Review of Laranjeiras Hostel in Salvador, Bahia Brazil

I stayed in Laranjeiras Hostel for about a week in January of 2008 and was very pleased with the whole experience. It's located in a great area, the staff is very nice and speak conversational English, its atmosphere is great and it's also quite clean.

Laranajeiras Hostel was the first hostel I had ever stayed in (I've been to several since) so I had no idea what to expect. The only thoughts I had of hostels were from movies and those usually involved cramped rooms and dirty bathrooms. Laranjeiras broke those stereotypes! Here's a breakdown:

Location:

You can't get a better location, in my opinion. Laranjeiras is located in the heart of Salvador Bahia's Pelourinho amid cobblestone streets and stores. It's also within walking distance of the beach and light houses and you can easily travel to Itaparica Island from here. There is always music playing at the bar across the street, condomble drummers roaming the streets, and the natives are friendly as well. It's also next to plenty of restaurants (from typical Brazilian food, to dancing venues to pizza, etc.).

Atmosphere

The atmosphere of Laranjeiras is welcoming, lively and outgoing. Many people frequent the hostel and you're sure to meet friendly people from all over the world. The hostel also houses a creperia (delicious!) which gets natives inside, too. It's a great way to meet people from the area. As Lonely Planet says, "The bathrooms are great for a hostel and have classy granite trim and comic-themed tiles, while the busy lobby and public cafe display bright, Bahian floral fabric and folk art."

Staff

The staff is quite pleasant and always willing to answer questions and chat. You'll find that they stay out of your way (as in, they won't come knocking at your door for no reason at all) and are cordial, friendly and very laid back.

Cleanliness

Laranjeiras is pretty clean. It's not as spotless as a hospital, but most places that have people coming and going at all hours of the day aren't. The dorms, in my opinion, are slightly overcrowded and I've seen better arrangements in my lifetime. There is also no air conditioning and Brazil can be very hot, so the smell of sweat is not uncommon! With that said, it's a hostel and you're paying next to nothing for a place to sleep!

Laranjeiras is pretty much unrivaled in Salvador. It's the only place of its kind that you'll find in the Pelourinho and its location is unbeatable. You won't find a better place in Salvador Bahia, Brazil. I recommend this place whole-heartedly!