Found a $15 room on Hostelworld in Lisbon last month

It was a 10-bed dorm with no AC in July, but the hostel had a rooftop kitchen and free pasta every night. I figured worst case I'd just sleep on the beach if it was too bad, but it actually worked out fine. The bunk was clean and the lockers fit my whole backpack. Has anyone else had luck with the really cheap listings under $20?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliotjenkins1mo ago

Man I gotta say I really disagree with this one. A 10-bed dorm with no AC in Lisbon in July sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. I did something similar in Barcelona once and ended up lying awake at 3am drenched in sweat because the fan they gave me just blew hot air around. And free pasta every night? That usually means plain spaghetti with canned tomato sauce, not exactly a meal I'd want to rely on. You got lucky with the clean bunk and working lockers, but that's more the exception than the rule at that price point. I've seen too many horror stories about bedbugs and broken stuff in those $15 places to take that gamble again.

cole_hall1mo ago

Gotta jump in here and gently push back on one thing, @elliotjenkins. That free pasta you're talking about, it's actually not always that sad. I've hit a few hostels where they actually toss in some garlic and olive oil, maybe even a sad looking tomato or two. It's not gourmet but it beats spending another $15 on a sad tourist trap pizza. But yeah, the no AC thing in July is a real gamble. I did a similar place in Rome once and ended up sleeping on the balcony just to catch a breeze. The lockers working is a straight up miracle though, you're right about that being the exception.