Hostal Atenas

A word of warning...

This hostal was recommended by a couple of friends on VT. They obviously didn't have the experience that I did.

I arrived, was asked to pay in advance and fill out the standard information card for the police.
All done - only to be told that I would be housed in the annex. A reception person walked me over there.

Small, dark, up a side street that had no open shops...all large office buildings and abandoned buildings, no reception after 2200 (10 pm), poor security - at night one has to enter through a different building and climb dark stairs to use a [standard type] key to enter the hallway of the hostal, etc.

The reception person there told me that it was not an annex at all, but a different hostal and he too would need my details for the police. This hostal most definitely did not live up to the promises of the Atenas on it's site. Went back and told them that I was unhappy with their 'annex'. After a bit of an argument they moved me to another hostal in the same building as the Atenas, on a different floor, the Hostal Sonia.

This one too did not have the amenities promised, but at least it was in reasonable condition and acceptable location, had 24 hour reception and a lift. Registered in a 3rd hostal. The police are going to have fun with this one - one person registering in 3 different hostals all within an hour and a half :)

All this despite the fact that I had made my reservation four months in advance and had a confirmed reservation number.

Unique Quality: Be leery of reserving at the Atenas - the woman at the tourist info office knew all about them - they make a habit of overbooking and then farming out customers to neighbouring hostals at discount rates.
You pay them the agreed rate - in advance - and then they take you to an 'annex' which is not an annex at all but a different hostal for which the Atenas pays less than you paid them.

They appear to accept group bookings a lot and this may be the major reason for the scam.

I am planning on writing to the Spanish Min. of Tourism over this one.

• Opinion of Price: less expensive than average
• Related to: Budget Travel, Women's Travel, Singles

Hostal Atenas Photo: Sonia is in the same building, different entrance.

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