found myself in Lisbon again!
Overall Rating
To read more about Lisbon, including the best local eats across the city, click here.
Average Rating