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Summary of reviewsHelp Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast is highly praised for its exceptional location, which provides easy access to both the beaches of Carcavelos and Lisbon. The proximity to the train station, local amenities and a market adds convenience for guests. The neighborhood's quietness contributes to a pleasant overall atmosphere, complemented by a friendly environment among guests and proactive staff. Added facilities like a pool further enhance the hostel’s appeal.
The staff receive frequent commendation for their warm and accommodating nature. Employees, particularly Juliana and João, are often mentioned for their exceptional service. The management and volunteer team contribute to a welcoming environment, making guests feel at home. Despite rare instances of noise and a few language barrier issues, the staff's dedication to providing excellent service is widely recognized.
Rooms at the hostel are noted for their good price-quality ratio with some guests appreciating the cleanliness and pleasant smell. Certain suites are spacious and feature private bathrooms, which are particularly valued. However, shared dormitories suffer from overcrowding, uncomfortable beds and a lack of proper maintenance. Issues like thin mattresses, cleanliness problems and outdated facilities are frequently reported, leading to a mixed overall perception of the rooms.
Cleanliness presents a mixed picture with some positive feedback on comfort and organization, while many guests highlight significant issues such as dirty floors, dust-filled cabinets and unsanitary shared areas. Bathrooms often receive criticism for mold, poor ventilation and hygiene issues, pointing to a need for substantial improvement in the hostel's overall cleanliness and maintenance standards.
The hostel's pool is seen as a valuable amenity, appreciated by many for adding to the property’s appeal. However, there are concerns about its small size, outdated condition and occasional cleanliness issues, suggesting the need for better maintenance.
Overall, Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast stands out for its strategic location, friendly staff and reasonable price-quality ratio, though it would benefit from addressing maintenance and cleanliness issues to improve the guest experience. Show more
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Categories
Cheap Hostel
This hostel is located on the Carcavelos Coast and offers budget accommodation. It is a good choice for travelers interested in beach activities and coastal scenery.
Hostel with Outdoor Pool
This hostel offers an outdoor pool with sun loungers and pool umbrellas. The pool is available for guests to use for leisure and relaxation.
Dog Friendly Hostel
Hostel with Swimming Pool
Outdoor Pool
Room Types
Bunk Bed in Mixed Dormitory RoomThis bed in dormitory has a balcony and seating area.
Bed in 4-Bed Dormitory RoomRooms are 15 square metres.
Standard SuiteThe air-conditioned suite features 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a bath and a shower. The suite offers a wardrobe, pool views and chocolate. The unit offers 6 beds.
Bed in 8-Bed Dormitory RoomThis bed in dormitory features a balcony and seating area.
Standard SuiteThe air-conditioned suite features 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom with a bath and a shower. The unit has a seating area, city views, a balcony and chocolate is provided for guests. The unit offers 4 beds.
About Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast
License: 41295/AL
Guest Reviews
5.8
Rated
Location
The reviews of Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast consistently highlight its excellent location, which stands out as one of its strongest advantages. The hostel is conveniently situated close to the train station, providing easy access to both the beaches of Carcavelos and Lisbon. Guests appreciate the short walking distance to the beach—only about 1.8 kilometers—and the proximity to various local amenities, including a market, corner shops, bars and other facilities. The neighborhood is described as quiet, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere within the hostel itself.
Visitors also commend the hostel's internal environment, thanks to the friendly guests and proactive staff. Though there are minor complaints about noise from the nearby train tracks, the overall sentiment about the location remains strongly positive. Additional facilities like a pool further enhance the hostel's appeal and usability for guests. Overall, the strategic location makes it a preferred choice for those looking to enjoy the coastal charm of Carcavelos while remaining well-connected to Lisbon.
Rooms
Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast offers rooms that, for the price, are quite good with some guests noting they were clean and smelled pleasant. Rooms vary in size with some suites being particularly spacious and even featuring private bathrooms, which were appreciated.
However, many guests pointed out several areas needing attention. Shared dormitories were criticized for overcrowding with some dorms housing up to 30 double bunks. Beds were often described as uncomfortable with thin mattresses and inconvenient metallic bars that could disrupt sleep. Cleanliness was another significant issue, as some rooms and bathrooms were reported to be dirty with clogged sinks and leftover hair from previous users. Moreover, the facilities overall were seen as old and in need of maintenance.
Despite these drawbacks, the hostel boasts a good price-quality ratio and a friendly, lovely staff, which were highlighted positively by multiple guests.
Beds
Visitors to 'Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast' frequently highlight concerns about the quality and comfort of the beds. Many guests describe the mattresses as extremely uncomfortable and of poor quality, noting that they are thin, leading to the feeling of the bed's wooden frame when lying down. The noise from the beds is also a common issue, as the beds are reported to be very squeaky and rickety.
Furthermore, the hostel's dorm rooms are described as overcrowded with as many as 21 to 22 beds in a single room, which some guests found surreal and problematic. The lack of individual privacy features, such as bed curtains and personal outlets, adds to the discomfort. Cleanliness is another significant concern, as some reviews mention stained sheets, poorly made beds upon arrival, dirty mattresses and even bedbugs. The lack of proper cleaning and maintenance in both the dormitory and common areas is a recurrent theme in the reviews.
On a more positive note, a few guests did find the bed linens clean and the beds reasonably comfortable. However, these isolated comments were overshadowed by the numerous reports of discomfort and substandard sleeping conditions. Overall, the feedback suggests that the hostel could benefit from improving its bedding quality, enhancing cleanliness and reducing overcrowding to provide a better experience for its guests.
Cleanliness
Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast presents a mixed picture when it comes to cleanliness. While some guests found the hostel comfortable and noted that the environment was clean and organized, many others highlighted significant issues. Reports frequently mentioned dirty floors, cabinets filled with dust and unsanitary shared areas. Complaints about shared bathrooms were common with descriptions of mold, black grease and poor ventilation.
Although a few visitors observed thorough cleaning efforts by staff members like Juliana, others experienced rooms that were not cleaned at all during their stay, finding hair and trash left behind by previous guests. The general condition of the facilities largely received negative feedback with several instances of mold, bad odor and poor maintenance. The bathrooms, particularly, were criticized for not being up to standard and the hostel’s poor noise regulation policies added to the discomfort.
In essence, while there were some positive remarks regarding comfort and cleanliness, the prevailing sentiment pointed to a need for substantial improvement in the hostel's hygiene and overall maintenance.
Staff
At Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast, the staff is frequently praised for their friendliness and helpfulness. Guests often highlight the warm and accommodating nature of the team, noting that employees, including the young receptionists, make significant efforts to ensure a comfortable stay. Particular mention is made of Juliana and João, who stand out for their exceptional service.
Despite occasional noise caused by some employees and a few instances where staff members seemed less pleasant, the overall sentiment remains largely positive. The volunteer team also receives commendation for their friendly and family-oriented approach, making guests feel right at home.
Efficient management, attentive staff and an organized environment contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. The night receptionists and specific individuals like Daniel and Shane are frequently noted for their politeness and willingness to assist. Though there are minor complaints about language barriers, the general consensus acknowledges the staff's dedication to providing excellent service.
Pool
Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast boasts a pool that comes with mixed reviews. Guests appreciate that the property has a pool, noting that it is maintained nicely and features a pleasant pool area and terrace. Being able to use the pool is seen as a great amenity, adding to the overall appeal for visitors. However, some guests expressed concerns, describing the pool as tiny and outdated. There were also several mentions of the pool being dirty with one guest even discouraging others from using it due to the water quality. Despite these drawbacks, the pool area remains a notable feature of the hostel.
Yes, Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast has pool(s) that belong to one or more of the following categories: Outdoor Pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast.
Yes, Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast welcomes dogs.
No, parking facilities aren't available at Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast.
No, Help Yourself Hostels - Carcavelos Coast doesn't have a gym.